The BFDG Early Career Researcher Event will again be sponsored by the Consumer Lab and will be held on Wednesday 23 April 2025 at the University of Bristol.
Registration is OPEN! To register, please click on this link which will take you to a Qualtrics survey. On this survey, you can tell us a bit about yourself, and also indicate your dietary requirements, preferences for the event and accessibility needs.
A few things to know:
- The entire event will be held in-person and attendees are required to be physically present in Bristol.
- Using a mixture of presentations by guest speakers, and practical workshops (group discussions), the ECR event will cover a variety of fundamental topics within academia.
- Attendees will be welcome to join us for coffee and registration from 9.30 am onwards in the Beckford Bar. We will all then take a short walk to the main event venue (Ivy Gate Building) for the first session which will start at 10.20 am with a brief introduction from the organising committee.
- Lunch will be served at the Beckford Bar from 1-2 pm. For the catering we are able to take into account dietary requirements/restrictions, although please note the lunch will be buffet style with a variety of options. Within the registration form we will collect information about dietary requirements and preferences for food.
- At the end of the event, join us for an informal social gathering at a local pub (The Channings) to get to know each other ahead of the main BFDG conference. Please note, catering at the pub is not covered by the event.
Event schedule:
09:30 – 10:15 Registration and Welcome Drinks ☕
10:20 – 10:40 Welcome Activity
10:40 – 11:40 Using Process Maps to Aid Reproducibility (Mrs Fiona Booth & Dr Nick Beazley-Long, University of Bristol)
Many researchers find data management to be time-consuming and complicated, especially when research includes collecting sensitive data about individuals. In this workshop we will explore the research data lifecycle and introduce some simple tools to help you to track the flow of research data and build a data management strategy which addresses some the common risks and problems.
11:40 – 11:55 Short Break
11:55 – 12:55 Pathways to Impact – Collaboration for Real-World Change (Dr Kourosh Norouzi, University of Bristol)
This session will equip PhD students and early-career researchers with tools to translate their work into tangible outcomes. Through case studies and interactive discussions, we’ll explore how to build partnerships across public engagement, policy, and industry. Learn practical strategies for initiating collaborations, navigating challenges, and amplifying the reach of your research beyond academia. Whether you’re starting your journey or refining your approach, this session will inspire actionable steps for creating meaningful impact.
12:55 – 13:00 Half-day Reflections and Short Walk to Lunch at the Beckford Bar
13:00 – 13:55 Lunch 🥗🍕🍴
13:55 – 14:00 Short Walk to Afternoon Sessions at the Ivy Gate
14:00 – 15:00 Connecting Research to Impact – Consumer Lab Hackathon (Prof Jeff Brunstrom & Dr Kourosh Norouzi, University of Bristol; Prof Louise Dye, University of Sheffield; Dr Dave Mela, Retired Senior Scientist from Unilever R&D)
Roll up your sleeves for this hackathon! In small teams, your challenge will be to think of a new food or drink product that could benefit human health. Facilitated by experts from Consumer-Lab, you’ll receive tailored guidance as you brainstorm ideas, prototype solutions, and refine strategies to translate research into a potential product. From academic paper to store shelf, this session will sharpen your problem-solving skills, equip you with practical tools for real-world impact, and enable you to practice pitching ideas to an audience.
15:00 – 15:05 Introducing the L3 ECR Fellowship Group
15:05 – 15:10 Short Walk to Afternoon Break at the Beckford Bar
15:10 – 15:40 Afternoon Break at the Beckford Bar ☕🍎
15:40 – 15:45 Short Walk to the Final Session at the Ivy Gate
15:45 – 16:45 Working with Secondary Data: A Practical Guide for Early Career Researchers (Dr Alice Kininmonth, University of Leeds)
This session provides an essential introduction to working with secondary data, covering its advantages, limitations, and practical applications for research. Attendees will learn how to identify suitable datasets, navigate data access procedures, assess data quality, and prepare for analysis, with a focus on real-world examples from eating behaviour research.
16:45 – 17:00 Closing Reflections
From 17:00 onwards Social Event at the Channings
❗Please note that our event schedule is subject to change and title of sessions will be confirmed as soon as possible.
Registration
Importantly, as this is an in-person session with limited room space, if the number of sign-ups exceeds our room capacity, then we will operate a lottery system to randomly allocate spaces. However, we have increased spaces this year so we hope this won’t happen!
Registration is open for our FREE in-person event. To register, please click on this link which will take you to a Qualtrics survey. On this survey, you can tell us a bit about yourself, and also indicate your dietary requirements, preferences for the event and accessibility needs.
We have confirmed successful registration for attendees who registered before Friday 14 March 2025. As we have spare capacity, we have re-opened tickets on a first-come-first-serve basis until Thursday 3 April 2025 (the main BFDG conference registration deadline) or until all spaces are full.
If you have any questions regarding the event, feel free to contact one of the organisers at: bfdg.ecr@gmail.com