Early Career Network

In June 2026, HDHL ECN members participated in a webinar titled "Beyond the Hype: Using AI Responsibly in Academic Research", delivered by Dr Ali Hindi, Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice at The University of Manchester and founder of ResHub, where he provides workshops and practical training for researchers. During the webinar, Dr Hindi explored how artificial intelligence tools can be used responsibly and effectively in academic research without compromising research integrity or running afoul of journal and university policies. He offered practical guidance on where the ethical line sits, shared insights into which AI tools are genuinely worth researchers' time, and presented strategies for building an AI-assisted workflow while keeping the researcher firmly in control. The session provided participants with valuable perspectives on navigating the rapidly evolving landscape of AI in research and integrating these tools in a thoughtful, principled manner.

On 15 January 2026, HDHL ECN members participated in a webinar titled 'Physical activity policy research: From Knowledge Translation to Real-World Impact", delivered by Dr Sven Messing, a researcher at the WHO Collaborating Centre for Physical Activity and Public Health at FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg in Germany and the University of Limerick. During the webinar, Dr Messing discussed how physical activity research findings can be effectively translated into policy and practice, and addressed the challenges and opportunities involved in the process of real-world implementation. Referring to various evaluation tools, Dr Messing presented strategies to increase the societal impact of scientific knowledge. The session offered participants valuable insights into strengthening the link between research, policy development and measurable public health outcomes.

In May and June 2025, the HDHL ECN hosted a two-part webinar series on career planning, led by Dr. Joanna Kaniewska (professional coach, consultant, and founder of T Shaped). The first session, "Navigating Your Future with T Shaped’s MAP Framework", provided participants with a structured model for making informed career decisions inside and outside academia. The second session, "Looking Inward: Increasing Self-awareness for Effective Career Planning", built on this foundation by emphasizing the role of self-awareness in shaping professional pathways. Through a mix of theoretical input and practical exercises, participants were encouraged to reflect on their values, strengths, and interests. The webinars were insightful and empowering, equipping our early-career researchers with tools to actively design their futures.

In January 2025, the ECN offered its first workshop on "Data Visualisation in R", led by Junior Professor Dr. Philipp Sprengholz from the University of Bamberg (Germany). The workshop was divided into two sessions, and included both theoretical and practical components. Participants received a deep dive into the complexities of data visualisation in R, gaining valuable insights and hands-on experience in applying their newly acquired skills. The workshop was highly engaging and fostered enthusiasm and creativity among the participants.

In September 2024, ECN members had the opportunity to attend an engaging presentation by Dr. James Nobles from Leeds Beckett University (United Kingdom), a mixed-methods researcher specialising in the prevention and treatment of obesity. He introduced the concept of 'ripple effects mapping', a participatory qualitative method used to capture the wider intended and unintended impacts of projects and programmes. To put theory into practice, he conducted a short ripple effects mapping exercise to evaluate the ECN. The interactive session provided participants with hands-on experience of this innovative evaluation method.

In June 2024, the ECN hosted a webinar with Dr. Justin Jagosh, Director of the Centre for Advancement in Realist Evaluation and Synthesis (CARES, United Kingdom). Justin Jagosh provided an insightful introduction to realist methodology, an approach used to evaluate complex interventions by examining what works, for whom and under what circumstances. He introduced key concepts such as the context-mechanism-outcome configuration and discussed how to develop initial programme theories. The session provided valuable theoretical and practical insights.

On Monday, 15th April 2024, the HDHL Early Career Network (ECN) organised a webinar for its members on “writing (successful) applications for funding” followed by a Q&A session.

Assistant Professor Tom Deliens (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium), a partner in the HDHL I-PREGNO-project, gave an insightful presentation on this topic. He explained the difference between grant and paper writing and highlighted key points of focus when applying for grants. He shared his best tips and tricks, derived from own experiences and other sources.

His enthusiasm, stories, and clear examples inspired the 15 ECN members attending. The Q&A session was dynamic with loads of questions and helpful answers. Fingers crossed for successful grant applications by the ECN members in the future!

In September 2023, the HDHL Early Career Network held its official kick-off webinar to introduce the network and its aims. David Bennett from the University College Dublin (UCD, Ireland) Research and Innovation Team gave an engaging talk on how to make (more) impact with research. He shared practical strategies and insights on how to maximise the visibility and impact of scientific work, encouraging participants to think beyond traditional academic outputs. The session was interactive and well received, setting a strong foundation for future ECN activities.