The Early Career Network – kick start your career
Our Early Career Network provides a friendly and accessible environment for anyone who is in the early stages of their career and who feels that they would benefit from networking within their peer group, or wants to form connections with others who are further ahead in their career.
As with our other networks it is a member-led group with a committee of 12 members representing each of our UK regions, who guide the direction and strategy for the network. In addition to the committee there are local representatives throughout the UK, who together coordinate the events and activities of the network.
Getting involved with the Early Career Network, by either organising or attending an event, offers an excellent opportunity to build up your professional networks and develop your transferable skills – both of which will help you to progress your career.
This also offers fantastic collaborative opportunities between other member networks, such as interest groups and local sections, to organise early careers events facilitating connections with those already established in their career. This could be a careers event, a scientific talk with networking opportunities, or a research symposium. Additional funding is available to help make a success of these events.
If you’re interested in running an early careers event, please contact our Networks team.
Other support for Early Career Chemists
We support early career chemists in many ways in addition to the dedicated network. There are many other events and activities not organised directly by the Early Career Network that can really help and inspire members that identify themselves as just starting out in their career by supporting and promoting other events that we run. These include the Early Career Symposium and the Joliot Curie Conference.
The Early Career Symposium runs every two years and provides a fantastic environment for early career researchers to hone their presentation and networking skills, as well as gain access to the latest research. It was held in Glasgow this year at the University of Strathclyde and attended by over 140 members.
Early Career Symposium Once again the organising committee did an outstanding job of arranging a diverse and fascinating event. The range of topics covered meant there was something of interest for everyone, and the networking sessions and social evening were both excellent.
Andy West, Pera Technology Solutions (supporters of the Early Career Symposium)
The 2016 Joliot Curie Conference for Chemistry Early Career Researchers is being run in conjunction with York University on 6–7 September. It is an annual must-attend event dedicated to supporting the aspirations of early career researchers, particularly women and those who are underrepresented in academia. The conference explores career topics that are relevant to everyone, and encourages open discussions on issues that can promote an inclusive culture and diversity in the workplace.
Joliot Curie Conference The speakers were very engaging and knowledgeable / passionate about their topics. Many of the workshops such as the networking workshop and the final careers advice workshop were very useful!
Delegate from the 2015 Joliot Curie Conference
How to get involved with the Early Career Network
We currently have a vacancy for a committee member to represent the South East region – get in touch with us by emailing networks@rsc.org if you would like to learn more about the role and its responsibilities.
If you want to learn more about becoming an Early Career Network representative for your region, or have ideas for events we could run to help the Early Career Network achieve its aims, then please get in touch.
This year for our 175th anniversary we’re celebrating you, the chemical sciences community, by inviting you to tell us what you do in the chemistry community outside of your job: see rsc.li/175 for more information.
Getting involved with our networks is a great way to spend your #Time4Chem. Tell us what you’re doing by tweeting us @RoySocChem using the hashtag or share your story with us.
Our Career Management Team can always help you with decisions on how to progress your career. Find out more about the resources available and the support we can offer you on our careers pages.
Network team
- Tel:
- +44 (0) 1223 432269
- Email:
- Send us an email