Whitechapel Postdoc Forum

Overview

The aim of the Whitechapel Postdoc Forum is to connect postdocs and early career researchers (ECRs) across all Whitechapel research institutes to generate local support, networking opportunities and foster collaboration. Postdocs and ECRs in Whitechapel had expressed that they felt unsupported both professionally and socially, lacking training opportunities and resources. A lack of a forum for networking and career development events targeted at this career stage made it hard for postdocs and ECRs to find support and connect with peers outside their research teams. To address this, the Whitechapel Postdoc Forum was established, which provides opportunities for postdocs and ECRs in Whitechapel to come together through seminars, career focused workshops and networking sessions. The forum provides a space for ECRs to network and therefore foster professional relationships across disciplines in the Whitechapel Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry (FMD) community.

Activities

To tailor the forum's activities to the community's needs, the team conducted an initial survey. The results identified a demand for more opportunities for personal, research community and professional network building within the local vicinity, as this involved less time away from research work. The survey highlighted the need for a connected environment where ECRs could discuss career-stage challenges with peers. This led to the establishment of a monthly programme of networking lunches and career advice events, with internal speakers from QMUL and external guests from the private sector. These events covered diverse topics, including career transitions, the startup world, career development strategies, grant writing tips, and alternative career paths beyond academia. Additionally, sessions addressed mentoring, mental health, equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), and union activities. Events were scheduled during lunch hours or late afternoons, the most preferred times according to the survey.

Outcomes

The events were consistently attended by 15-45 postdocs and ECRs from various Whitechapel research institutes, who provided strong positive feedback. The Whitechapel FMD ECR community continues to meet on a monthly basis fostering an environment for interdisciplinary collaboration and networking.

Future plans

The Whitechapel Postdoc Forum was set up as a long-term project to provide a space for the development of an early career researcher community across the Whitechapel research institutes associated with the FMD. Going forward, the team will repeat the survey taken at the beginning of this project to refine the program for the upcoming year. They aim to invite researchers from the biotech and pharmacology industries, career advisors, and mental health experts from QMUL, as well as representatives from EDI committees and the University and College Union (UCU). Expanding networking opportunities to encourage cross-disciplinary collaboration is also a key goal, ensuring the forum continues to meet the evolving needs of its community.