ICIS Early Career Researchers (ECR) Committee
Adriana Forero, PhD, Co-Chair
Juan L. Mendoza, PhD, Co-Chair
Ruby Dawson, PhD, Junior Council
Justina Kulikauskaite, PhD, Junior Council
Susan Carpenter, PhD, ICIS Secretary
Meike Dittmann, PhD
Shruti Naik, PhD
Olusegun Onabajo, PhD
Elia Tait Wojno, PhD
Rami Bechara, Pharm.D, Ph.D, yEFIS Spokesperson
From Signals+ November 1, 2023 – By Ruby Dawson
During the third evening of this year’s annual Cytokines meeting, hosted in Athens this month, the ICIS ECR committee organized a networking event tailored to young investigators. The event featured esteemed senior academic and industry scientists, along with prominent journal editors as special guests. This gathering provided a valuable opportunity for our young investigators to connect with a diverse group in an informal yet professional environment. The evening was complemented by a selection of great food and drink as well as live music from the band Metabollix, fronted by the renowned Prof. Luke O’Neill.
The event was a resounding success, resulting in the establishment of meaningful international connections between junior and senior scientists, as well as among peers, which is crucial for the longevity of the society. Furthermore, this event marked the inaugural in-person meeting for members who had enrolled in the recently launched ICIS mentoring program, kickstarting important mentor-mentee relationships.
Additionally, the event served as an introduction for junior members in attendance to the current ECR committee and junior council members, encouraging engagement and dialogue with their representatives. This is of particular significance, considering that ICIS boasts a substantial membership of over 500 junior members.
On a personal note, I found the event highly enjoyable, and I look forward to playing a role in organizing similar events in the future – I hope to see you all at next year’s Cytokines 2024 in Seoul!
Early Career (ECR) Committee
- Adriana Forero Co-Chair, USA
- Juan Mendoza Co-Chair, USA
- Ruby Dawson* ICIS Council members for Inclusion and Training, Australia
- Justina Kulikauskaite* ICIS Council members for Inclusion and Training, UK
- Susan Carpenter, USA
- Meike Dittmann, USA
- Shruti Naik, USA
- Olusegun Onabajo, USA
- Elia Tait Wojno, USA
All Student/Postdoc meeting participants were invited to this Young Investigators Career Networking Event which will was held in the Horizon Hall on the Roof Garden Floor (9th floor) on Tuesday, October 17th, from 8:15-9:45 PM. This was an opportunity to connect with colleagues and inspire a new generation of cytokine biologists in a relaxed setting.
Senior editors or research staff with Science (AAAS), JEM (Rockefeller University Press), JICR (Mary Ann LIebert), Nature (Nature Publishing Group), Trends in Immunology (Cell Press) and TO VIMA Science, (Greek leading Sunday newspaper founded in 1922 with a popular supplement devoted to science), participated as well as a geographically diverse array of meeting participants who are Early Career, Academic or Government members of the ICIS.
Funding for this event was sponsored in part by a grant from the BURROUGHS WELLCOME FUND.
Included for all 254 registered Students & Postdocs and by invitation to Industry representatives from the following companies:
- Abbvie
- Anaveon
- BioLegend
- BMS
- Genentech
- Janssen
- Lilly
- Luminex
- Moderna
- Novartis
- Olink
- Owkin
- Pfizer
- Regeneron
- Synthekine
