ARISE summer school provides training in research infrastructure management
Through a week-long series of workshops and discussions, ARISE fellows learned about key aspects of research infrastructure management, scientific service provision, and entrepreneurship
By Daniela Ramos, Administrative Trainee
Earlier this summer, fellows from the fourth cohort of EMBL’s ARISE programme gathered at EMBL Heidelberg for a one-week training experience on research infrastructures management. This year’s summer school featured lectures on project management, technology transfer, finances, communications, and more.
The ARISE programme was launched in 2021 with the aim of training the next generation of scientists and engineers in technology development and research infrastructure management in the life sciences.
“Nowadays, there is still a clear gap for researchers to gain experience and training opportunities that help them transition their career into research infrastructures in the academic or private sectors,” said Edward Avenell, ARISE program manager. “In this way, ARISE is a unique programme aiming to cover that gap.”
The summer school offered an opportunity for ARISE fellows to learn from experienced professionals across disciplines how to run a scientific service or venture into entrepreneurship. Bringing together senior scientists from the academic and private sectors, business developers, and social science professionals, the ARISE summer school provided interdisciplinary training, including case-study presentations and interactive sessions. During this week, lively conversations filled the room as presenters delved deeper into topics ranging from leadership and service provision to finances and ethical implications of technology development.
“The summer school was a wonderful opportunity to meet participants who are on the same journey,” said Dihia Moussaoui, ARISE fellow in the McCarthy Group at EMBL Grenoble. “It was enriching to hear about the career paths and management experiences of platform managers, who were truly inspiring. I believe the summer school was a necessary step — like being on a boat — helping us recognise who is travelling with us, where the boat is heading, and the funny or challenging moments we might encounter along the way.”
Additionally, a new highlight at this year’s summer school was the public engagement session. Fellows gained crucial insights into communication strategies and discovered EMBL’s rich resources for scientific outreach. They even shared their ongoing initiatives, like Kristina Jevdokimenko, ARISE fellow in the Saka group at EMBL Heidelberg, who shared her experience hosting the podcast ‘Neuroscience and beyond’, where she explores both scientific topics and the realities of a research career. Similarly, Arnau Fabra Ruiz, ARISE fellow in the Torres-Sánchez Group at EMBL Barcelona, shared ‘expli.cat’, his Instagram-based science education project in Catalan.
The week concluded with fellows presenting their research projects. This session was designed as a safe and collegial space where fellows could explore how to effectively pitch their research to diverse non-academic audiences, including investors, industry partners, the wider public, and even a bored politician.
“It was a pleasure sharing our projects and ideas with such a competent and friendly group of peers,” said Juan Pablo Narváez Gómez, ARISE fellow in the EBI Eukaryotic Annotation team at EMBL-EBI. “I’m truly proud to have been part of this team, and I hope we’ll have the opportunity to work together to fulfil our mission of providing the best scientific services, helping to advance life sciences.”
Every session played a crucial role in building a vibrant community, enabling participants to forge meaningful connections. “This was a great opportunity to connect with my fellow fellows in person, explore the Heidelberg campus facilities, and learn about the different aspects of service provision together,” remarked Fabio Domenico de Marco, ARISE fellow in the Duke group at EMBL Grenoble, capturing the sentiment of newfound camaraderie.
The ARISE team would like to thank everyone who volunteered their time, making this summer school an outstanding success and demonstrating EMBL’s collaborative spirit.
If you’re interested in learning more about ARISE and the training we offer, please visit our website or contact Edward Avenell. If you are interested in becoming an ARISE fellow, the call is currently open for ARISE2.
