Contact us

For more information about the committee, please email: dobs-ecr-committee-WB@groups.imperial.ac.uk 

To stay up to date with the committee, follow us on X: @ImpECRbrains,

About us

The DoBS Early Career Researchers (ECR) Committee is dedicated to representing and supporting postdoctoral researchers, PhD students, early fellows and other young researchers and students. We are a team of volunteer postdocs and PhDs that work together to ensure that the voices of ECRs are heard at the departmental level while fostering a collaborative and supportive research community.
Originally formed as an informal initiative to promote interaction between young scientists, the group has grown into a formal organization that contributes to DoBS research culture. Today, our committee consists of 12 members across Divisions, but we always welcome new members that would like to contribute. 
We aim to enhance the experience of ECRs by providing:
  • Career Development – Organizing academic and professional growth opportunities such as the Future Leaders Seminar Series, hard and soft skills workshops, and Symposia.
  • Representation – Advocating for ECRs at Executive Board meetings and periodic communication with DoBS and buildings management.
  • Community Building – Hosting social events, including seasonal gatherings and unique initiatives like the Sci-Fi Start-Up Competition.
  • Pastoral Care – Offering guidance and fostering a welcoming environment for all ECRs, and guidance to finding specific support during difficult times.
Whether you're looking for career advice, networking opportunities, or a supportive peer community, the ECR Group is here to help. We encourage all ECRs to engage with and benefit from our events and initiatives, and contribute to shaping a thriving research environment.

ECR committee events

More information about our upcoming events can be found on this webpage (Imperial login required).

Our members

Ines Maldonado-Lasuncion

  • ECR Committee role: Co-chair
  • Title: Research Associate
  • Additional role(s): Postdoc Rep, EDI Committee member
  • Division: Neuroscience
  • Location:  Hammersmith, Burlington Danes
  • About me:  My passion is understanding the neuroimmune interactions in the spinal cord after traumatic injury and harnessing them to find new therapeutic approaches to promote regeneration and recovery after spinal cord injury. I am also passionate about education, mentoring and contributing to improve the academic system. In my spare time, I love spending time in nature, with art or practicing sports, most recently focusing on boxing and aerial hoop.

Dr Maria Sabina Cerullo

  • ECR committee role: Communication co-lead
  • Title: Research Associate
  • Division: Brain sciences
  • Location: Hammersmith
  • About me: As a Neuroscientist at the UK Dementia Research Institute I explore brain physiology in both healthy and neurodegenerative conditions, as well as potential therapeutic interventions. However, science doesn’t exist in isolation – I am passionate about science communication and creative public engagement, bridging the gap between research and society. In my spare time, I love going to music festival and immersing myself in nature, spending quality time with friends, and collecting memories.

Dr Kjara Sophia Pilch

  • ECR committee role: Outreach
  • Title: Research Fellow
  • Division: Brain Sciences
  • Location: Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Burlington Danes Building
  • About me: I am a Research Fellow at the Department of Brain Sciences where I study synaptic plasticity in the context of ageing and neurodegeneration. My goal is to unravel mechanisms at the synapse that could forge pathways for novel therapeutic interventions. Outside the lab I enjoy cycling around London, cooking/baking and reading fiction novels.
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Xingjian Wang

 

Dr Nurun Fancy

  • ECR committee role: Vice-treasurer
  • Title: Research Associate
  • Additional role(s): ECR rep at Department of Brain Sciences, EDI committee member, Race equality champion
  • Division: Neurology
  • Location: White City campus
  • About me: I am part of the Multi-omics Atlas Project (MAP-AD) at UK Dementia Research Institute (Imperial centre) where I am leading the transcriptomic data analysis. My focus is to decipher molecular mechanism and biological processes involved in cellular senescence during ageing and neurodegeneration. Along side research, I am passionate about gender balance and race equity in STEM and I’ve recently taken up the race equity champion role at the Department of Brains Sciences. Outside my work, I love to spend time with my family.
Maria Weinert

Dr Maria Weinert

  • ECR committee: Treasurer
  • Title: Research Associate
  • Additional role(s): Postdoc Rep, ECR champion at the EDI committee
  • Division: Neurology
  • Location: Hammersmith
  • About me: My interest is molecular neuroscience focussing on neuroinflammation and stem-cell based model systems. Long-term I am pursuing a career in academia and would love to serve as a role model for women and those with caring responsibilities. Coming from a non-academic background, I am passionate about education and mentoring beyond papers and hard skills. Outside the lab, I very much enjoy the outdoors in every shape and colour.

Dr Michael Lattke

  • ECR committee role: Support member
  • Title: Research Associate
  • Additional role(s): Postdoc Rep
  • Division: Neuroscience
  • Location: Hammersmith
  • About me: Throughout my already long “early career researcher” stage, I have experienced the importance of good support and mentoring, and I am happy to help others navigating this stage, please feel free to contact me! I study the molecular programmes shaping cell identity and functions in brain development and disease using omics approaches, recently focussing on Down syndrome, and astrocytes as my “favourite” cell type. Outside the lab, I enjoy travelling, hiking and other outdoor activities.

Dr Alessia Caramello

  • ECR committee role: Support member
  • Title: Research Associate
  • Additional role(s): Postdoc Rep
  • Division: Brain Sciences
  • Location: White City
  • About me: I’m currently a post-doc in Paul Matthews lab, previously PhD student at the Francis Crick Institute. My scientific interests span from developmental neurobiology, neuronal stem cell differentiation potential and neurodegenerative diseases. During my years in academia, I’ve greatly enjoyed teaching and supervising students, trying to convey my passion for science to younger peers while supporting a creativity- and interest-led approach to research. Outside the lab I enjoy cycling, climbing and gardening.

Gearoidin Beazley

  • ECR committee role: Administrative support
  • Title: Personal Assistant to the Department of Brain Sciences
  • Division: Neuroscience
  • Location: Burlington Danes, Room E401

Dr Nataliia Katolikova

  • ECR committee role: support member
  • Title: Research Fellow
  • Division: Brain Sciences
  • Location: Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Burlington Danes Building
  • I am a Research Fellow at the Department of Brain Sciences in Laboratory of Marco Brancaccio. Our laboratory focused on study mechanisms driving circadian disruption in the prodromal stages of neurodegenerative diseases. My research is associated with understanding the circadian rhythms disruption in astrocytes and neurons, obtained from human IPSC. Outside the lab I do orienteering, kayaking and traveling with my friends. 
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Dr Nazanin Doostdar

  • ECR Committee Role: Co-Chair
  • Title: Research Associate
  • Division: Neuroscience
  • Location: Hammersmith, Burlington Danes
  • About me: Having started my journey at Imperial as a research associate working on understanding the micro-circuit mechanisms during early stages of amyloidosis, I found my career path as a perfect hybrid of research associate and laboratory manager. Currently, I am involved in several ongoing projects, lending my expertise in development and optimisation of key in-vivo techniques, while overseeing the day-to-day operations of our in-vivo and ex-vivo laboratory spaces. Outside of the lab, my social life is ruled by the Latin dance scene in London.
Jessica Chadwick

Jessica Chadwick

  • ECR committee role: Executive board ECR representative
  • Title: Research Associate
  • Additional role(s): PhD Student Champion for the EDI Committee; Founder of ImperialSAID
  • Division: Neuroscience
  • Location: Department of Brain Sciences, Hammersmith Campus
  • About me: Neuroendocrinologist researching the intersection of hormone biology and regenerative neuroscience. Passionate about driving cultural change within the department and onboarding senior leadership to champion ECR initiatives together. Founded and launched Imperial SAID seminars in 2020 to highlight role models from the Imperial community and foster an inclusive network. Representative of the student voice and focused on improving development opportunities for postdoc and PhD researchers within Brain Sciences.
A bridge at Imperial's Hammersmith Campus against a blue sky

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