This talk is an activity from the FEBS Junior Section, an initiative set up by students and young researchers from some of the FEBS Constituent Societies. Each month members of the FEBS Junior Section organize an online event on either a research or a career topic. This talk, jointly hosted by the FEBS Junior Section and the Biochemical Society’s ECR Biochemistry Focus webinar series, will provide insights from researchers from European countries who have applied for funding or secured research positions in the UK, sharing their experiences, challenges, and practical advice for early-career scientists.

Speakers: Dr Sofia Ahola (Assistant Professor, University of Birmingham), Dr Vitória Da Cunha Baptista (Research Associate, University of Glasgow) and Selin Tüzüner (DPhil Student, University of Oxford).
Topic: "UK funding opportunities after Brexit: Experiences and practical guidance".
Date and time: 13 March 2025, 19:00 CET.
Registration link: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6EmZmK8kSSaueDtQWhLz9A

Our speakers—a PhD student, a postdoctoral researcher, and an assistant professor—will discuss their journeys, including applying for studentships and fellowships, navigating institutional hiring processes, and understanding the role of networking in securing opportunities. They will share practical insights on the challenges of transitioning to the UK research environment and the different pathways available for funding and career progression.

The session will feature short presentations from each speaker (10–12 minutes), followed by a panel discussion and Q&A, allowing attendees to gain valuable advice on approaching funding applications, leveraging networking opportunities, and adapting to the UK research landscape. Whether you are considering a PhD, postdoc, or faculty position in the UK, this session will provide a realistic perspective on the opportunities and hurdles involved.

Sofia Ahola's biosketch

Dr Sofia Ahola is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Metabolism and Systems Science at the College of Medicine and Health. Sofia Ahola’s research group focuses on unravelling molecular mechanisms of mitochondrial diseases and their tissue-specific fingerprints. They are especially interested in studying the stress responses and metabolic changes upon mitochondrial dysfunction and the triggers of different cell death pathways such as ferroptosis.

Vitória Baptista’s biosketch

Dr Vitória Baptista is a Research Associate at the Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology at the University of Glasgow. She holds a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from ICVS and CMEMS, Portugal. Her research focuses on understanding malaria parasite pathogenicity and leveraging its biophysical properties for diagnosis.

Selin Tüzüner’s biosketch

Selin Tüzüner is a DPhil student in the Simões group at the University of Oxford, funded by the BHF Centre of Research Excellence and the Department of Physiology, Anatomy & Genetics. Her research focuses on developing a functional vascularized cardiac organoid system for target discovery of proangiogenic therapeutics. She completed her Master’s project in the Simões group as part of her MSc in Medical Biotechnology at the Technical University of Berlin, where she worked on cardiac regeneration in zebrafish.

Photo by Franz Wender on Unsplash