ECR Committee Events
Welcome to the ISEK ECR Committee Events Page!
Here you will find a curated list of upcoming and past events organized by the Early Career Researcher (ECR) Committee of ISEK. Our events are designed to support students, postdoctoral researchers, and other early career researchers by providing opportunities for professional development, networking, and engagement within the ISEK community.
Join our events to boost your knowledge and connect with other members of the ISEK community!
Webinar Recording Disclaimer
Please note that webinars are recorded. By your presence at an ISEK webinar, you consent to be photographed, filmed and/or otherwise recorded. Your registration constitutes your consent to such photography, filming and/or recording and to any use for any purpose in accordance with the Society mission and standard of conduct. You are welcome to keep your camera off during these events, you and not the Society, is responsible for these setting options.
Upcoming Events
Funding your future: Grant writing for research and commercial success
June 3, 1:00-4:00 pm CET, 9:00-12:00pm AET, 7:00-10:00am ET
This interactive online workshop explores the essentials of successful fundraising for both academic and business environments. Participants will learn why mastering fundraising is crucial for advancing their careers, discover key principles for writing convincing grant proposals to secure extramural funding from diverse sources, and gain practical strategies tailored to the academic and business sectors. The program includes expert-led sessions with real-world examples, and dedicated Q&A segments to address participants’ questions. Designed for advanced students and junior researchers seeking to enhance their fundraising skills, the workshop offers actionable guidance for securing financial support and building sustainable projects.
Workshop content:
- Why is it important for you to learn how to raise funding?
- Key principles of successful fundraising: How to convince others to fund you
- Specifics of fundraising in an academic context
- Specifics of fundraising in a business context
Presenters
Ralf Dahm
Director of Scientific Management at the Institute of Molecular Biology (Germany)
Ralf is an experienced science manager with over 20 years of leadership experience in leading international research organisations. He is currently Director of Scientific Management at the Institute of Molecular Biology gGmbH (IMB) in Mainz, Germany. Previously, he held a similar role at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) in Madrid and managed a large-scale European research project at a Max Planck Institute.
Key achievements related to fundraising include:
- Ralf directly raised over €25 million in external funding and contributed to raising more than €100 million in additional investments.
- He has extensive teaching experience as a visiting professor and guest lecturer in science communication and management, incl. fundraising, at universities in Germany, Italy, and Austria as well as for international consortia.
- Ralf has a strong publication record with 4 books (incl. one co-authored with Nobel laureate Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard), 12 book chapters, ~50 scientific articles, and over 50 interdisciplinary/popular science articles. His h-index is 40.
Ralf holds an MSc in Business Administration from the Technical University of Mainz (Germany), an MSc and PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Dundee (Scotland), and a Habilitation in Neuroscience from the Medical University of Vienna (Austria).
Helia Berrit Schönthaler
Head of Business Development at the University Hospital Heidelberg (Germany)
With more than 12 years in technology transfer and high-tech startup consulting, Dr. Helia Schönthaler has advised over 15 life science startups and helped secure over €12 million in public funding. At Bosch Health Campus, she developed a comprehensive technology transfer concept, managed the €25 million business plan, and established and led a translational research group. She also contributed to establishing the translational research institute “Robert Bosch Center for Tumor Diseases” (RBCT). Her current work at University Hospital Heidelberg includes supporting researchers with all transfer-related matters, managing patent portfolios, negotiating research and licensing agreements, and supporting startups with investor documentation and business development strategies.
Registration is FREE but attendees must register to participate.