The SEFI Early Career Researchers’ Club is a year-long initiative designed to support and connect early-career researchers in the field of engineering education research (EER). Whether you’re just starting your PhD or have recently completed it, this programme offers a space to explore key topics in EER, exchange ideas, and grow as a researcher.
Target audience: Researchers at any stage of their PhD, or within three years of PhD graduation. The 2025/26 cohort is limited to 24 participants. (Applications are closed for this year)
Programme Structure
The first year of the Club will run across the academic year 2025/26, with a total of nine monthly sessions.
- Monthly guest sessions with experienced academics and experts.
- Mentoring scheme: three meetings in small groups (three mentees with one mentor).
- Topics will include:
- Emerging research methods
- Funding opportunities
- Professional advice for academics
- Personal and career development strategies
Benefits
- Guidance on professional and methodological challenges
- Tailored advice for academic career progression
- Networking with peers and senior scholars across Europe
- A supportive environment for sharing experiences and building collaborations
This year’s cohort is limited to 24 participants to ensure meaningful interaction and a strong sense of community. Participants who attend at least 5 out of the 9 sessions and prepare a brief presentation on a relevant EER topic within their mentoring meeting will be eligible to receive a Certificate of Participation issued by SEFI.
If you would like this learning experience to be recognised at your institution as ECTS or study credits, please contact Xiaoqi and Diana to discuss the possibilities.
Leadership
This initiative is lead by Dr Xiaoqi Feng (TU Delft) and co-organised by Dr Diana Martin (UCL), and is part of the activities of the Special Interest Group on Capacity Building.
Timetable for 2025-2026 (regularly updated)
| Monthly sessions: # | Month | Date & Time | Topic | Guests |
| 1 | October | 21 Oct 14:00-15:00 CET | Discussion: Professional trajectories and career planning | Inês Direito (University of Aveiro) Justin Hess (University of Purdue) Xiaoqi Feng (TU Delft) |
| 2 | November | 14 Nov 16:00-17:00 CET | Discussion: Trends in EER | Greet Langie (KU Leuven) Corrinne Shaw (Cape Town) Diana Martin (UCL) |
| 3 | December | 9 Dec, 13:00-14:00 CET | Using and developing a theoretical lens | Karin Wolff (Stellenbosch University) |
| 4 | January | 22 Jan, 16:00 – 17:00 CET | Ethical considerations for research, and leveraging the use of AI | Andrew Katz (Virginia Tech) |
| 5 | February | 24 Feb, 16:00 – 17:00 CET | Teaching in early career | Roland Tormey (EPFL), Matheus de Andrade (UCL) |
| 6 | March | TBC | Communicating your research to a broad audience | TBC |
| 7 | April | TBC | Mentorship and supervisory relations | Diana Martin (UCL) |
| 8 | May | TBC | The EER grant landscape | Shannon Chance (TU Dublin) |
| 9 | June | TBC | From dissertation to journal publication: tips and tricks | Kristina Edström (KTH) |