By Ruby Dawson
During the third evening of this year’s annual Cytokines meeting, hosted in Athens this month, the ICIS ECR committee organized a networking event tailored to young investigators. The event featured esteemed senior academic and industry scientists, along with prominent journal editors as special guests. This gathering provided a valuable opportunity for our young investigators to connect with a diverse group in an informal yet professional environment. The evening was complemented by a selection of great food and drink as well as live music from the band Metabollix, fronted by the renowned Prof. Luke O’Neill.
The event was a resounding success, resulting in the establishment of meaningful international connections between junior and senior scientists, as well as among peers, which is crucial for the longevity of the society. Furthermore, this event marked the inaugural in-person meeting for members who had enrolled in the recently launched ICIS mentoring program, kickstarting important mentor-mentee relationships.
Additionally, the event served as an introduction for junior members in attendance to the current ECR committee and junior council members, encouraging engagement and dialogue with their representatives. This is of particular significance, considering that ICIS boasts a substantial membership of over 500 junior members.
On a personal note, I found the event highly enjoyable, and I look forward to playing a role in organizing similar events in the future – I hope to see you all at next year’s Cytokines 2024 in Seoul!
Early Career (ECR) Committee
- Adriana Forero Co-Chair, USA
- Juan Mendoza Co-Chair, USA
- Ruby Dawson* ICIS Council members for Inclusion and Training, Australia
- Justina Kulikauskaite* ICIS Council members for Inclusion and Training, UK
- Susan Carpenter, USA
- Meike Dittmann, USA
- Shruti Naik, USA
- Olusegun Onabajo, USA
- Elia Tait Wojno, USA
