Early Career Workshop 2027

SRF Early Career Pre-Fertility 2027 Workshop information:

Join the SRF Early Career Representatives for the fourth Pre-Fertility 2027 Conference workshop, and make the most of your time at the conference. This half-day workshop is open to BSc, MSc, PhD, and Post Doc researchers who are SRF Early Career members and attending Fertility 2027 in Belfast, UK.

Join us at the 2027 Early Career Workshop where Lisa Douglas and Jill McClenaghan from the Postdoctoral Development Centre at Queens University Belfast will be discussing with us the importance of recognising your value as a researcher.

Recognising Your Value as a Researcher – what to expect:

Researchers develop a wealth of valuable skills, expertise, and experiences throughout their careers, yet many struggle to recognise their own achievements and value. In environments where uncertainty, high expectations, and comparison are common, it is easy to experience self-doubt or underestimate the strengths you bring to both academic and non-academic careers.

This interactive workshop will explore the connections between researcher identity, imposter phenomenon, and career confidence. Through reflection, discussion, and practical activities, participants will examine how identity shapes their perceptions of success, learn to distinguish between constructive self-reflection and self-doubt, and develop strategies to recognise and articulate their strengths.

The session will also highlight the highly transferable skills researchers possess and explore how these capabilities create opportunities across a wide range of career paths. By the end of the workshop, participants will have a deeper understanding of their value as researchers and practical tools to overcome imposter phenomenon and navigate their future careers with confidence.

Important Information:

This event is open to all SRF Early Career members from BSc to PostDoc who are already planning to attend the Fertility 2027 conference

BSc, MSc and first-year PhD students must have paid for 2026 membership to apply*.

PostDocs and second year onwards PhD students must have paid for at least 2 membership years (i.e. must have paid for 2025 and 2026 membership prior to application)*.

If you’re unsure if you are eligible, please email srf@conferencecollective.co.uk or contact one of your Early Career Reps: https://srf-reproduction.org/early-career-representatives/

Accommodation: If your application is successful, you will receive a budget of £50 for your accommodation, which you will be able to claim after the conference with your SRF bursary expenses.

Lunch: You are invited to join the ECRs for lunch after the workshop, please indicate on the application form if you would like to join and any dietary requirements

SRF Membership: Membership must have been paid prior to submitting an application.

Deposit: A fully refundable deposit of £50 will be requested to secure your place once you have been accepted.  This will be refunded with your bursary claim after the workshop, this deposit will be forfeited if you fail to attend the workshop.

* All workshop offers are awarded on the understanding that members remain and pay for membership for the year of the conference (i.e. they must pay for 2027 membership).

Timeline:

Applications close at 9.00am (GMT) on Monday 11 October 2026

Confirmation will be sent to applicants by Friday 29 October 2026

Applicants must have confirmed and paid by Friday 12 November 2026

Friday the 12 of November 2026: Applicants must have confirmed and paid a deposit. Failure to confirm and pay the stated deposit will result in withdrawal of the workshop offer.