An early career researcher (ECR) grant & paper writing retreat designed for women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is aimed at strengthening the scientific writing and critical thinking skills of Australia’s next generation of scientists and academics. This retreat aims to provide mentoring, transparent peer review and centralized writing training opportunities that early career women in STEM may not have at their home institutions. It may also help to increase the number of female academics in STEM-related departments. In particular, all ECRs need to complete a significant amount of scientific writing in their academic research positions including grant & fellowship applications, journal articles as well as patent applications, which requires critical writing skills towards their success as researchers. This retreat will provide an opportunity for ECRs to build on their scientific writing skills and gain inspiration from mentors and like-minded researchers, forming a valuable component of their academic career development. 

Location: Leonard Huxley Teaching Room H4.20, Research School of Physics and Engineering, The Australian National University (Building 56, Mills Road, ACT 2601, Australia)

ECWR venue & travel

University House (http://unihouse.anu.edu.au/) is the ceremonial heart of Australia’s National University, and a boutique hotel with a university vibe. Set in the ANU’s tranquil grounds next to the city’s stylish New Acton precinct, University House is truly one of Canberra’s unique locations and experiences.

Program

21^st Oct.  8.30AM-8.50AM: Opening Ceremony  

                 8.50AM-9AM: Opening Address by A/Prof. Patrick Kluth, Head of Department of Electronic Materials Engineering (EME), The Australian National University (ANU)

                 9AM-10AM: Senior Academic Mentor Guidance by Prof. Naomi McClure-Griffiths

                 10.30AM-12PM:  Writing Session with Mentor Support

                 12PM-2PM: Lunch and Question Time with Mentors

                 2PM-3PM: Senior Academic Mentor Guidance by Prof. Lan Fu

                 3.30PM-5PM: Writing Session with Mentor Support

                 5PM-8.30PM: Dinner

                 8.30PM-9.30PM: Group Exchange & Peer Review

22^nd Oct.  9AM-10AM: Senior Academic Mentor Guidance by Prof. Jodie Bradby

                 10.30AM-12PM: Writing Session with Mentor Support

                 12PM-2PM: Lunch and Question Time with Mentors

                 2PM-3PM: Senior Academic Mentor Guidance by Prof. Igor Aharonovich

                 3.30PM-5PM: Writing Session with Mentor Support

                 5PM-8.30PM: Dinner

                 8.30PM-9.30PM: Group Exchange & Peer Review

23^rd Oct.  9AM-10AM: Intellectual Property Management Expert Guidance by Mr. Kevin Croft

                 10.30AM-12PM: Question Time

                 12PM-2PM: Lunch and Question Time with Mentors

                 2PM-3PM: Senior Academic Mentor Guidance by Dr. Mary McMillan

                 3.30PM-5PM: Activities on Leadership Development and Strategic Mapping with Mentor

Keynote speakers/mentors

Professor Naomi McClure-Griffiths (Future Fellow), The Australian National University, https://researchers.anu.edu.au/researchers/mcclure-griffiths-nm#biography

Professor Jodie Bradby (Future Fellow), The Australian National University, https://physics.anu.edu.au/contact/people/profile.php?ID=109

Professor Lan Fu (Future Fellow), The Australian National University, https://physics.anu.edu.au/people/profile.php?ID=108

Professor Igor Aharonovich (DECRA Fellow), University of Technology Sydney, https://www.uts.edu.au/staff/igor.aharonovich

Dr Mary McMillan (Homeward Bound Leadership Initiative Participant), University of New England, https://www.une.edu.au/staff-profiles/science-and-technology/mary-mcmillan

Mr Kevin Croft (Research Collaboration & Translation Manager), University of Technology Sydney, https://www.uts.edu.au/staff/kevin.croft

Committee members

Dr Ziyuan Li, DECRA Fellow, The Australian National University

Dr Natalie Holmes, Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Newcastle

Dr Pegah Maasoumi, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, ARC Centre of Excellence in Exciton Science, University of Melbourne

Dr Helen Xu, Vice Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Technology Sydney

Sponsors

IEEE Nanotechnology Council (NTC), Australian Institute of Physics (AIP), Department of Electronic Materials Engineering (EME), Research School of Physics and Engineering (RSPE) of The Australian National University (ANU),  Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI), Australian Microscopy and Microanalysis Society (AMMS), ARC Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems (EQuS), ARC Centre of Excellence in Exciton Science (ACEx) and University of Technology Sydney (UTS).

Applications & registrations

Application criteria: you will need to provide your name, email, affiliation, a 1-page CV, publication list, and PhD testamur to register your interest; and please state in no more than 300 words how attending ECWR2019 will benefit your career.

Registration fee: Free (includes three days of catering)

Attendee selection criteria

• Open to early career women within their first 5 years of academic or other research-related employment after the award of PhD degree.
• Currently based in Australia.
• Each attendee must bring two documents to work on during the retreat. These can be (a) grant proposal, (b) fellowship proposal, (c) scientific manuscript, and/or (d) patent application.

Timeline

6 May 2019: Applications Open
6 July 2019 (11:55PM): Applications Close
21 July 2019: Outcome of Successful Applicants
28 July 2019: Confirmation of Attendance and Registrations Open
28 August 2019 (11:55PM): Registrations Close
21 - 23 October 2019: Workshop