Early Career Researcher Committee Members Elections 2026-2028

I would like to be considered for the ISEK Early Career Researcher Committee because I believe I can bring a complementary and diverse scientific perspective to the group. My research bridges clinical populations and fundamental science by combining exercise biomechanics with advanced imaging techniques to investigate deep muscle function, as well as laboratory methods such as histology and protein expression to better understand muscle degeneration and adaptation. This multidisciplinary expertise is relatively unique within the ISEK community while remaining highly complementary to the work of my colleagues.

Beyond my research, I am an enthusiastic and engaged team member who enjoys organizing activities that appeal to a broad range of interests and help foster connections within the community. As a researcher originally from Québec who will begin a faculty position there in January 2027, I would also be well positioned to contribute to the organization of the upcoming ISEK conference in Montréal and help strengthen local engagement.

I would like to be considered for the ISEK Early Career Researcher Committee because I strongly identify with its mission of increasing the involvement, representation, and professional development of students, postdoctoral researchers, and other early-career researchers within the Society. As an early-career researcher in sport sciences, biomechanics, and human movement, I recognise the importance of having a dedicated forum through which ECRs can communicate their needs, questions, and initiatives to ISEK leadership. My experience in interdisciplinary research, university teaching, scientific communication, peer review, and collaboration with researchers and practitioners would allow me to contribute actively to the Committee’s activities. I would be particularly interested in supporting webinars, workshops, networking initiatives, methodological training, and the dissemination of funding, mobility, and career-development opportunities. I would also aim to help strengthen connections between ECRs and established professionals within and beyond ISEK. In addition, I would be committed to listening to and representing diverse ECR perspectives, including those from less represented disciplines, geographical regions, or groups with limited access to resources. I would seek to contribute to an inclusive and equitable Committee, while helping to create initiatives that encourage sustained participation, a sense of belonging, and long-term engagement with ISEK.

I would like to be considered for the ISEK Early Career Researcher Committee because I see ISEK as an important community for connecting researchers across neuromuscular physiology, motor control, biomechanics, rehabilitation, and neural engineering. For early career researchers, however, the value of such a society extends beyond presenting completed work: it should also provide opportunities to develop ideas, learn new methods, receive feedback, and build lasting collaborations.

My research lies at the intersection of motor-unit physiology, neural control of movement, and clinical neurophysiology. This multidisciplinary background would allow me to contribute to initiatives that connect ECRs working across different methods and research areas. In particular, I would be interested in helping to organise accessible scientific exchanges, such as short online seminars, work-in-progress sessions, methodological discussions, and peer-led workshops. These formats could give ECRs a supportive environment in which to discuss emerging ideas, technical challenges, and reproducible research practices.

I would also be enthusiastic about contributing to networking and career-development activities at future ISEK congresses. The sessions organised by the ECR Committee at the most recent congress, including discussions on career paths and research identity, addressed important questions that many early career researchers face. I would be keen to help develop similar initiatives for the next ISEK congress, while creating opportunities for meaningful exchanges between ECRs, peers, and more established researchers.

Overall, I would aim to contribute actively to an inclusive committee that listens to ECR needs and translates them into practical, accessible, and scientifically valuable initiatives.

I would be delighted to serve on the ISEK Early Career Researcher Committee because I believe that a supportive and connected research community is essential for the development of early career researchers. My academic journey has taken me from Beijing Sport University, China, where I completed my bachelor’s and master’s degrees, to the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, for my PhD, and now to the University of Brescia, Italy, as a postdoctoral researcher. These experiences have allowed me to work in diverse research environments and have reinforced the importance of networking and international collaboration.

My research focuses on understanding the neural mechanisms underlying human movement. During my PhD, I investigated training-induced neuroplasticity and how exercise interventions promote neural adaptations. In my current position, I study motor unit behaviour and neuromuscular function to better understand neural control of movement. My long-term goal is to develop evidence-based training strategies that improve neuromuscular function and performance across diverse populations.

If selected, I would contribute to initiatives that strengthen connections among students, postdoctoral researchers, and established scientists through networking, mentoring, webinars, and career development activities. I am particularly interested in promoting international collaboration and ensuring that early career researchers from different backgrounds have opportunities to feel represented within ISEK. I would be excited to help build a collaborative community for early career researchers.

My diverse research experiences and educational background position me to contribute meaningfully to ISEK. As a physiotherapist and researcher who originated from a developing country, worked in higher education settings, and completed graduate-level studies in developed countries, I bring a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities associated with capacity building, research collaboration, and knowledge translation across different healthcare and academic environments.

I am particularly interested in supporting initiatives that promote the application of biomechanical and neuromuscular research in resource-limited settings. Expanding research capacity in these contexts can strengthen the field by fostering innovative, practical solutions to challenges that may differ from those encountered in well-resourced environments. I believe that increasing global engagement and representation within ISEK can help facilitate knowledge exchange and create opportunities for broader scientific impact.

In addition to my research experience, I have served in leadership and organizational roles, including as a joint secretary and rapporteur on committees. These experiences have strengthened my skills in communication, collaboration, coordination, and stakeholder engagement. I would be pleased to contribute these skills to support ISEK’s activities, foster connections among members, and help advance the society’s mission.

I am eager to contribute my research perspective, professional experience, and commitment to international collaboration to support the continued growth and impact of ISEK.

I am applying for early research career membership because ISEK represents the scientific community whose methods and questions define my own research: understanding how the nervous system encodes and controls movement through electrophysiological signals. My work on HDsEMG-based motor unit decomposition and linear and nonlinear analysis sits squarely within ISEK’s mission to advance electrophysiology and kinesiology as tools for understanding human movement, and membership would let me deepen my engagement with a community I already feel part of.

I would like to contribute in several concrete ways:

First, through continued dissemination of methodological expertise: I already co-organized the INcEPTION Winter School on High-Density Surface EMG and an ISEK workshop, and I would welcome opportunities to lead similar training sessions for early-career researchers within ISEK, particularly on motor unit identification and analysis.

Second, my background as a biomechanics engineer gives me a complementary lens on movement (bridging biomechanical and neurophysiological perspectives), which I hope to bring to interdisciplinary discussions within the society.

And third, as an early-career researcher who has moved across three countries and research cultures, I bring a genuinely international, cross-lab perspective that I hope to use in connecting early-career members and fostering collaboration. I see ISEK membership not just as a credential, but as a community I can actively give back to through teaching, tool-sharing, mentorship, and passing on what I’ve learned along my own path.

I would like to be considered for the ISEK Early Career Researcher Committee because the Society closely reflects both my scientific interests and my commitment to supporting researchers at the beginning of their careers. My work spans neuromechanics, electromyography, motor control, musculoskeletal biomechanics and emerging sensing technologies, with applications across exercise science, rehabilitation and human performance. This interdisciplinary perspective would allow me to contribute to initiatives that connect ECRs working across basic, clinical and applied research.

As an international researcher originally from Chile and currently based in Australia, I understand the challenges associated with developing a research career across different academic systems, including building networks, identifying funding and mentorship opportunities, and establishing collaborations. I would aim to help strengthen the representation and engagement of researchers from geographically dispersed and under-represented communities.

I would particularly like to contribute to professional-development and networking activities, online scientific events, ECR-focused communications, and opportunities that connect students and postdoctoral researchers with established ISEK members. I could also support initiatives related to emerging methods, including wearable sensing, computational modelling, artificial intelligence and novel electrophysiological technologies.

Through this role, I hope to contribute practical ideas, enthusiasm and a collaborative perspective while helping ISEK create an inclusive environment in which ECRs can develop meaningful connections, share their research and participate actively in the Society’s future.

My motivation for applying to the ISEK ECR Committee is the community I have found within ISEK. Since becoming a member four years ago, I am consistently impressed by a culture that values collaboration, open science, and collective impact over individual prestige. ECR initiatives have played a key role in my own growth, and I am excited by the opportunity to create those same experiences for others.

If selected, my goal would be to ensure ECR initiatives remain practical, relevant, and responsive to evolving needs of early-career researchers. I believe initiatives should support three key areas: (1) community and connection, (2) technical and research skill development, and (3) professional development and career advancement.

An approach I am particularly interested in exploring is using a webinar series to address all three areas. For community building, ECR-to-ECR conversations will provide a space for researchers to discuss common challenges, share lessons learned, and normalize the ups-and-downs of early-career research. For technical development, workshops on emerging methodologies or tools, such as AI, will help members build new skills while connecting researchers with shared interests and providing opportunities for ECRs to gain experience leading workshop-style sessions. For professional development, sessions focused on communicating research to different audiences, using social media effectively, and preparing application materials will provide guidance that members can immediately apply to their careers.

Guided by these principles, I am confident my fellow committee members and I will create meaningful, impactful opportunities for fellow ECRs and I am very excited by this possibility!

I would like to join the ISEK Early Career Researcher Committee because I genuinely feel at home in the ISEK community. My work spans electrophysiology, movement science, engineering, and machine learning, and ISEK is one of the few places where all of these interests come together naturally.

I would like to help create the same sense of belonging for other students and early-career researchers, particularly those entering the field from different disciplines or with limited access to established networks. I would be especially interested in contributing to practical workshops, networking opportunities, and open discussions about methods, publishing, collaboration, and academic careers.

I also care strongly about making advanced EMG methods and open-source tools more accessible. I would bring an interdisciplinary perspective, practical ideas, and a willingness to help turn those ideas into useful activities. Serving on the committee would be a meaningful way to give back to a community that has played an important role in my own development.

I would welcome the opportunity to represent and advocate for students, postdocs, and other ECRs within ISEK, as well as to actively contribute to developmental and networking initiatives for the ECRs aimed at fostering a welcoming, inclusive, and diverse community. Through my experience co-hosting the International Student Motor Unit Journal Club (2022–2025), as well as co-leading and presenting at the ECR workshops at the 2024 and 2026 ISEK congresses, respectively, I have seen firsthand how such initiatives facilitate discussion, knowledge exchange, and connections among ECRs across regions, disciplines, and career stages, ultimately strengthening the sense of community and belonging. As a committee member, I would be eager to build on these initiatives while also contributing to other established ECR-focused programs and events. Having also experienced the power of strong mentorship in my own career development, I am keen to help expand mentorship initiatives for ISEK ECRs, particularly those from underrepresented fields or with limited access to resources. Since joining ISEK, I have been continually inspired by the strength and generosity of its community, and I would be honoured to work alongside fellow committee members and ISEK leadership to help ensure that the same spirit of support and connection remains for the current and future ECRs.

When I first entered the field of HD-EMG, I found it both exciting and challenging due to its rapid development and the high level of technical expertise required. The resources provided by ISEK, including webinars, online materials, and the contributions of its members, played an important role in supporting my learning and allowing me to develop the skills required to conduct research using advanced techniques in the field.

Conducting my research from Perth (Australia), which is geographically distant from many major research hubs and conferences, together with the increasing challenges associated with research funding, has highlighted the importance of accessible opportunities for early career researchers (ECRs) to foster collaboration and networking, access practical training, and exchange knowledge. I believe that the ECR Committee can serve as an important platform for facilitating these opportunities. For this reason, I am eager to join the ISEK Early Career Researcher Committee and be involved in and promote initiatives such as online meetings, webinars, and events that allow ECRs to receive training, present their work, exchange ideas, and connect across disciplines and institutions.

Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to contributing to the ECR Committee and ISEK’s next chapter.

I would like to join the ISEK Early Career Researcher Committee to contribute my expertise in electromyography, support open and accessible research tools, and help expand ISEK’s engagement with students and researchers across different regions. With several years of experience in electromyography, I believe I can provide valuable contributions to organise talks, workshops, and tutorials that translate specialist knowledge into useful activities for researchers and the wider public. I would also be interested in supporting the development and dissemination of open-source toolboxes that could benefit anyone wishing to study high-density surface electromyography.

I would also like to help broaden ISEK’s international reach. Many research groups in China are active in high-density surface electromyography, yet relatively few attend the ISEK conference. I hope to encourage greater engagement from these groups and contribute to increasing the geographical diversity and impact of the Society.

Finally, ISEK is personally very special to me, as I first met my PhD supervisor at ISEK 2024 in Japan. This experience showed me how valuable the Society can be in creating connections between students and potential supervisors. I would like to help promote society among master’s and undergraduate students and to support initiatives such as travel grants that make conference participation more accessible. These opportunities can help young researchers enter the field, develop international networks, and connect with potential PhD supervisors.

Overall, I am very enthusiastic about contributing my time, effort, and energy to society, and I would be grateful for the opportunity to serve on the Committee.

I want to contribute to the ECR committee from my unique perspective as a student ECR and university lab technician. My non-traditional path through academia has afforded me over a decade of institutional experience teaching students, consulting with vendors, and managing a high-throughput lab environment. My research predicts neuromuscular fatigue and recovery to prevent worker injury, demanding knowledge across research domains and making me an interdisciplinary connector.

My industrial internship at General Motors was transformational, and I will advocate for ECRs to explore such partnerships early, whether to broaden scientific perspectives or as a launchpad to careers in industry, government, or technology. Beyond research partnerships, running a lab demands skills nobody teaches: management, procurement, mentorship. Yet ECRs are expected to figure it out alone. I want to tap into senior ISEK members’ decades of collective experience and make that part of the society’s knowledge transfer process. My goal is to facilitate diverse perspectives on professional development beyond research.

A common frustration I hear from fellow ECRs is time lost to administration. I will champion emerging AI tools, not to perform research or writing, but to delegate those repetitive administrative tasks. I want to create opportunities for ISEK members to share their strategies for reclaiming their time. As a parent of two young children, I am passionate about supporting ECRs in building families alongside their careers. Success in science and family life should not be mutually exclusive, and I want to build a community where researchers feel supported in pursuing both.

I would like to be considered for the ISEK Early Career Researcher (ECR) Committee because I am passionate about contributing to the growth of the ISEK community while supporting fellow students and early career researchers. I have attended the past three ISEK Congresses, and one aspect that has consistently stood out to me is the strong presence and support of the ECR Committee. Beginning a research career can be exciting and intimidating, but the workshops, networking events, and social activities organized by the committee have created an environment where students and early career researchers can connect, collaborate, and build lasting professional relationships.

These experiences have had a meaningful impact on my own professional development and have reinforced the importance of fostering a welcoming and supportive research community. I would value the opportunity to give back by helping create similar experiences for future ECR members.

Additionally, I believe I have a skill set that would be well suited for the ECR Committee. I am a current Co-Chair for the Lawson Association of Fellows and Students (LAFS) at St. Joseph’s Health Care (SJHC) London. In this role, I work alongside a team to organize academic, professional development, and social events for trainees, fellows, and students from diverse research backgrounds. This experience has strengthened my skills in collaboration, event planning, and building an inclusive research community. I would be excited to bring these experiences to the ECR Committee and contribute to initiatives that promote networking, mentorship, and engagement among early career researchers.

I would like to be considered for the ISEK ECR Committee because the values that guide my research, openness and accessibility are in line with those the Committee represents. As a PhD student working at the intersection of muscle biomechanics, neuromuscular physiology, and open-source tool development, I experienced how much early-career researchers gain when data, methods, and standards are shared rather than siloed. Also, I have learned how often access to those resources is uneven across labs and regions.

Much of my work, openly available ultrasonography algorithms, a free muscle ultrasound database, and the openhdemg framework for high-density surface EMG, was built specifically to lower technical and financial barriers to rigorous research. I will bring that same practical, build-things-for-the-community mindset to the Committee.

Concretely, I would like to contribute by helping organize training and resource-sharing initiatives (e.g., open methods workshops, code challenges, or beginner-friendly ultrasound image analysis tutorials), drawing on my experience of running data analysis workshops and collaborative open-science projects. In my opinion, it is vital to show students and early career researchers practices of open science and reproducibility to increase the overall research quality for the community. Having collaborated across the ultrasound and EMG communities, I am also well placed to help connect ECRs across the society’s diverse sub-fields.

I would like to be considered for the ECR Committee because I believe it plays an important role not only within the ISEK community, but also in promoting our field to broader audiences. During the last ISEK conference, I was very impressed on how the committee supports early-career researchers, promoting collaboration and networking within the community.

Prior to starting my PhD, I was involved in several biomechanics dissemination activities, primarily working with undergraduate students. I found these experiences extremely rewarding, both personally and professionally, as they allowed me to share scientific knowledge while encouraging students to become more engaged with research. These activities reinforced my belief that bringing science closer to people and creating accessible opportunities for learning can have a meaningful impact on career development and scientific engagement.

As a committee member, I would be enthusiastic to bring the ECR members voice to the society, contribute to initiatives that support networking and mentorship opportunities, and help to develop activities that disseminate scientific knowledge beyond the immediate ISEK community.

At my first ISEK conference in 2026, and through my engagement with online events organized by the ECR committee, I have experienced firsthand the support, kindness, and genuine commitment to inclusion that define this society. If elected to the ECR committee, I would sustain and contribute to these values at the core of ISEK.

While ISEK members are integral to seminal research related to human physiology, some ECRs lack the confidence or network to foster their career goals. I am especially invested in contributing to community-focused work in ISEK that provides ECRs with consistent connection to (and support from) our peers, as well as mid- to late-career researchers.

I am eager to expand on the existing diversity, inclusion, belonging (DIBs) initiatives among ECRs by creating more opportunities for engagement with ISEK. I would continue to promote the supportive, collaborative environment fostered by ISEK in future ECR events, with a particular focus on diversifying attendance and giving those who lack the resources to attend the ISEK Conference in-person an opportunity to engage meaningfully with the community.

I would be honored to be considered for the ISEK ECR Committee.

As a first-time ISEK attendee in Jyväskylä, I attended the General Assembly out of curiosity and am very grateful that I did. Hearing from a group of people who are genuinely passionate about the community and deeply committed to ECR development was both inspiring and heartening. It prompted me to reflect on the opportunities, mentorship, and unconditional support I was very fortunate to receive leading up to and throughout my first ISEK journey: the JEK tutorials, the graphic abstract initiative organized by the current ECR committee, the senior researchers who were so generous with their knowledge and time, taking a moment to stop in the crowd and answer my (long list of) questions – just to name a few. To me, the best way to return the favor is passing it along, and joining the ECR Committee is the perfect opportunity for that.

Experiences gained through my service roles on various Trainee Committees at my institution have well-prepared me to facilitate existing ECR initiatives. In addition, I would like to contribute by promoting training opportunities in scientific communication and knowledge translation. I believe it is the researchers’ responsibility to communicate scientific findings in an accurate and accessible way beyond journal publications, so that it can reach, impact, and benefit the people in need of the knowledge. Supporting this aspect of trainee development is something I remain committed to throughout my career, and the ECR committee offers the ideal platform to further this commitment by fostering and sustaining initiatives in this area.