Early Career Researchers testimonies

What was the highlight of being part of S4CE?

Being part of S4CE means being part of a multidisciplinary and multicultural team of scientists and specialists in various fields of science and technology who rigorously seek to solve current environmental problems. It is a professional and human challenge where communication, transfer of knowledge and implementation of scientific skills are essential for the actual development and achievement of the project’s objectives. As an Early Career Researcher (ECR), I had the opportunity to participate in specialised courses, conferences and workshops of scientific dissemination. Moreover, we were trained by a professional coach to value our skills and succeed in our future professional challenges.

What does being part of a H2020 funded project mean to you?

Being part of a European project means participating in an international project that seeks immediate actions on current scientific, technological and social needs based on innovation. It is a pleasure to be part of a project that leads science worldwide and I am working hard to meet the necessary requirements based on the objectives and contribute to the knowledge of my specialty.

How does this experience contribute to your future career plans?

As a researcher in S4CE, my motivation to contribute to the sustainable development of the environment based on clean energy got even stronger. My personal future research goals are focused on continuing to understand the role of key microorganisms in different ecosystems. Microorganisms actively contribute to the biogeochemical processes of the earth, animals and humans and it is very important to understand them and be able to focus on studies that contribute to improving their comprehension.

What was the highlight of being part of S4CE?

Whilst I have many fantastic experiences from my time on the S4CE project, I consider the S4CE Early Career Researcher Workshop as a highlighted preference, where I learned the concept of Career Management, the importance of the social platforms such as LinkedIn for my career search in this modern world and knew how to improve my visibility on that platform. More importantly, in the last session of the workshop, we were expected to develop new proposal ideas related to geo-energy operations and prepare research proposals as a team. It was really challenging and intense, as we had gone through all the main stages of proposal preparation, discussions for only 2 hours and finally delivered our ‘sale’ proposals to experts of the panel; yet, the groups were very participative and reactive allowing numerous discussions and exchanges with experts and among ourselves. It is so blessed that our team successfully pitched our ideas to the panel with a project proposal of developing a novel state-of-the-art machine-learning algorithm to optimize site operations and minimize risks leading to an increase in the technologic and economic feasibility of subsurface operations and we won.

What does being part of a H2020 funded project mean to you?

I have participated in the Horizon 2020 project S4CE as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate since July 2018, where I develop accurate models for describing fluid transport in porous media. The Horizon 2020 funded project has enabled me to concentrate fully on my favourite research of transport modelling, develop new research ideas for the project, and publish the research results on top-ranked journals; particularly, since joining the S4CE consortium, I published two manuscripts on Microporous and Mesoporous Materials and Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters and co-authored one on Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering. Additionally, the project has offered me many great opportunities to create a network of collaborations from academia to industry involved in S4CE, learn how to promote myself and my work through workshops, summer schools and deliver research results at various international conferences, e.g. PPEPPD Conference 2019, Goldschmidt 2019.

How does this experience contribute to your future career plans?

Profoundly. Especially, I consider the transferable skills emerged from the S4CE ECRs Workshop to be absolutely beneficial in preparing research proposals, applying for research project grants in order to develop my independent research vision, start building a research group and allow me to transition myself to the next level towards fulfilling long-term career goals with a permanent academic position in the future.

What was the highlight of being part of S4CE?

Through S4CE, I’ve been able to access sampling sites in Iceland and Cornwall and experience the inner workings of industrial geothermal operations. Getting a glimpse of how these sites operate and how interconnected research and industry are has been one of my favorite aspects of being part of this consortium.

What does being part of a H2020 funded project mean to you?

It has been energizing to be part of a cross-disciplinary team where each group has a unique contribution towards achieving a unifying goal. Being part of a Horizon 2020 project has advanced my ability to explain concepts in an interdisciplinary framework and relate my results with the big picture.

How does this experience contribute to your future career plans?

The S4CE support of ECRs has been phenomenal throughout the project. From tailoring workshops to our projected career paths to ECR-hosted consortium meetings, S4CE has made a deep investment in its junior scientists. The professional growth as a result includes practical skills gained, insight in how to apply to jobs outside of academia, and confidence to build my career based on my strengths and aspirations.

What was the highlight of being part of S4CE?

My highlight of being part of S4CE was the 1st Annual Consortium Meeting in Reykjavík, Iceland. Meeting the other members of the consortium led to a better understanding of the various aspects of the project and building of collaborations.

What does being part of a H2020 funded project mean to you?

Being part of a H2020 funded project means I get to use my expertise to solve problems which directly affect the society. This makes me have a sense of fulfillment.

How does this experience contribute to your future career plans?

Coming from an academic background, the interdisciplinary nature of the S4CE project has exposed me to industry research/opportunities. I now have a first-hand experience on how I can use my expertise/skills in other areas outside of academia. This will definitely play a role in my future career plans.

What was the highlight of being part of S4CE?

It is very motivating to be part of a large group of scientists eager to work together towards a common goal, and to see how fast science go forward when there is active collaboration. Being part of S4CE allowed me to meet researchers with a large range of background and experience. Through the consortium, I learned a lot about innovative technologies to limit the impacts of producing geo-energy and, in general, about parts of geoscience away from my speciality. 

What does being part of a H2020 funded project mean to you?

Being part of a H2020 funded project involves regularly meeting people included in the project to give updates on work progress. Being frequently in presence of scientists with such different applications to the same goal helps keeping the “big picture” in mind.

How does this experience contribute to your future career plans?

Obviously, being part of such a project develops your network which is crucial for enhancing your career prospects as well as opening new possibilities and having new ideas. It is also a good exercise of scientific communication and collaboration. The consortium invested a special attention to their young scientist in terms of career management and development, encouraging us to participate to conferences, present our work and others’ in the same work package, organised a workshop on career development. It definitely developed my professional skills.

What was the highlight of being part of S4CE?

There were many highlights during my experience in the S4CE project. If I have to choose a few, one of the most stimulating experience was of course meeting with different colleagues from  different background in the project, as well as confronting my views and approaches to problem solving with them. This exchange of knowledge has given me also the opportunity to see the different advancements and branches of the S4CE project as a whole, and created the chance of reconnecting with a more academic world after some years working in the industry world.

What does being part of a H2020 funded project mean to you?

Participating in a European project such as Horizon2020 is for certain a unique experience for me. In particular, partaking in a project that has directs and tangible effects on the European community as a whole, is incredibly stimulating and fulfilling. It is a pleasure and an honour to work on such a ground-breaking project that helps pave the decarbonization road.

How does this experience contribute to your future career plans?

Through this experience I had the opportunity to plan and execute field tests, as well as engage in deep scientific discussions. Those are crucial steps for my professional growth, in particular towards a field oriented career that I seek to achieve.

What was the highlight of being part of S4CE?

In S4CE I found a fantastic group of people with whom to collaborate, exchange ideas and chill out after usually day-long meetings. During the last two years we have been involved in many activities; my favourite is the two-days tour in Iceland after the very first annual meeting of the project.

What does being part of a H2020 funded project mean to you?

For me a H2020-funded project means being part of a diverse team that gathers leaders in various research areas across Europe. This enables relating with people with very different backgrounds and interests, thus broadening each other’s horizons.

How does this experience contribute to your future career plans?

I had realized from my PhD that I enjoy doing research. This has been my first post-doctoral research experience; it confirmed that research – be it in academia or in research-only institute – is what I intend to pursue in my career.

What was the highlight of being part of S4CE?

Being part of the II Annual Consortium Meeting and No Risk No Energy Organizing Committee at UNISA. I had the opportunity, not only to meet researchers with many different backgrounds and experience, and to learn from them, but also, to prove my skills outside the classic lab environment and in conference management.

What does being part of a H2020 funded project mean to you?

It means having the possibility of interacting with partners with many different and unique expertise, it means being part of something relevant where the diversity is not only needed but celebrated. Another very important factor for me is to be able to work in an environment with an ethical focus on gender equality, future leaders and sustainability.

How does this experience contribute to your future career plans?

Being able to discuss with colleagues from different background and experience has taught me how to defend my results to an interdisciplinary audience, in particular, thanks to the industrial side of the consortium, I now have a bit of experience on how to disseminate the academic scientific goals/results in an “industrial language”.

Finally, S4CE has had a special attention to ECRs and we have had the opportunity to participate in bespoken workshop to help us draft a proposal or career management, which is something I deeply appreciate.