Overview
Rising Stars brings together academics and industry professionals to share insights into career pathways, personal experiences and practical advice. The event has a particular focus on supporting people from groups that are underrepresented within the UK materials science and engineering community.
Developed and delivered by early-career researchers working in materials science, the event will combine talks, panel discussions and interactive sessions exploring careers in academia and industry, research translation and professional development. It will also provide an open forum for discussing the challenges and opportunities researchers may encounter as their careers progress.
Participants will hear personal perspectives and practical advice from speakers, expand their professional networks and develop skills to help shape their career and research ambitions. The programme will include support with CVs and job applications, alongside opportunities to discuss work–life balance, personal development and different experiences of navigating a research career.
Rising Stars aims to create an inclusive and supportive environment in which participants can learn from one another, make new connections and leave feeling better equipped to take the next steps in their careers. Through the event, Rising Stars champions the importance of diversity, equality, inclusion and mentorship within the materials science and engineering community.
Who should attend?
Rising Stars is intended for PhD students approaching the end of their studies, postdoctoral researchers and others at an early stage of a career in materials science and engineering who self-identify as belonging to a group that is underrepresented within the UK materials science and engineering community.
Applications are welcomed from participants across the UK. Royce can reimburse reasonable travel costs for participants travelling from outside Greater Manchester. Support may also be available for participants with caring responsibilities.
Registration
Please submit an expression of interest to attend Rising Stars 2027.
Places are limited. As part of the expression-of-interest process, applicants will be asked to provide brief information about their career stage, their access to professional development opportunities and how they would benefit from attending.
Expressions of interest will be reviewed after the deadline. Successful applicants will then be contacted to confirm their place.
The deadline for expressions of interest is 09:00 on Monday 23 November 2026.
Rising Stars is free to attend.
Event Details
Date: Friday 15th January 2027
Event times: 10:15-16:30,
Format: In-person
Location: Henry Royce Institute, Royce Hub Building, University of Manchester
Audience: PhD student, postdoctoral and early career researchers.
Event Programme
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 09:30–10:15 | Arrival, registration, refreshments and icebreaker activity |
| 10:15–10:20 | Welcome |
| 10:20–10:45 | Inspirational talk |
| 10:45–12:15 | Academic careers panel |
| 12:15–13:15 | Lunch |
| 13:15–15:00 | Careers in research translation panel |
| 15:00–15:30 | Job application workshop |
| 15:30–16:00 | Refreshments and CV clinic |
| 16:00–16:30 | Wrap-up, community brainstorming, questions and close |
Organisers
- Dr Tarek Haloubi, Student Engagement Manager, Henry Royce Institute
- Dr Lucy Whalley, Associate Professor in Physics, Northumbria University
- Dr Alex Ramadan, Lecturer in Energy Materials, University of Sheffield
- Dr Katie Shanks, Research Fellow and Senior Lecturer, University of Exeter
- Dr Jessica Wade, Assistant Professor, Imperial College London
- Dr Yi Liu, Senior Lecturer in Polymer and Composites, Loughborough University
January 15 2027
