EPNOE Junior is the early-career community within EPNOE, bringing together Master’s students, PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, and other junior scientists working in polysaccharides and related fields. It is a space to connect, share research, explore career paths, and grow within an international network.
EPNOE Junior is the subgroup within EPNOE dedicated to researchers at an early stage of their scientific career. It helps junior members become more connected to the network, more visible in their work, and more engaged in the wider EPNOE community. Through its activities and representative network, EPNOE Junior supports scientific exchange, career development, and stronger links between researchers across institutions and countries.
EPNOE Junior also reflects the broader mission of EPNOE: advancing research, innovation, education, and dissemination in polysaccharides, while helping raise awareness of their relevance and potential benefits in society.
EPNOE Junior creates opportunities for members to connect, learn, exchange ideas, and gain visibility through a growing range of activities across the network. These include webinars, web-togethers, Junior meetings, representative meetings, and engagement through the EPNOE member area.
EPNOE Junior webinars provide a platform for junior scientists to present their research, contribute to scientific exchange, and increase the visibility of their work to a wider audience. The materials describe webinars as a way for EPNOE Junior scientists to promote their research worldwide.
Web-Togethers offer a more interactive, member-focused format for discussion and exchange. They create space to explore scientific topics, professional experiences, and career paths in a more personal setting. A recent example focused on polysaccharide research beyond academia, featuring industry perspectives on daily work, career preparation, and work–life balance.
EPNOE Junior also brings members together through Junior meetings and representative meetings, helping strengthen the sense of community across the network. The recent materials refer to the Vienna Junior Meeting, regular meetings with Junior Representatives, and plans for the EPNOE Junior Meeting in Spain in 2026.
EPNOE Junior is also developing training-oriented activities that support members beyond their research topics, including ideas such as writing papers, project proposals, poster design, and science communication. This shows that the subgroup is not only about sharing research, but also about helping junior researchers grow professionally.
EPNOE Junior gives early-career researchers a clearer place within the network. It helps members build connections, share their work, learn from others, and engage more actively with the polysaccharide community. It also creates opportunities to better understand what it means to work in this field, both in academia and beyond.
Importantly, the materials also suggest that many of the practical benefits of EPNOE membership are experienced through participation in activities such as webinars, workshops, and the bi-annual Junior Scientist Meeting. This makes EPNOE Junior an important entry point for connection, participation, and belonging within EPNOE.
The EPNOE Junior Award adds an important dimension to EPNOE Junior by recognising the work, potential, and contributions of early-career researchers in the network. It reflects the value that EPNOE places on junior scientists not only as participants, but as active contributors to the future of polysaccharide research and innovation.
By highlighting promising researchers and giving visibility to their achievements, the award strengthens the identity of EPNOE Junior as a community that supports, encourages, and celebrates emerging talent.
Nominations for the EPNOE Junior Award to be presented at the EPNOE Conference in Málaga (2026). The award is presented every two years to an outstanding young scientist—doctoral candidates and researchers within seven years of completing their PhD—who has made a remarkable contribution to polysaccharide research.
The nominator must hold a valid EPNOE membership at the time of submission.
The nominee does not need to be an EPNOE member to be eligible for nomination.
If the nominator is not yet a member, membership should be completed before submitting the nomination.
Nominee CV (PDF)
A maximum 2-page CV including:
1 – Professional positions held in chronological order
2 – Higher education
3 – Memberships in professional organizations and societies
4 – Research grants, awards, and contributions
5 – Publication list, including DOI or link for each publication where available
Maximum file size: 5 MB
All other nomination details can be completed directly in the form.
Whether you are starting your journey in research or already building your path as an early-career scientist, EPNOE Junior offers a place to connect, contribute, and grow within the EPNOE network.
Join the conversation, take part in our activities, and help shape the future of EPNOE Junior.