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
- 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.
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 Nazanin Doostdar
ECR Committee Role: Co-Chair
Title: Research Associate and Laboratory Manager
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.
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 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.
.jpg)
Dr Maria Sabina Cerullo
ECR committee role: Communication 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.
.png)
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.
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.
Xingjian Wang
ECR committee role: Workshop coordinator
Title: PhD student
Division: Neuroscience
Location: Burlington Danes, Hammersmith Hospital Campus
About me: I am a PhD student in the Department of Brain Sciences, with a research interest in molecular imaging and synaptic plasticity. My work focuses on developing and applying advanced imaging techniques to investigate the molecular organization of synapses. By visualising protein distributions at nanoscale resolution, we aim to understand how synaptic composition contributes to neural regulation, and how it is altered in ageing and dementia. Alongside my research, I am passionate about sharing and supporting the use of imaging technologies with collaborators across the wider research community. I also enjoy engaging broader audiences through public outreach and am committed to fostering an open, inclusive, and supportive research culture. Outside the lab, I enjoy climbing, travelling to new places, and reading detective stories.
Eleonora De Matteis
ECR committee role: support member
Title: PhD Candidate
Division: Neurology
Location: Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Burlington Danes Building
About me: I am a PhD candidate in the Department of Brain Sciences at Imperial College London, working in Prof. Paolo A. Muraro’s lab. My research focuses on the immunological effects of therapies for Multiple Sclerosis, particularly autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. I study therapy-driven immune changes in human PBMCs using omics approaches. Outside the lab, I enjoy cooking, reading novels, and volunteering to support vulnerable communities. I believe that, in science as in life: "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.
