EPICUR-Research’s “Pathway to Research”

EPICamps

The five EPICamps that took place between October 2021 and April 2022 in the context of EPICUR-Research were low threshold workshops, inspired by the barcamp (unconference) format, offered to Early Career Researchers (ECRs) of the EPICUR alliance. They enabled engagement with peers and encouraged those with similar interests to pursue joint inter- and transdisciplinary projects on societal challenges. The EPICamps allowed Early Career Researchers to explore research similarities and complementarities, combining various formats, from mini-pitches to larger discussion groups, for networking across partner universities and enhancing academic matchmaking across disciplines. They were hosted virtually by a core group from at least three partner universities, known as EPICamp Academic Boards, comprising both established and early career researchers from any discipline. These boards coordinated topics along the EPIChallenges of “Sustainability”, “Migration, Mobility, Identity”, and “Public Health,” encouraging researchers to contribute ideas and organise EPICamps around these themes.

Find out more about the five EPICamps:

EPICradles

Following the EPICamps on the EPICUR Pathway to Research, the EPICradles offered Early Career Researchers (ECRs) funding and support to develop new, interdisciplinary projects addressing EPIChallenges like Sustainability, Mobility/Migration/Identity, and Public Health. These fellowships, lasting about three months, were hybrid, combining virtual and physical collaboration among ECRs from different universities to work on relevant topics and engage with experts. EPICUR aimed to foster interdisciplinary excellence and encouraged transdisciplinary research, inviting community participation from the start. EPICradles provided stipends, group budgets, and access to advanced research infrastructure, encouraging innovative project development in a supportive environment. Non-university partners, including artists and activists, could join as full members or advisors, promoting innovation and inclusivity. The program featured two physical meetings bridged by virtual co-working, allowing for exploration, team building, and project development, culminating in a closing event to share outcomes with the EPICUR alliance and public.

The four EPICradle projects included:

    • “Co-Con”: co-constructing sustainable farm practices against pest infestation
    • “Epic-P”: an interdisciplinary approach for identifying promising solutions on the emerging challenge of phosphorus recycling
    • “Sustainable Regional Production”: focusing on sustainable regional production and consumption in Europe
    • “De-Heimatisation”: metaphorising the experience of home and migration for more inclusive local policies
      More information about the results of the EPICradles can be found in this news article.

EPIClusters

The EPICluster Mobility Programme, coordinated by the University of Strasbourg in France, underwent a test run. It was evaluated for its application and selection processes, along with its overall effectiveness, to assess its appeal and user-friendliness for early career researchers.
The EPICUR Alliance invited early career researchers from all disciplines to participate in collaborative research projects, known as “EPIClusters”, aimed at addressing scientific and societal challenges over a period of up to six months.
The main goals of the EPICluster Mobility Programme were to:

    • Offer early career researchers hybrid residencies for conducting interdisciplinary research projects
    • Promote the adoption of new research techniques through the encouragement of interdisciplinary skills
    • Provide access to research infrastructures at EPICUR’s partner universities
    • Disseminate and apply findings by establishing an open, scholarly program targeting wider audiences and tackling the complex challenges of European/global society
    • Support the shaping of future academic careers by ensuring continuous supervision and guidance, offering concrete future perspectives by the end of the residency
    • Facilitate long-term collaboration between academia and external stakeholders, including the wider society, to forge more sustainable approaches to education, training, research, and innovation

The EPIClusters created customised experiences at one of the partner universities for researchers from both academic and non-academic backgrounds, fostering a network for scientific exploration and idea exchange across the Alliance. Each EPICluster brought together early career researchers and non-university professionals for a 1-to-6-month residency at one of the EPICUR-Research partner universities for research, creation, and experimentation.
The call for applications was open to groups of at least 5 early career researchers, requiring participants from a minimum of 3 different EPICUR universities. All scientific disciplines addressing one or more EPIChallenges were eligible to apply.

The EPICluster projects

    • Seeking a new language: Narratives on home, (forced) migration and identity of newcoming Ukrainian youth to European cities
    • CoCon Tomato: Co-constructed early warning system against tomato leafminer
    • EPICNutrients: A scientific cooperation framework among different disciplines targeting the process of developing a novel fertiliser from the raw waste material to a final application
    • Energy transition: A sustainable and just renewable energy transition for Europe

EPICluster project videos and interviews

Seeking a new language

A sustainable and just transition for Europe

ePICnutrients

The EPIClusters culminated in the Open Science Days event held on 1-3 July 2024 in Strasbourg. At this closing event, Early Career Researchers from the EPICluster teams presented the resuts of their respective projects to the public in four Open Sessions, held in a hybrid format at the University of Strasbourg.

PhD Exchange Programme

In 2021 and 2022, the EPICUR PhD Exchange Programme – Research, Training & Skills Development offered PhD candidates the opportunity to collaborate on interdisciplinary research projects at other universities within the EPICUR alliance for a duration of 1-6 months while also receiving the latest methods of training. Besides the emphasis on skills development and interdisciplinarity, the programme fostered cross-border exchanges, connected the regions of the European University and enabled future academic generations to jointly work towards finding solutions to societal challenges that Europe and the world are currently facing, with a focus on the three EPIChallenges as defined by EPICUR-Research (Sustainability research; Mobility, Migration & Identity; and Transition of Public Health).

The PhD Exchange Programme offered the following four components to support participants in their research, training and skills development:

    • Interdisciplinary research: The interdisciplinary research activities addressing the EPIChallenges allowed participants to broaden their horizons and deepen their knowledge by gaining exposure to new perspectives, approaches and methodologies, while also bringing their own perspectives into the project.
    • Training and skills development: The programme offered the opportunity to participate in a virtual workshop on the topic of intercultural competence, as well as additional skills and/or methods training as agreed upon in the initial meeting with the mentor.
      Supervision and guidance: Participants received ongoing support and guidance from a mentor at the receiving institute.
    • Plenary sessions and peer networking opportunities: Participants were invited to attend virtual introductory and closing sessions and monthly virtual networking gatherings.

Although the programme will not be continued in this format, research stay exchange opportunities will continue to be offered in the context of EPICUR SHAPE-IT’s EPICUR Hubs through the Research Opportunities Portal, which is scheduled to be launched in April 2025.