In April this year, the New Zealand Association of Scientists held a conference with the theme “Do Emerging Scientists have a Future in New Zealand?” One point identified at the conference was the importance of support networks and organisations for early- and mid-career researchers.

Wellington Early- and Mid-career Researchers (Wellington EMCR) is a newly formed group with the aims of providing a support network and identifying and addressing issues affecting early- and mid-career researchers.

The group will be launched at an event on November 6th at the (family friendly) Southern Cross Bar. This is an opportunity to meet other emerging researchers and talk about problems you’ve experienced, solutions you’ve found; to share advice or horror stories. We also want to hear what you would particularly want from an organisation like Wellington EMCR. Advocacy? Workshops on funding sources and applications? Social events and networking opportunities?

Who is an EMCR? The Australian Academy of Science considers an EMCR to be a researcher who is under 15 years post-PhD (or other research higher degree) irrespective of their professional appointment.