The Challenger Society defines early career researchers as those who are:
·         within eight years of their highest degree (BSc, MSc, PhD award), or equivalent professional training;
OR
·         within six years of their first permanent/open-ended academic appointment (the first full or part time paid employment contract that lists research or teaching as the primary functions).
whichever is the shorter period since their highest degree or equivalent professional training.

These periods relate to full-time work and will be extended pro-rata to account for part-time working or any career breaks, for example due to:
·         family care
·         health reasons
·         reasons related to COVID-19 such as home schooling.

Latest News

Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition 2025

Please see a message from the Royal Society below:

We are delighted to announce that the 2025 Competition is now open for entries until 15 August for a chance to win £1000! The competition celebrates the power of photography in conveying the wonder of science happening all around us and photographs can be submitted in the categories of: Astronomy, Behaviour, Earth Science and Climatology, Ecology and Environmental Science, and Microimaging.

The competition is free to enter and open to anyone studying or working in science at graduate level or above. Category winners will receive a one-year membership to the Royal Photographic Society and the overall winner will receive a grand prize of £1,000. Find out more: https://bit.ly/RSPphotocomp

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October 2025 MEDIN Workshop: Marine Data Management, Governance and the MEDIN toolset

The Marine Environmental Data and Information Network (MEDIN) are pleased to announce that registration is now open for the next occurrence of our popular free online training workshop: ‘Marine Data Management, Governance and the MEDIN toolset’ on the 13th – 17th October 2025 on OceanTeacher Global Academy.

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Marine Data Management, Governance and the MEDIN toolset

The Marine Environmental Data and Information Network (MEDIN) and OceanWise are delighted to invite you to attend our popular free online training workshop: ‘Marine Data Management, Governance and the MEDIN toolset’ on the 19th – 23rd of May 2025.

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