By Julia Berends, Cord Kühnl, and Lucy Goodacre
The New Researcher Network (NRN) was founded as a sub-committee of the Drug Delivery to the Lungs (DDL) conference in 2019 to actively foster interaction and collaboration among early-career OINDP researchers and to build a robust community of emerging scholars. The first NRN lunch and evening session took place at DDL 2019, and young scholars have gathered at NRN events during subsequent in-person DDL conferences. Led by Julia Berends from the University of Groningen, Cord Kühnl from Kiel University, and Lucy Goodacre from King’s College London, the NRN is now evolving to include diverse events tailored to the needs of PhD students, post-docs, and researchers starting careers in academia and industry.
During DDL 2023, more than 50 young researchers participated in NRN activities, taking the opportunity to meet fellow early-career researchers during a lunch that featured a new speed networking event as well as attending talks by experienced researchers during the evening session. Feedback from participants has been consistently positive, with attendees expressing appreciation for the valuable connections made and the insightful discussions held.
At the DDL 2023 evening session, Floris Grasmeijer, Principal Investigator at PureIMS, and Alison Lansley, Principal Lecturer at the University of Brighton, spoke about the choices they made during their career and the challenges they faced. Both talks were well received, and participants said that the event was a unique opportunity to ask questions they would typically not have gotten the chance to ask.
Building on its success, the NRN is excited to announce a further expansion of its activities with the introduction of the NRN Summer Event, scheduled for September 11-13, 2024 in London and at Discovery Park (Sandwich, United Kingdom). PhD students can apply to attend this free 3-day event, which will provide an insight into the world of pharmaceutical research and development. Supported by the DDL Committee and Viatris, the Summer Event includes a company site visit in addition to lectures, and participants will have ample opportunities to expand their professional networks and engage with industry experts.
Applications for the NRN Summer Event are open until Wednesday 28 February 2024. More information can be found on the DDL website.
The NRN committee has already started making plans for this year’s DDL. The NRN also welcomes support from companies interested in contributing to the development and growth of early-career researchers in the field. Stay tuned for updates on future NRN events and initiatives by visiting the DDL website.
