The term Early-Stage Researcher refers to researchers in the first years (full-time equivalent) of their research activity, including the period of doctoral training and the postdoctoral period prior to obtaining tenure.

The IfWH ECR Network aims to support the delivery of a holistic learning environment that extends beyond individual research groups to facilitate the transition to becoming an independent researcher 

The forum will include a space for ECRs to present their own work, organise socials, obtain careers advice and peer support and centralise/ share the information about different events organised by the Faculty of Population and Health Sciences

Aims

We aim to deliver montly talks including both internal and external speakers covering a variety of different topics including:

Grant application writing

Preparing manuscripts for publication

Thesis writing skills 

Career planning

Masterclasses in specific lab techniques

PIs Careers stories

Careers in industry stories

Figures and graphs trouble-shooting clinics

We also aim to organise social events open to all members of the Institute that enable networking opportunities in an informal environment.

Next Event 

Invited speaker: Dr Victoria Male

 

Lecturer in Reproductive Immunology, Faculty of Medicine,

Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction,

Imperial College London

 

Title: Dynamic changes in uterine immune cell function over the menstrual cycle and pregnancy

Abstract: 

The lining of the uterus is rich in a family of immune cells called "innate lymphoid cells". Among these, uterine NK cells are thought to play a role in mediating the implantation of the placenta. It has recently come to light that there are in fact three subpopulations of uterine NK cells, each of which may have a different function. I will describe how these cells change in frequency and function over the reproductive cycle, and what this can tell us about their roles in the physiological processes of pregnancy.

Biography: 

"I did my PhD at the University of Cambridge on NK cells in human pregnancy. I then went on to a post-doctoral project investigating the transcriptional control of NK cell development in mice, which I undertook at Imperial College London. In 2015, I was awarded a Sir Henry Dale Fellowship, which I used to start my own laboratory at the Royal Free Hospital Campus of UCL. Working closely with the liver transplant team, my group showed that long-lived resident NK cells are present in the human liver and defined some of that pathways by which they develop. They also showed that NK cells recruited to the liver become less functional in obesity-associated liver disease, and that this is associated with a decreased ability to clear cancer cells.
In 2019, I returned to Imperial, and to reproductive immunology, and took up my Lectureship in Reproductive Immunology in 2021. Using clinical samples and a novel mouse model, my research group is investigating how ILCs in the uterus work to establish and maintain pregnancy, and how this may fail in disorders of pregnancy such as pre-eclampsia and pre-term birth."

Link to join

 

Resources

UCL Doctoral School Skills Development Programme

UCL Careers Events

Research Coordination Office for Life and Medical Sciences 

Peer support and mentoring

Dr Pascale V Guillot and Dr Rajvinder Karda are team leads for the UCL IfWH mentoring scheme. ECRs are encouraged to participate in the scheme. To find out more contact p.guillot@ucl.ac.uk and r.karda@ucl.ac.uk

ECR Committee

Contact us

For any questions please email ifwh-ecr@ucl.ac.uk