I am the FEBS Events Associate – Advanced Courses, Congress, 3+ at FEBS, supporting the delivery of those events. Previously I was the Communications and Digital Platforms Associate, also at FEBS, and worked on platforms such as the FEBS Network and FEBS website. Before joining FEBS I managed the grant programmes of a number of UK research charities, mainly in the field of cancer, as well as supported the fundraising at those organisations. I also developed e-learning resources at the Institute of Cancer Research. I have a BSc in Biochemistry and an MSc in Nutrition. After years in London I have now moved back to Spain.

The junior section of the Czech Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ČSBMB Junior) is part of an extensive network of junior sections of national biochemical societies across Europe. The section aims to put together active young researchers and support the development of their personalities and their growing scientific careers. We meet this goal by organizing various scientific events, including workshops, webinars, lectures, or minor conferences. The vision of ČSBMB Junior is not only to provide connections and support but also to serve as a source of inspiration and motivation. Junior section members will get access to helpful information, manuals, and exercises that will help them with shaping their future careers in the field of research practice, as well as so-called soft skills. All the ČSBMB Junior members will further stay connected thanks to regular online and in-person meetings, therefore building a network of young biochemists and molecular biologists. 

The FEBS Junior Section is organised by students and young researchers from some FEBS Constituent Societies. They develop joint activities, such as online talks and other events, and share resources, as well as open doors for young European scientists to opportunities outside their home countries by providing the relevant contacts and fostering communication within the network.

The FEBS-IUBMB-ENABLE Conference is a joint initiative of FEBS, IUBMB, and several leading European biomedical research institutes (the ENABLE partners), building on a successful project originally funded by the EU Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme (2017–2020). These interdisciplinary, international, three-day events are organized by and for young researchers in the molecular life sciences and attract up to 300 participants from around the world. Each conference features a scientific symposium, a career day, and outreach activities. ENABLE (the European Academy for Biomedical Science) was launched in 2017 through the collaboration of four renowned European institutes: the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona, Spain), the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research (NNF-CPR, Denmark), the Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences at Radboudumc (Netherlands), and the European School of Molecular Medicine (SEMM, Italy). These core institutions hosted the first four conferences from 2017 to 2021. In 2022, FEBS and IUBMB joined forces with the ENABLE founders to relaunch the initiative as FEBS-IUBMB-ENABLE, expanding its reach and impact. In this new cycle, institutions can apply to become associated centres and host one of the events. 

Young-NVBMB is the Junior Section of the Netherlands Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (NVBMB). It is a collaboration between NVBMB and several student organizations in the field of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology across the Netherlands (e.g., GLV Idun, SV Mens, ULSV Amino, CODON, and SvBMT Protagoras). Young-NVBMV was set up in 2021 to support the career development and networking opportunities of students and young researchers in the molecular life sciences in the Netherlands. Young-NVBMB organise and deliver their own activities under the supervision of their Society and all members of the Junior Section are members of NVBMB. Young-NVBMB are also part of the FEBS Junior Section. To find out more about Young-NVBMB read their overview post and check out the online talks and other activities they deliver, accesible from the 'Popular contributions' section below.

I spent 40 years teaching and researching, and developed a particular interest in education and career development. I chaired the Education Committee and was Careers advisor for the UK Biochemical Society. In these roles, and my work with students at the University of Manchester, I realised how important it is for young scientists to recognise their skills and be able to "sell" themselves to potential employers (and grant awarding bodies). I now run CV support sessions for young scientists on behalf of the FEBS Education Committee, of which I was a founder member.