Reasons to attend a Connecting Science conference to strengthen your career

When you are a busy researcher, clinician, or healthcare professional, time and funding are often in short supply, particularly for activities outside the laboratory or clinic, such as research conferences or training. However, these barriers can be significantly limiting to both careers and scientific discovery, at all levels of participation.

Develop your knowledge and networks at any stage of your career

Whether you are a principal investigator (PI), postdoctoral researcher, PhD student or clinician, our conferences are where the latest genomics-led research and innovation will showcase. 

For early career researchers, the friendly and intimate nature of our conferences make them excellent opportunities to network with leading experts in your field. It’s a chance to meet the faces behind the research papers you have read, and ask those questions you dream of discussing in detail. 

For senior researchers, it’s a chance to explore what other research groups are working on in your field, and exchange knowledge on the application of genomics tools and technologies. However experienced you are, participating in discussion and sharing your findings is a great way to establish yourself as a leader within the community. You will also benefit from the latest thinking to shape your current and future projects. 

You will also have the opportunity to connect with emerging talent. Taking the time to engage with postdocs and PhD students might introduce you to the next bright minds to bring onto your team.  

For all scientists and researchers it’s a chance to delve deeper into genomics trends, learn about the latest tools and techniques, and discover unpublished findings that can unlock innovative thought and give insight into the future direction of your field. 

Build your professional profile and gain feedback from leaders

Our inclusive environments are perfect for getting noticed and strengthening your communication and presentation skills on a global stage. By presenting a short talk or poster, you can practise talking about your research to both in person and online audiences. 

Having experienced researchers from across the globe in the room, means you will gain feedback and fresh perspectives from those with different expertise. Discussing your work with peers and leaders, will help you to bridge gaps in your research and spark new thinking about how to move forward.

Develop collaborative futures: Nurture existing networks and form new ones

The pandemic and its reverberations continue to affect community engagement and scientific collaboration. Attending a conference in person enables you to reconnect with old colleagues, perhaps now dispersed across the world, and catch up on their current projects. You can discuss the challenges and opportunities related to the tools and approaches you are using to progress your research. 

You will also encounter new peers and ideas that could lead to interesting and unexpected collaborations for the future. Those causal interactions over coffee, or with the person sitting next to you during a session, might just be the start of a novel project you would not have thought of otherwise. 

Your next career step could be waiting for you

The most interesting career paths often emerge from unexpected encounters. By attending a research meeting, you will place yourself at the centre of a multidisciplinary community, where new contacts, mentors, funders, and job opportunities can be found. 

Spending dedicated time talking to people about your interests, experiences and expertise, will increase your chances of finding the right opportunity to develop your career. 

Overcome barriers to entry with a Connecting Science funding award

At Connecting Science we go further than just pointing out the benefits of attending conferences. We are committed to removing the barriers that prevent participation; fostering genomics learning and exchange that is representative of the whole scientific community (no voices left outside of the room). 

Our funding schemes address financial barriers for scientists at all career levels, including those with caring responsibilities at home. 

Our bursaries cover up to 50% of the conference registration fee for successful applicants, providing recipients with opportunities to present their research. 

Our carers’ grants cover the cost of caring duties you would normally provide at home, so you can participate at your chosen conference in person.

What to look out for in 2025…

Our conferences programme serves scientists, researchers, and healthcare professionals working across a broad number of biomedical fields, focusing on topics including:

• Human genomics
• Pathogen genomics
• Evolution and the environment
• Genomics tools and technologies (for disease modelling, gene editing, and data analyses)
• The application of genomics into clinical practice
• Science policy and ethics.

In 2025, in addition to established conferences including Epigenomics of Common Diseases, Genomics of Rare Diseases, CRISPR and Beyond, and Applied Bioinformatics and Public Health Microbiology, we will explore new topics such as women’s health. Our Human Evolution: From Fossils to Ancient and Modern Genomes conference will also return in person, after a four-year hiatus.

Stay in touch to discover your next opportunity 

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