Early Career Researcher Committee Members Elections 2024-2026

Joining an international committee of early career researchers presents a compelling opportunity for me to deepen my engagement and impact within the global electrophysiology research community. As a physician-scientist,  my journey has been defined by a commitment to advancing rehabilitation and neural engineering. By participating in this committee, I aim to expand my network, forging connections with peers and mentors worldwide. This exposure promises invaluable insights into diverse research methodologies and best practices, enriching my approach to studying the peripheral motor system in individuals with spinal cord injuries. Given my unique background, I hope to be a bridge between neuroscientists, engineers, and physicians. Moreover, serving in a leadership capacity will cultivate my organizational and advocacy skills, enabling me to contribute meaningfully to shaping research priorities and fostering inclusivity within the scientific community. Ultimately, I see this role as a pivotal step towards not only enhancing my professional development but also leveraging collective expertise to drive impactful change in rehabilitation sciences globally.

As an Early Career Researcher (ECR) and former co-chair of the committee, I am eager to share the insights gained over my three-year tenure to ensure continuity and advance the priorities established during the previous term. My passion lies in supporting fellow ECRs and students through initiatives aimed at enhancing career development and promoting diversity within an inclusive environment. As Coordinator of the CEDE Initiative supported by ISEK, I am dedicated to actively disseminating our initiatives and ensuring their effective implementation across the community. I am committed to fostering knowledge translation activities that benefit newcomers to the field and contribute to the advancement of the ISEK community. I look forward to collaborating with committee members to develop new initiatives that address emerging needs and opportunities for professional development among ECRs within the ISEK community. Drawing from my experience in leadership roles and my dedication to the values of ISEK, I am excited about the prospect of contributing to the committee’s efforts in shaping a supportive and dynamic environment for ECRs to thrive and contribute meaningfully to our field.

I’m excited to apply for a role on the Early Career Researcher Committee because I’m passionate about supporting my peers and enhancing our collective experience within ISEK. As an early career researcher, I understand the unique challenges we face, from navigating career paths to finding networking opportunities.

I would love to contribute by helping develop programs that are both engaging and valuable. I’m particularly interested in creating workshops that offer practical skills and fostering a community where everyone feels included. I believe that by connecting ECRs with experienced professionals, we can open doors to new collaborations and opportunities.

Creating a more inclusive and supportive community is important to me, and I’m also keen to help organize events that facilitate networking and mentorship, creating opportunities for ECRs to learn from established professionals and from each other. I’m looking forward to working with others who share this vision and helping to make a positive impact on the ECR community.

I am excited about the opportunity to join the Early Career Committee of the International Society of Electrophysiology and Kinesiology. I am eager to contribute to the advancement of the field and support early-career researchers. My background in bioengineering, along with previous experience in clinical studies focusing on neurodegenerative diseases, has given me a strong foundation in electrophysiology and kinesiology. My research focuses on understanding human motor control system through muscle synergy analysis in both healthy and pathological conditions. This topic align with ISEK’s mission to advance knowledge in electrophysiology and kinesiology. If given the chance, I would advocate for early-career researchers by organizing workshops, networking events, and mentorship programs to support their professional development. My goal is to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration and share cutting-edge research to help early-career researchers build their skills and establish meaningful connections within the scientific community. By serving on this committee, I hope to support the next generation of leaders in electrophysiology and kinesiology, while also giving back to the community that has contributed to my growth. Thank you for considering my application.

I am eager to join the Early Career Researcher (ECR) Committee of ISEK to support and advocate for students, postdocs, and early career researchers. Having experienced the challenges and opportunities of being a fledgling researcher, I am motivated to enhance ECR involvement within ISEK. I aim to contribute by supporting programs that provide practical training, resources, and networking opportunities. My experience in leading workshops and mentoring students and peers as a lecturer equips me to help create initiatives that address professional and career development needs. Additionally, I am committed to promoting diversity and inclusion within the committee. By ensuring broad representation of backgrounds and perspectives, we can better serve all ECR members and foster a more inclusive community. Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to contributing to the ECR Committee and advancing ISEK’s goals.

I am excited to nominate myself for the ISEK ECR Committee for the 2024-2026 term. As a Postdoctoral Research Fellow with eight years of experience in the field, I am ready to contribute to the diverse community of ISEK ECRs dedicated to advancing our understanding of human movement and the neuromuscular system.

I am passionate about encouraging collaboration and knowledge exchange among ECRs from diverse backgrounds. If elected, I plan to initiate and support activities that promote networking, mentorship, and professional development opportunities for ECR members. I am especially committed to promoting opportunities for ECRs from lower-income and less favoured countries, determined to facilitate equity and equality within our community. By removing barriers to participation and creating platforms for sharing research and discussing challenges, I hope to connect researchers from different continents and backgrounds, strengthening our community and inspiring the next generation of scientists in electrophysiology and kinesiology, regardless of their circumstances.

I am particularly interested in developing strategies to enable international travel and visiting fellowship fundings for MSc and PhD students. This would provide opportunities for students to visit laboratories and conduct research overseas, experiencing different research groups and universities. Such strategies would enhance networking and knowledge sharing between groups, allowing students to grow experiencing different research cultures and environments in different countries.

ISEK’s commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration and scientific excellence aligns with my professional values, and I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to contribute to the society’s leadership and to support the development of ECRs within the community.

To date, I have attended four consecutive ISEK conferences (2018, 2020, 2022, 2024), and I am well-familiar with the breadth and quality of work presented by PhDs and other ECRs at these meetings. I have also contributed to these conferences myself, having presented three times orally, organised a symposium, and been an author on several other abstracts. I have also been a finalist for the student oral presentation awards in 2020 and previously received a travel award (2022 congress).

I would like to contribute to the ISEK ECR committee as I believe ECRs need a strong representation and voice in the current research/academic climate. Since 2020 (i.e., since the pandemic started), ECRs have been disproportionately affected by factors such as loss of research funding and the lack of international/interstate travel preventing networking at conferences and lab visits. ECR committees provide better advocacy for early career scientists and are in a fantastic position to mitigate some of the above-mentioned issues.

I would like to be involved in organising ECR related events, awards and/or other opportunities within ISEK, and/or collating feedback from ECRs or more senior members within ISEK to improve the ECR experience. I think that more frequent online ECR satellite meetings or symposia would be of great interest to PhD students and other ECRs. These may be clustered in relation to certain topics and may be used to promote intra-society collaboration, and it would be great to be involved in this.

I began using HD-EMG during my Ph.D., and at that time, I was the only member of my research team working with this technique. This made it quite challenging to get started. My first opportunity to interact with experienced researchers in the field was at ISEK 2022, my first international conference. During ISEK 2022, I attended helpful workshops and met researchers whose articles I had been reading. I was struck by the uniquely friendly and supportive environment, which allowed me to form connections with peers who later became friends and collaborators. Since then, I have attended other conferences, but none have matched ISEK in terms of networking and learning opportunities. Recently, ISEK 2024 provided me with a platform to showcase my research and receive valuable feedback and connections, reinforcing my positive experience with the ISEK community.
In light of these positive experiences, I am eager to contribute to the ISEK community by serving on the Early Career Researcher (ECR) Committee. I am particularly interested in fostering a supportive and collaborative (rather than competitive) environment for new researchers. I would like to contribute to ECR activities aimed at facilitating networking opportunities and collaborative research. By doing so, I aim to contribute to the growth and inclusivity of the society, ensuring that other early career researchers can benefit from the same positive experiences and opportunities that I had.

Dear colleagues, I am Marina Algaba Vidoy and I am excited to announce my candidacy for the Early Career Researches (ECR) committee with the firm intention of advocating for the interests of all ECR, fostering a stronger, more cohesive and collaborative community.

My vision for the ECR committee focuses on several key aspects:

1. Representation and advocacy for ECR interests: I commit to listening and representing the concerns and needs of ECR, ensuring that their interests are protected in all relevant ISEK decisions.
2. Effective and smooth communication: I will promote open and constant communication between ECR and experienced researchers, encouraging mentorship opportunities that guide career development through knowledge exchange and support.
3. Academic and scientific activities that drive interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation, as well as enhancing skills beyond science, such as leadership and communication, crucial for advancing research capabilities.
4. Social and networking events: I firmly believe in the importance of interpersonal relationships. Therefore, I will push for the organization of social activities that allow to get to know each other better, strengthen bonds and form lasting connections.
5. Inclusion and Diversity: I will foster an inclusive and diverse environment where all members, regardless of their background, gender, or discipline, feel valued and respected. Diversity enriches our community and is fundamental for the advancement of science.

I want to conclude by sharing something personal. If you’ve seen me at conferences, you may have observed that I often arrive alone and end up belonging to different groups, maintaining these friendships over time. Obviously, in those moments, anxiety and insecurities arise, but I try to be resilient and consistently prioritize commitment and networking as I’m passionate for sharing ideas and learning about different cultures and working methods. I thrive on challenges, and I want this to be my next one, because I would love to be an active part of this community.

Thank you for your consideration and support!

I am eager to be considered for the student/young researcher committee to connect with fellow researchers in all fields related to movement sciences. Engaging with other researchers will broaden my perspectives, help me connect with people from other labs internationally, and allow me to learn a lot about both theories and methods.

I am particularly enthusiastic about contributing to the committee by organizing and participating in online meetings such as lectures, workshops, or journal clubs. These events will provide valuable opportunities for knowledge exchange and collaboration among young researchers. Additionally, I can contribute to the society’s communication efforts by creating visuals such as posters, illustrations, and logos. Thanks to my background in game design, I have developed a taste for visual design, and I hope to assist with the society’s outreach in this way.

Taking our first steps into academia is both exciting and daunting. Through the midst of failed experiments, those guiding me helped me learn to decouple scientific uncertainty from my sense of self. Without guidance, it’s easy to feel our goals become intangible, especially when under-represented.

Over five years, I have participated in and witnessed the pertinence of different guiding communities. As a tutor, I helped refugees take their first steps towards launching freelance careers in technology. I lead the UK’s largest undergraduate Women in STEM society and created the first university-based hackathon for women. Moreover, I continue to mentor students from underprivileged backgrounds, who lack within-school resources to prepare for university admissions.

Whilst I noticed that sharing knowledge was important, the embedded communities were more so. They provided resources that allowed individuals to steer their learning and self-development autonomously, whilst offering consolation in seeing the journeys of their peers.

At our conference, I was warmed by the community fostered by both senior and early career researchers. Inspired by the discussions, I am eager to bring my experiences and genuine interest in fostering inclusive, representative academic communities to the ISEK committee. I hope to strengthen the student network, to promote a sense of belonging, and facilitate more fluid collaborations and discussions. I would also love to help develop additional teaching resources, to better disseminate concepts in our fields.

Amongst the academic pressure, it is crucial to be grounded and supported by communities like ISEK, and our conviction in the science itself.

I would like to be considered for a role in the ECR committee in order to get involved and have the voice of both PhD students early career researchers heard. ISEK has a quite steep cutoff for whom is considered an ECR or not, I think it would be good for this to change and for more voices to be represented. ISEK is also a growing society with lots of young talents that are already active parts of the community and who will eventually get to play an even bigger role as they step in towards more responsibilities. I would like for ECRs to be able to tap more easily into the vast amount of knowledge and expertise of the more experienced researchers of ISEK. I would also like for them to be able to meet and network with each other so that strong bonds and collaboration can be formed. To do so, we could start with building a more easily accessible member directory and facilitate communication in the periods between congresses. 

I presented for the first time at ISEK 2022 in Quebec City, near the end of my Master of Research. This was my first deep dive into the intricacies of EMG studies. As a newcomer surrounded by “giants” of electrophysiology and movement science, I felt a strong connection to this community and became eager to contribute to its growth through various initiatives. One of my primary goals is to address a fundamental question: where can we find brilliant minds willing to collaborate on common publications? While the ISEK congress is an amazing opportunity, it’s not always feasible to attend. To overcome this, I propose creating a database of members, detailing their areas of expertise, career levels (Master, PhD candidates, ECR, MCR, or Senior researchers), and contact information. Additionally, I envision enhancing the ISEK website with an interactive map to geographically locate members, further promoting connections within the community. Showcasing research is also crucial for fostering connections. In collaboration with the Communications Committee, I plan to launch a YouTube channel featuring short video abstracts. Future and current members could voluntarily upload these abstracts when enrolling for future ISEK editions. ISEK is also a hub of learning. With this in mind, I aim to support additional editions of “ISEK around the World,” a great initiative that should be further promoted. I also advocate for the continued use and promotion of the CEDE matrices as up-to-date good practice guidelines. For all those reasons, I would like to be considered.

I have great respect for ISEK, not only for its commitment to educating young researchers but also for its progressive stance on embracing diversity within the academic community.

As a member of ECR, my goal is to contribute significantly to creating avenues for students and young researchers to delve into electrophysiology and gain accurate, comprehensive knowledge. I am passionate about fostering international interactions among young researchers, promoting a broader perspective, and understanding diverse backgrounds. This, in turn, helps young researchers grow both professionally and personally.

In my role as chair of the Local Organizing Committee for ISEK2024 in Nagoya, I successfully created numerous opportunities for young researchers to connect and engage with one another. Although the event lasted only one night, it laid the foundation for enduring friendships and professional relationships that I believe will last for decades. I am enthusiastic about the possibility of creating similar opportunities in the future, potentially through online platforms, to continue this valuable exchange.

I am particularly keen on extending the reach of ISEK activities to Japan and other parts of Asia. I believe my efforts can significantly contribute to the growth and global integration of the society, making it more inclusive and accessible to a wider audience.

In summary, my passion for education, dedication to fostering international collaboration, and commitment to expanding ISEK’s reach make me an ideal candidate for this role. I am eager to bring my experience and enthusiasm to the table, contributing to the continued success and growth of ISEK.

I have been a member of the ECR committee for one year and am eager to continue contributing for another term. My motivation comes from the enjoyment I’ve found in supporting the events and initiatives of the committee, as well as the togetherness I’ve experienced with the other members. This has encouraged effective teamwork, and I am eager to continue learning and growing within the committee. Additionally, I recognize the advantages that being part of this committee has afforded me, including networking opportunities, professional development, increased visibility, and the chance to enhance my decision-making skills, teamwork abilities, and social media presence.

During my year on the committee, I contributed to the development of the first “ISEK Around the World” event, which was a tremendous success, featuring experts from 12 countries. Additionally, I believe I efficiently executed my tasks and was an active member during the year. If selected to continue, I will again help in planning the “ISEK Around the World” event and aim to support the development of workshops that help young researchers build transferable skills such as time management, empathy, and career planning. I will also work on enhancing our newsletter content, expanding our social media presence, and planning the Deluca symposium.

I am dedicated to constructing an in vivo muscle force estimation model, striving to characterize muscle mechanics and understand muscular adaptations. For my studies, I am using ultr-sound shear wave elastography, surface electromyography, magnetic resonance imaging, and finite element analysis, demonstrating a wide range of methodologies to assess skeletal muscle behavior. I want to contribute to the development of new experimental and modeling approaches for a better understanding of skeletal muscle mechanics and “through ISEK” seek to establish a platform of scientific exchange for these emerging technologies.

Given my history of being a student council member at the University of Stuttgart, organizing nationwide student networking events, and being an active council member of my local Red Cross organization, I have experience in committee work. Through my current research stay at the University of Auckland, I can serve with experiences and networks from Germany and New Zealand.

I value the ISEK community to learn, exchange, and discuss new insights into skeletal muscle behavior. I comprehend the challenges of interdisciplinary work and appreciate the diverse backgrounds and skills that ISEK members provide. ISEK 2022 was the first conference I attended and I experienced the positive impact of connecting, discussing, and learning from other researchers. Given the opportunity to be part of the ECR committee, I want to contribute to the warm, open, and inclusive community ISEK established and support young researchers around the world. I aspire to connect with peers globally and represent the young generation of researchers in the ISEK society.