Help shape the future for early-career researchers by standing in the election to become the newest member of eLife’s Early-Career Advisory Group (ECAG).
Do you think journal publishing could be improved? Would you like to change how your work is shared and used? Would you like to see your field moving forward with open science? Still at an early stage in your career?
We have five vacancies opening in 2018 for talented grad students, med students, postdocs and junior PIs from around the world to join the eLife ECAG.
The group represents the needs and aspirations of researchers at early stages in their careers as they help drive eLife’s work to catalyse broad reform in journal publishing and research communication.
Brianne Kent, the Chair of ECAG, has recently given an update on the activities of the group – read her blog post to find out more about what’s involved in joining the advisors.
To help the group to maintain its energy, creativity and diversity, we are inviting more early-career researchers to make their voices heard.
If you’re passionate about improving the quality of the early-career experience – especially in the life sciences, biomedicine and related fields – please join us.
Nominations for five new members to join the eLife ECAG, for two-year terms starting on August 1, 2018, are now invited. Details on eligibility, responsibilities and the election process are available below.
The deadline for nominations is 23:59 (UK time) on May 28, 2018.
Eligibility
Members of the eLife ECAG are scientists who:
- Are studying or conducting research in the life or biological sciences or related field, as a student, medical student, postdoctoral fellow, or junior investigator.
- Have no more than five years’ active experience in an independent position. ‘Active experience’ is intended to exclude time away for parental leave, health leave, or other reasons unrelated to research. An independent position is defined here as having secured independent funding.
Nominations
Individuals meeting the criteria set above may nominate themselves through the nominations form. During the process they will be asked to confirm their details in relation to the criteria set by eLife.
Nominees will be asked to provide a short (~200-word) statement that describes their vision for how different approaches to research communication might improve the career development of early-stage researchers, why they are enthusiastic to join, and how they would contribute to the work of the ECAG.
Election process
eLife and the ECAG will review nominations for eligibility and shortlist the candidates according to their potential to help advance the work of the group, their enthusiasm, and contribution to balance and diversity within the ECAG (with respect to gender, career stage, geography and research focus).
The new members of the ECAG will be voted for by the eLife Ambassadors and current ECAG members.
Responsibilities
The role of the ECAG is to influence and support eLife’s work to catalyse broad reform in journal publishing and research communication and, in particular, to represent the needs and aspirations of researchers at early stages in their careers. Members provide input in a number of ways:
- Offer ideas and advice on new and ongoing efforts with the potential to help early-career scientists
- Provide direct support for ongoing programs, such as monthly webinars and the eLife Ambassadors programme
- Lead at least one effort to reach out to early-stage colleagues, to gather their feedback and/or connect them to the network
- Participate in online or in-person events about issues of concern to early-stage researchers
- Attend quarterly phone calls and an annual in-person meeting
Terms and conditions
Incoming members of the ECAG will serve two-year terms beginning August 1, 2018. Members may be re-elected in future, provided they continue to be eligible, but may serve no more than two consecutive terms.
We welcome comments, questions and feedback. Please annotate publicly on the article or contact us at hello [at] elifesciences [dot] org.
Interested in finding out more about opportunities, events and issues that are important for early-career researchers? Sign up to the eLife Early-Career Community newsletter or follow @eLifeCommunity on Twitter.
