Early-Career Researchers’ Colloquium 2026
Aberystwyth University | 29 and 30 June
Join the Learned Society of Wales’ Early Career Researchers Network for the 4th annual Colloquium at Aberystwyth University on the 29 and 30 June 2026.
The ECR Colloquium brings together researchers from across Wales and all disciplines for two half-days of networking, professional development, and collaboration. It offers a supportive, interdisciplinary space to share research ideas, receive peer feedback, explore opportunities for future collaboration, and develop skills that support research careers.
Designed in partnership with an interdisciplinary team of researchers, the programme will reflect the diverse needs and experiences of those working across Wales. This year we are working with Aberystwyth University’s Early Career Researchers Network to deliver the Colloquium.
An optional social event will take place on the evening of 29 June, providing further opportunities to connect with fellow attendees in a relaxed setting.
Travel and Accommodation
The Learned Society of Wales is committed to minimising barriers to ensure that researchers based in Wales can access our opportunities.
Attendance at the Colloquium is free of charge, and travel and accommodation bursaries are available to support researchers travelling from further afield. Details on how to apply for bursary support will be provided at the time of registration.
Researchers working outside of higher education institutions are also encouraged to attend the Colloquium. This might include those who are carrying out research in public, private or third sectors, as well as freelance and independent researchers.
Please note: ECRs are expected to travel the day before the event. Accommodation will therefore be provided for the nights of 28 and 29 June. Attendees will be able to travel home on 30 June, after 2:00 pm, once the event has concluded.
Key Dates
Registration Now Open: ECR Colloquium 2026
Whether you are looking to expand your network, share your work, or explore new opportunities, the Colloquium offers a welcoming and collaborative space to engage with researchers and professionals from across sectors.
By attending, you will have the opportunity to:
Connect with ECRs, researchers, policymakers, and professionals across academia, industry, the public sector, and not-for-profit organisations
Share your research through flash talks and posters
Take part in interactive workshops and discussions
Explore new collaborations and career development opportunities
Engage with a supportive and inclusive research community
The Colloquium will also host the Hywel Thomas ECR Prize for Research Culture and Community Leadership, celebrating Early Career Researchers who support other ECRs and contribute to a more inclusive and supportive research environment.
We encourage attendees to consider submitting a nomination.
Find out more about the prize by clicking on ” The Hywel Thomas Prize” tab.
The ECR Network Colloquium is open to:
| DAY 1 | |
|---|---|
| Time | Activity |
| 11:30-12:00 | Arrival and Registration |
| 12:00–13:00 | Networking lunch |
| 13:00–14:15 | Welcome, keynote session, and ECR Prize Introduction |
| 14:15–14:30 | Break |
| 14:30–15:30 | Flash talks |
| 15:30–16:00 | Refreshments and networking |
| 16:00–17:00 | Parallel Workshop sessions |
| 17:00–17:15 | Close of Day 1 |
| Evening | ECR-led social activities |
| DAY 2 | |
|---|---|
| Time | Activity |
| 08:45–09:15 | Arrival and refreshments |
| 09:15–10:15 | Flash talks |
| 10:15–10:30 | Break |
| 10:30–11:00 | Poster exhibition |
| 11:00–12:30 | Lunch and networking |
| 12:30–13:30 | Panel discussion |
| 13:30–14:30 | Closing session and ECR Prize announcement |
The programme includes a mix of keynote sessions, flash talks, workshops, and networking opportunities across two days. A draft schedule for the Colloquium is provided above to assist attendees with travel planning. A finalised programme will be shared with attendees ahead of the event.
Please note: if you have submitted an abstract for the Colloquium, you do not need to complete this general registration form at this stage, regardless of the outcome of your submission. All abstract submitters will be invited to complete a separate internal registration process, and further details will be shared directly by the Researcher Development team via researcherdevelopment@lsw.wales.ac.uk
To register for the Colloquium, please follow the link below:
Register here: ECR Colloquium 2026
The registration is open to anyone interested in attending the colloquium and will close on 12 June 2026, or earlier if the event reaches full capacity.
We are committed to reducing barriers to participation. A limited number of travel bursaries and accommodation options will be available to support attendance. Priority will be given to participants who are presenting at the Colloquium and have had their abstracts accepted. To be considered, please complete the application form linked on the registration page above. Please note that attendees should not make any travel arrangements until their travel bursary has been formally approved
Keep an eye on this page — additional information on the programme and event details will be released over the coming weeks.
Please note: ECRs are expected to travel the day before the event. Accommodation will therefore be provided for the nights of 28 and 29 June. Attendees will be able to travel home on 30 June, after 2:00 pm, once the event has concluded.
If you have any questions about the ECR Colloquium or registration, please contact:
The conference will take place at the MedRus Conference Centre, Penbryn, Aberystwyth University, Penglais, SY23 3BY.
Click here to open directions to Aberystwyth. To access Aberystwyth University Campus Maps, please click here.
Please note that this prize will be awarded at the ECR Colloquium 2026, to be held at Aberystwyth University on 29–30 June.
The Hywel Thomas ECR Prize for Research Culture and Community Leadership celebrates Early Career Researchers (ECRs) in Wales who are supporting other ECRs and contributing to a more inclusive, supportive, and sustainable research environment.
Established in recognition of Professor Hywel Thomas’s leadership and values, this prize reflects a commitment to research culture that is not only excellent, but also fair, collaborative, and people centred. During his time as President of the Learned Society of Wales, Professor Thomas championed early career researchers and supported work to strengthen equality, diversity and inclusion, recognising that thriving research communities depend on the ability of all individuals to participate and succeed.
This prize continues that legacy by recognising ECRs who demonstrate leadership through care, inclusion, and community-building — supporting others while helping to shape a research culture that is open, accessible, and equitable.
The prize will be awarded at the 2026 Early-Career Researchers Network Colloquium in Aberystwyth Shortlisted nominees will be recognised at the event and receive a certificate. The prize winner will receive a certificate, a cash award, and formal recognition through the Society’s communications, including online and in-person channels.
Professor Hywel Thomas is the third President of the Learned Society of Wales, taking up the role in May 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. He led the Society through a period of significant development, including the establishment of the Early Career Researchers Network and continued progress in advancing equality, diversity and inclusion across its work.
An internationally recognised researcher, he is the founder of the Geoenvironmental Research Centre at Cardiff University and a Distinguished Research Professor at Swansea University. He served as a Bevan Commissioner, providing independent expert advice to the Welsh Government on innovation and improvement in health and social care in Wales. He also led FLEXIS, a £24 million project for energy systems research in Wales. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS), a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng), and a Member of Academia Europaea, the Academy of Europe.
In 2017 he received a CBE for services to academic research and higher education. In 2021, he was elected as a foreign member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the highest honour bestowed by the Chinese government to a foreign scientist for contributions and achievements in science and technology. In 2025, Professor Thomas received the Chinese Government Friendship Award, for his ‘important contribution to China’s socialist modernisation as well as exchanges and cooperation with other countries.’
His leadership reflects a strong commitment to supporting research talent in Wales, strengthening community, and shaping a research culture that is collaborative, inclusive, and forward-looking — values that underpin this prize.
The prize recognises contributions where ECRs support other ECRs and strengthen research culture and community in ways that are inclusive, collaborative, and impactful.
This may include, but is not limited to:
We particularly value contributions that recognise the importance of community, shared responsibility, and the often-unseen work that enables others to thrive.
At the Learned Society of Wales, we believe that research culture should reflect the diversity of the communities it serves. Equality, diversity and inclusion are therefore integral to how this prize is defined and assessed.
We recognise that early career researchers experience research environments in different ways, and that barriers — whether structural, cultural, or practical — can shape access to opportunities and progression. Supporting ECRs means actively working to reduce these barriers and to create conditions in which a wider range of researchers can contribute and succeed.
This prize values contributions that demonstrate thoughtful, inclusive approaches to leadership and community-building. This may include supporting underrepresented groups, improving accessibility, creating inclusive spaces and practices, or widening participation in research and development opportunities.
Nominations are open to:
We define an Early Career Researcher (ECR) as someone who is typically within 8 years of completing their PhD (or equivalent research experience), excluding any career breaks. This includes researchers working across academia, industry, the public sector, and not-for-profit organisations. We also welcome nominations from, and for, Independent Researchers. Please note that doctoral researchers (PhD students) are not eligible for this prize. 1
Nominees should be based in Wales or making a clear contribution to the research environment in Wales. Eligible activity may take place across academia, the public or private sector, industry, not-for-profit organisations, or through cross-sector collaboration.
¹ If you are unsure whether a nominee meets the ECR definition, including cases where individuals may still be undertaking doctoral study alongside employment or have non-linear career pathways, we encourage you to contact us at researcherdevelopment@lsw.wales.ac.uk to discuss your situation. While doctoral researchers are not typically eligible, we recognise that individuals may still self-identify as part of the ECR community in certain circumstances and we are happy to provide further guidance.
Nominations can be submitted by someone inside or outside nominee’s organisation:
To submit a nomination, please complete the online application form by Wednesday, 29th May 2026: The Hywel Thomas ECR Prize for Research Culture and Community Leadership
You will be asked to provide a short overview of the nominee’s contribution, evidencing how they have supported other ECRs and contributed to a positive and inclusive research culture.
¹ If you are unsure whether a nominee meets the ECR definition, including cases where individuals may still be undertaking doctoral study alongside employment or have non-linear career pathways, we encourage you to contact us at researcherdevelopment@lsw.wales.ac.uk to discuss your situation. While doctoral researchers are not typically eligible, we recognise that individuals may still self-identify as part of the ECR community in certain circumstances and we are happy to provide further guidance.
Following the application deadline, nominations will be reviewed, and shortlisted nominees will be contacted. Both nominators and nominees will be notified if an application is shortlisted.
If you do not hear from us by 17th June 2026, please assume that your application has not been successful on this occasion.
A dedicated team of researchers who are a part of ECR Network at Aberystwyth University, have been working with us to support the planning and delivery of the ECR Colloquium 2026. Their expertise ensures the Colloquium is designed to reflect the needs and priorities of researchers working in Wales.
Dr Hannah Vallin is a Postdoctoral Research Assistant at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University. She is a multidisciplinary researcher specialising in DNA metabarcoding and environmental DNA (eDNA) for ecological and biodiversity research. Following her PhD on herbivore dietary analysis, she has held postdoctoral research assistant positions at Aberystwyth University spanning terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Her work applies DNA-based approaches to better understand species interactions, ecosystem health, and biodiversity. Hannah is also Chair of the Aberystwyth University Early Career Researcher Committee, where she supports initiatives that foster inclusivity, collaboration, mentorship, and professional development for researchers across disciplines.
Caitlin is a Lecturer in Psychology at Aberystwyth University. Her research explores various aspects of Confidence with Interracial Contact: investigating participants possessing or lacking the confidence to interact with racially/ethnically diverse people and how they discuss (or don’t discuss!) racial topics. Additionally, she studies how this affects their desire to seek new interracial experiences and their ability to develop successful, positive friendships with racially/ethnically diverse people. Currently, she is investigating strategic colour blindness (SCB), a phenomenon in which people avoid discussing racial topics for fear of being seen as racist, with the intention to develop interventions to build confidence and skills.
Elena Anna Spagnuolo works as an Associate Lecturer and Italian Language Instructor at Aberystwyth University. Her monograph Voices of Women Writers. Using Language to Negotiate Identity in Transmigratory Contexts, investigated the connection between writing, self-translating and the redefinition of identity in transmigratory contexts. In 2020, her research project, funded by the Centre for the Movement of People, explored the impact of Covid-19 on the transnational dimension of Italian migration to Wales. She is currently working on a project, funded by the British Academy Small Grants. It investigates an evacuation scheme for Italian children, that took place after World War II.
Ben is a doctoral researcher and early career ecologist at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University. His research takes a multidisciplinary approach to upland ecology, investigating the complex relationships between vegetation dynamics, peatland hydrology, wildfire regimes, and how land use and management can influence the resilience of these landscapes. As a member of the ECR Colloquium Committee for 2026, Ben hopes to contribute to the LSW's ongoing work in fostering networking and collaboration among early career researchers across Wales.
Dr Beatrice E. Ifie is a Senior Research Fellow in Plant Breeding leading the Miscanthus Breeding Programme at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), Aberystwyth University, where she applies innovative plant breeding technologies to accelerate genetic gains for improved yield, stress resilience, and quality traits. Her current research focuses on developing high-yielding, climate-resilient Miscanthus varieties to support sustainable agricultural systems. Her research focuses on advancing the understanding of Miscanthus biology, particularly by investigating the mechanisms underlying plant responses to abiotic stresses and diverse environments, to inform targeted breeding strategies. Beatrice has extensive university teaching experience and has played a key role in developing e-learning resources in Plant Breeding.
Jule is a marine chronobiologist and postdoctoral researcher at Aberystwyth University. Her research focuses on understanding how organisms keep track of time, with a particular focus on the influence of the tides and the moon on life in our oceans. She completed her PhD at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Plön, after which an independent early-career fellowship brought her from northern Germany to Wales.
Hardik Harishchandra Patel is a PhD researcher in Biological Sciences at Aberystwyth University. His research focuses on lodging resistance in teff, with particular interest in stem biomechanics, lignin deposition and plant physiological responses. He has a strong academic background in plant breeding, genetics and crop improvement, with previous research experience in cotton and pulse crops. He is passionate about sustainable agriculture, innovative research methods and supporting the development of early career researchers through collaborative academic initiatives.
If you have any questions about the ECR Colloquium, please email us at researcherdevelopment@lsw.wales.ac.uk
We are now inviting abstract submissions for 3-minute Flash Talks and Research Posters.
We are inviting proposals that align with one of the Seven Well-being Goals of the Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015:
We also encourage proposals that have an international scope to apply. If your research is being conducted outside Wales, you can refer to the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals instead.
Research posters should be size A0 (84.1m x 118.9 cm) and use a portrait layout.
We encourage applicants to creatively present their research for an interdisciplinary or non-specialist audience.
Submission Guidelines
