Supporting early-career researchers
A key focus of Digital Life Norway (DLN) is to train and support the next generation of transdisciplinary life scientists. As the representative voice of early-career researchers within DLN, the JRG plays a vital role in shaping activities to better reach PhD students and postdocs.
In 2024, the JRG team included Arsenii Zabirnyk, Chidimma Phoebe Echebiri, Dipendra Pant, Gustavo Agudelo, Nancy Saana Banono, Olga Mikhailova, and Rohit Agarwal. Together, they made significant contributions to DLN’s mission.
Addressing challenges for early-career researchers
A fundamental part of the JRG’s mission is to identify challenges faced by early-career researchers, amplify their voices, and contribute to solutions. In 2024, the group published a piece on the Challenges of Early Career Researchers, drawing insights from a survey conducted at DLN Research School conference 2023.
Fostering connections through social gatherings
The JRG organized several social gatherings at the start of the fall semester: two in Oslo and one in Tromsø. Rohit hosted the Tromsø event, which focused on Strategic Career Planning for Young Researchers. In Oslo, Gustavo, Olga, and Arsenii organized events centered around navigating career complexity with a design thinking approach and exploring career opportunities.
These meetups provided career development insights and created a space for early career researchers to connect and network. Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, and the JRG plans to continue these events in collaboration with partners in 2025.
A conference highlight: Bridging supervisory expectations
At the Annual Digital Life Conference, the JRG organized a panel discussion on supervision for early-career researchers, aimed at bridging the expectations between supervisors and supervisees. The panel attracted significant attention, sparking discussions both during and after the conference. Click here for a recap of the conference.
Contributions to the DLN Research School and FAIR Data Award
JRG members actively contributed to the success of the DLN Research School. Dipendra Pant served on the organizing committee of the DLN Research School Conference 2024, contributing to a successful and impactful event. Additionally, he participated in evaluating the DLN FAIR Data Award 2023, promoting excellence in data stewardship and open science principles.
Welcoming new members
With several JRG members moving on to new career opportunities, the year concluded with a successful recruitment round. The JRG is excited to welcome four new members who will carry forward its initiatives and advocate for early-career researchers in 2025. Congratulations to the new members: Samir Malakar (UiT), Selma Bozorgpana (NTNU), Thomas Stevenson (UiB) and Yomkippur Perez (UiS/Polypure)!
The JRG’s work in 2024 has set the stage for continued impact in the coming year. Here’s to a productive and inspiring 2025!