Who we are and what we do
Dedicated to the support for the wellbeing, professional development and career progress of all Early Career Researchers (ECRs).
Our Role:
The purpose of MAPS Early Career Researchers (ECRs) Forum is to lead on the provision of support for the wellbeing, professional development and career progress of early career researchers, including postgraduate research degree students, postdoctoral researchers and academics up to 6 years after PhD award, or anyone who consider themselves as an ECR. It aims to establish an inclusive support structure and a positive research culture to enable ECRs to thrive and excel.
- To conduct termly internal review of the current support available to ECRs and practices at both departmental level and faculty level, and identify areas for development.
- To promote best practices in the support and provision for ECRs across MAPS.
- To respond to needs and requests from ECRs and propose development of resources to address them.
- To develop cross-faculty initiatives, such as networking events and workshops, to support and connect ECRs.
- To develop strategies and measures that could help ECRs with career development, such as the identification of training events and workshops.
- To develop strategies and measures that could help ECRs succeed in fellowship and grant applications.
- To promote a positive and inclusive research culture for ECRs and empower our ECRs to succeed in their research and career.
- To report to the MAPS Faculty Research Board.
Members must be currently funded research students or staff. Each department should have at least one representative who must be PDRA or an ECR staff member and should be nominated by the Head of the Department. Each department should also have at least a PhD student representative who can be nominated by the Departmental Graduate Tutor. Departmental ECR Leads will be members in an ex-officio capacity. Other ECRs and staff may also join the Forum or attend the termly meetings. The Faculty Vice Dean for Research will attend to assist the meetings as a non-voting member.
Membership is initially for 2 years, with the flexibility to terminate earlier or extend.
The Forum is co-chaired by at least an ECR staff member and a PhD student. All members can volunteer for co-chairs. Where there are more than two self-nominations, an informal interview will be run by a panel consisting of the Faculty Vice Dean for Research, a Faculty Research Board Member and a Forum Member.
The Forum meets termly.
Co-Chairs of the Forum
Ina Bradic
PhD Candidate
Department of Chemistry
ina.bradic.22@ucl.ac.uk
Sijin Liu
PhD Candidate
Institute for Materials Discovery
sijin.liu.24@ucl.ac.uk
Megnaa Mehtta
Lecturer in Social Anthropology
Department of Risk and Disaster Reduction
m.mehtta@ucl.ac.uk
Current members of the ERC Forum
| Department | Departmental ECR Leads | ECR Staff Rep | PhD Rep |
| Chemistry | Prof Stefan Howorka | Dr Daniel Whitaker | Lauren Cook Milz Beaumont |
| Earth Sciences | Dr David Wilson | Dr Lewis Jones | Cassius Morrison |
| IMD | Dr Mojtaba Jelabi | Dr Mojtaba Jelabi | Lingyun Zhao |
| RDR | Dr Rozana Himaz | Dr Megnaa Mehtta | Warren Montgomery Maciej Pawlik |
| LCN | Prof Andrew Green Dr Carla Perez Martinez | Dr Cecilia Zaza | Megan Joseph |
| Maths | Prof Alex Sobolev | TBC | TBC |
| MSSL | Prof Hamish Reid | Dr Zofia Chrobakova | Wiktoria Tarnopolska |
| Physics | Prof Edina Rosta | Dr Joseph Bateman Mr George Katsoulis | Marcin Jastrzebski |
| Statistics | Dr Sebastian Maier | Dr Louis Sharrock | Tao Liang |
| STS | Prof Emily Dawson | Dr Rory Jubber | Lucy Maun Yiran Tao Molly Urquhart Nabilah Luthfiyah Jonathan Dickinson |
What we do:
MAPS ECR Journal Article Writing Workshop: 7 May 2026
Award-winning writer James Moran offers a masterclass on writing journal articles, designed specifically for early career academics. Only 20 places are available. Reserve your place now!
MAPS ECR Fellowships Event 2026
From application to award: what do you need to know about applying for fellowships and grants designed for early career researchers (ECRs)? What support and resources are available at UCL, and where can you find them? Join us on 23 April (STEM Session) and/or 13 May (Arts and Humanities Session) to explore these questions.
MAPS ECR Forum Awards 2025 Winners Announcement
The MAPS Faculty Early Career Researchers Forum is pleased to announce the winners of the MAPS Faculty ECR Forum Awards 2025.
MAPS ECR Forum Awards 2024 Winners Announcement
Many congratulations to the winners of the MAPS Faculty ECR Forum Awards 2024.
The MAPS Faculty ECR Forum is proud to launch the ECR Forum Awards 2024 to recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements and contributions made by the ECRs in various areas. Apply by 14 June 2024.
MAPS ECR Forum Event- Planning Your Academic Career: Early Career Fellowships
So, you would like to be an academic: do you know what it takes to get an Early Career Fellowship? The MAPS Faculty ECR Forum invites you to join us on the 19th Feb to find out all you need to know.
MAPS Faculty ECR Forum Awards 2023 Winners Announcement
MAPS ECR Forum is proud to announce the winners of the MAPS first-ever ECR Forum Awards. The awards highlight and reward the world-class research, teaching and community building carried out by ECRs in departments across the faculty.
MAPS Faculty ECR Forum Awards 2023
MAPS ECR Forum Awards are now open for applications for outstanding achievements made by ECRs in Research, Teaching, Outreach and Communication, EDI and Community Work. Apply before Friday 16th June to win £150 love2shop vouchers!
Ideas to Improve Research Culture for ECRs
Let us know the challenges you face and your ideas on what could be improved to create a positive research culture for ECRs.
Contact:
Faculty Research Coordinator:
Cindy Li: se.li@ucl.ac.uk
MAPS ECR Forum Co-Chair:
Ina Bradic: ina.bradic.22@ucl.ac.uk
MAPS ECR Forum Co-Chair:
Sijin Liu: sijin.liu.24@ucl.ac.uk
MAPS ECR Forum Co-Chair:
Megnaa Mehtta: m.mehtta@ucl.ac.uk