Supporting Early Career Researchers 

Definition of Physics of Life ECRs

Physics of Life ECRs are early career researchers working at the interface of the physical and life sciences.
The ECR stage represents a transitional period in a researcher’s career, encompassing:

• Pre- and doctoral phase (Masters, PhD or equivalent training)
  
• Postdoctoral phase (immediate post-PhD research)
  
• Early independent phase (transition to leading own research) this definition is not rigid, and flexibility is applied to accommodate diverse career paths and circumstances.

Network opportunities

The Physics of Life network is committed to finding ways in which we can support and engage early career researchers. The network recognises that equipping the next generation of scientists with skills to work at the biology/physics interface is imperative to the sustainability of Physics of Life research within the UK. 

To support this, the network offers the following opportunities to ECRs: 

• Physics of Life Summer Schools - run annually and open to ECRs at all career stages. 
• Physics of Life student bursaries 
• Workshops designed and organised by ECRs, see examples here and here.  The network encourages ECRs to apply to our funding schemes to run a workshop or sandpit. 
• Secondment travel bursaries - NEW and coming soon! 
• ECR bootcamps
• Apply for a mentor - coming soon!
• PoL ECR led Seminar series - running monthly online 

Positions

Physics of Life are happy to advertise jobs relevant to the ECR community. If you would like to advertise a job, please send the information to [email protected]. We will advertise any biological physics related jobs both within and outside of the UK via our social media platforms and also within our monthly mailing alert which anyone can sign up to here. 

Useful resources

This section lists freely available online content designed for researchers at early stage of working across biology and physics. The content has been selected to provide a variety of content suitable for this career stage. 

YouTube Channels

Physics of Life You Tube channel
​Physics of Life have a collection of freely available video recordings from talks given during past events.
These include talks from: 
Physics of Life and Medicine Launch, Physics of Brains, Physics of Neurodegenerative Disease, Biophysics and Evolution,
Physics of Life ECR workshop, Metastasis, Periodic Patterns and Anti-microbial Resistance.

​The Royal Society YouTube channel
Institute of Physics YouTube Channel
The Royal Institution YouTube Channel
The BPS video Library
EMBO YouTube Channel

Lecture Series

​The Feynman Lectures on Physics (caltech.edu)
An excellent introduction into Physics accessible to all. The link above is an excellent resources for lecture content and notes. 

Podcasts

EMBO podcasts
This excellent podcast enables listeners to search and listen to a broad range of topics of interest to biological physicists. 

Free online courses

Institute of Physics (IoP) Biological Physics resources This link provides a valuable collection of resources developed and published by IOP to assist in undergraduate teaching of physics at its interfaces with biology. Please follow the above link and instructions to download course content  (Zip 58MB) which includes: lectures, problems and solutions in six areas of biological physics. 

MIT Open Courseware
A variety of free online courses and materials at the undergraduate and graduate level, offered by MIT. 

Khan Academy
Khan Academy offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalised learning dashboard. ​

Other resources 

The Biophysical Society offers a great Education and Careers section on their website. 
The White Rose Industrial Physics Academy offers career opportunities for physicists.