Early Career Researchers Network

Our Network

The SERA Early Career Researcher (ECR) Network supports ECRs in Scotland to develop their capacity and capabilities as researchers within a supportive network and to share their research and connect with colleagues in education and the broader academic community.

Our network is open to:

  • Postgraduate students (PhD, EdD and Masters)
  • Educational practitioners researching any area of Scottish education
  • Postdoctoral researchers within 5 years (excluding career breaks/maternity or paternity leave) of completing their PhDs
  • Researchers/practitioners new to the field of educational research

Network Activities

Writing Club every Saturday from 10am-12pm

All future updates can be found in the SERA Latest section of this website under the Early Career Researcher category.

2025

26th March: Preparing for Your Viva Workshop

28th January: Research Poster Workshop

2024

21st November at SERA Conference: Road-Mapping Our Journeys: Who Are Early Career Researchers?

13th November: Making the Most of SERA Panel Discussion

29th May with SGSSS Student-Led Training Fund: Role-Playing Your Viva

Conference Activities

  • Estelle Brisard Award: the prize is awarded for the best research paper written by an early career researcher based in Scotland and is presented annually at the SERA conference.
  • Collaboration with other ECR networks (e.g. EERA and BERA).
  • Rapid-thesis competition – prize awarded for most effective presentation of dissertation/thesis in 3 minutes
  • Seminars and workshops in collaboration with members, other SERA networks, and external educational partners (e.g. ECR networks in other associations).
  • Networking events at the annual SERA conference

Contact Information

For general enquiries, please contact the ECR Team at: ecrsera@gmail.com

To be updated on our activities, please join our mailing list

Social Media 

Bluesky: sera-ecr.bsky.social

LinkedIn: SERA ECR

X: SERA_ECR

Convenors

Chantelle Boyle, PhD researcher, University of Glasgow

David Vescio, PhD researcher, University of Glasgow/University of Stirling/University of Strathclyde

Jana Chandler, PhD researcher, University of the West of Scotland

Claire Anderson, PhD researcher, University of Dundee

Publications

Boyle, C. and Miao, H. (2024) SERA ECR network: constructing and connecting communities for sustainable peer support. SERA Researching Education Bulletin Anniversary Edition 2. pp. 27-30.