![\"Ciaran](\"https:\/\/news.embl.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/DSCN0481v2.jpg\")
Ciaran Behan<\/h3>\nBoard members represent the alumni community, conduct the business of the Association at twice-yearly meetings and through regular contact with the Alumni Relations Office, decide on policies and actions, and promote and help organise alumni activities, events and networks. EAA board members serve a four-year term.<\/p>\n
Ciaran Behan<\/h3>\nNow:<\/strong> Co-founder and Manager, Course Resource UG, Heidelberg \u201cI got involved with the Heidelberg alumni chapter, inspired by alumni speakers at the 2013 EMBL Summer Party, who acknowledged the great opportunities and support \u2013 both professional and personal \u2013 that the alumni network provides. Looking for a way to contribute, I helped establish the Rhein-Neckar-Kreis Alumni Stammtisch in 2013 and continue to sponsor and organise these together with the Alumni Relations Office. I would like to take this sponsorship model further, by exploring ways to fund the EAA locally and globally through event and award sponsorship programmes.<\/p>\n Now:<\/strong> Senior Group Leader, Institute for Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Vienna \u201cOn multiple levels EMBL has served as a role model for molecular biology research in Europe and worldwide. Many challenges remain and new ones are emerging. The interaction between EMBL and the member states via an active Alumni Association is a great addition to other ongoing efforts. My own motivation in the Association will be to help improve the career outlook for young scientists. Science depends on brilliant minds \u2013 to keep attracting those, we need to reverse the trend that the scientific career is increasingly losing its perspective for the future talents.\u201d<\/p>\n Now:<\/strong> Lecturer and Group Leader, University of Kent, Canterbury \u201cDue to the current funding landscape, new investigators are facing important challenges when trying to establish their labs: the need for interdisciplinary, collaborative research programmes is almost a must. As an EAA board member, I would like to promote the organisation of events \u2018EMBL-style\u2019, where a mix of science and informal gatherings provide the natural environment for establishing fruitful collaborations among EMBL alumni.\u201d<\/p>\n Now:<\/strong> Research Scientist, Sanofi, Frankfurt \u201cIn recent years, academic labs as well as industry have increasingly realised the importance of collaborations to promote basic science and translate it into applied research and practical medical progress. This is exactly the spirit of collaboration that I experienced during my time at EMBL. To strengthen and foster such collaborations, I\u2019d like to set up a network of EMBL alumni working in industry and the life science business, serving as contacts for future collaborative efforts and as source of information for EMBL associates about non-academic institutions.\u201d<\/p>\n Now:<\/strong> Group Leader at the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), Barcelona \u201cEver since I left EMBL thirteen years ago, I have not stopped communicating with current and past staff. From scientific collaborations to meetings, from using EMBL Core Facilities and panel expertise to just simple advice or friendship, EMBL and its alumni have always been there for me. I would like to contribute and extend this feeling of belonging, to spread the many benefits of networking, and to improve connections between alumni and EMBL, especially at this time when a new EMBL partnership lab is being created in Barcelona.\u201d<\/p>\n Now:<\/strong> Professor of Bioinformatics, Conway Institute, Dublin \u201cAs a result of my time at EMBL, I now have a fantastic network of colleagues, friends and collaborators in almost every European country. People who have not spent time working at EMBL are often badly informed as to the extent or value of this. I think the EAA has a key role in advertising and promoting the importance of EMBL in the member states to ensure continued participation by national governments, and supporting active participation by individuals in all the programmes.\u201d<\/p>\n Now:<\/strong> Head of IT, European Southern Observatory (ESO), Munich \u201cThe EAA gives me an opportunity to renew many of my EMBL (alumni) contacts, which I established not only while working as IT Manager, but also during my time as Head of the EMBL Staff Association. I would like to utilise my knowledge and experience in IT, the Internet and e-commerce, to build a digital platform that will enable the Association to better use digital communication, social media, Internet publishing and other modern media.\u201d<\/p>\n Now:<\/strong> Professor, University of Patras Medical School, Greece \u201cWorking at EMBL is a unique experience that affects how one approaches science, collaboration and having fun while doing serious stuff. The Alumni Association is pivotal for spreading the word on EMBL opportunities, facilitating access to EMBL, and supporting visits especially for younger scientists. I would like to help the Association expand opportunities for summer training, diploma research or short-term projects, and to work together with national associations to advertise and promote these activities.\u201d<\/p>\n Now:<\/strong> Partner, Life Sciences Partners (LSP), Amsterdam \u201cThe key task of the EAA is to promote the spirit of excellence that characterises EMBL, and to foster collaboration amongst its alumni, many of whom are at the forefront of today\u2019s rapidly changing life sciences sector. As an active investor in companies focused on the life sciences, and based on my experience and knowledge in raising funds for European- and US-based life science companies, I believe I may have a synergistic perspective on how to promote fruitful collaboration between academia and business.\u201d<\/p>\n Now:<\/strong> Head of kobris \u2013 company specialising in project management, Sandhausen \u201cI believe that the general public would appreciate a better understanding of the excellence of EMBL\u2019s research and the uniqueness of the institute, and I would like to support this by contributing to a communication agenda. Here,\u00a0staff and alumni could present their work in a fashion that is understandable for the interested public, very much in line with the Sunday matinees introduced at EMBL Heidelberg during the anniversary year. This would include increased engagement from the non-scientific experts of the EMBL community, of which there are many, from the service community, IT, management and administration to public relations at all EMBL sites.\u201d<\/p>\n Now:<\/strong> Head of Communications and External Relations, Institute for Research in Biomedicine Barcelona (IRBB) \u201cInteractions with the EMBL community have come in many forms for me – meeting up with ex-colleagues at events, collaborating on projects, or simply a quick phone call to ask for advice. For me, this typifies the value of the EMBL Alumni Association. It provides a real and practical framework to stay connected to an incredible network of talented and resourceful people. It also allows us to give back to that community. Having spent many years of my time at EMBL helping establish the Association, and the past 4 years contributing as a member of the Board, I hope to continue to serve the ever-growing EMBL alumni community.”<\/p>\n Four candidates are standing for the four positions as legal representatives \u2013 that is, Chair, Vice-Chairs and Treasurer:<\/p>\n Now:<\/strong> Associate Professor, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Oslo \u201cThe role of the EAA is to provide support to the Laboratory. EMBL alumni are an important network of former staff, strongly connected to the member states. Many member countries are significantly under-represented in terms of staff at EMBL \u2013 despite its reputation, too few people in the member states are aware of the possibilities offered at EMBL. The alumni network is the best avenue to communicate this. On my part, I have been effectively highlighting opportunities at EMBL, and plan to continue building on these and more.\u201d<\/p>\n Now:<\/strong> Group Leader, Institute of Molecular Biology and Tumor Research, Marburg \u201cI am looking forward to the possibility of serving a second term on the EMBL Alumni Association Board, this time as Vice-Chair. During my first term, I helped raise funds for alumni-centred activities, enabling alumni to maximise the benefits of being part of this far-reaching EMBL network. I also aim to contribute to building a wider awareness of our activities and of the role of EMBL as a remarkable centre of training and research excellence.\u201d<\/p>\n Now:<\/strong> Scientific Attach\u00e9, Italian Embassy, London \u201cThe period spent at EMBL significantly marked all alumni. We shared a passion for science and were infused with the culture of excellence. We also established a network of friends and colleagues that has accompanied us in our personal and professional lives ever since. The EAA should maintain and export these values and, in doing so, provide support to EMBL.\u201d<\/p>\n Now:<\/strong> Treasurer to the Meridian Society; Company Secretary to Tangent Films Ltd, London \u201cI am interested in the role of EMBL alumni as holders of the Laboratory\u2019s collective history and as ambassadors for the Laboratory\u2019s future. In the past two years I have enjoyed interesting discussions about what the Association can do to benefit the alumni community and some challenging questions about the management of its financial affairs. Our 40th<\/sup> anniversary year was a particularly busy and exciting time, and I am pleased to have played a small part in that. Finance is not a popular discipline with everyone, so this niche gives me an opportunity to make a contribution, which I am looking forward to continue.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Get ready to vote for your EMBL Alumni Association board.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":3901,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,3],"tags":[80],"embl_taxonomy":[],"class_list":["post-3796","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alumni","category-lab-matters","tag-alumni"],"acf":{"vfwp-news_embl_taxonomy":null,"featured":null,"show_featured_image":null,"field_target_display":"embl","field_article_language":{"value":"english","label":"English"},"article_intro":"All members of the EMBL Alumni Association (EAA) are entitled to vote in the upcoming board elections, online from 15-31 May 2015. Eleven candidates are vying for your vote to fill five available positions as regular board members, and four are standing as\u00a0legal representatives \u2013 view their election statements below.","related_links":"2","source_article":null,"in_this_article":null,"press_contact":null,"article_translations":null,"languages":null},"embl_taxonomy_terms":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nAt EMBL:<\/strong> Senior Technical Officer, 2004\u20132013, Core Facilities and Services<\/p>\n![\"Julius](\"https:\/\/news.embl.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/Brennecke-WEB.jpg\")
<\/strong>Julius Brennecke<\/h3>\n
\nAt EMBL:<\/strong> Predoc, 2001\u20132005, Developmental Biology<\/p>\n![\"Alessia](\"https:\/\/news.embl.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/Alessia_WEB.jpg\")
<\/strong>Alessia Buscaino<\/h3>\n
\nAt EMBL:<\/strong> Predoc, 2001\u20132005, Genome Biology<\/p>\n![\"Christian](\"https:\/\/news.embl.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/CE-07.03.2015-3470-WEB.jpg\")
Christian Engel<\/h3>\n
\nAt EMBL:<\/strong> Predoc, 1993\u20131997, Structural and Computational Biology Unit<\/p>\n![\"Fatima](\"https:\/\/news.embl.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/F-GEBAUER-WEB.jpg\")
Fatima Gebauer<\/h3>\n
\nAt EMBL:<\/strong> Postdoc and Staff Scientist, 1996\u20132002, Genome Biology<\/p>\n![\"Des](\"https:\/\/news.embl.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/DesHiggins-WEB.jpg\")
Des Higgins<\/h3>\n
\nAt EMBL:<\/strong> Group Leader, 1990\u20131996, EMBL-EBI<\/p>\n![\"Mervi](\"https:\/\/news.embl.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/PastedGraphic-WEB.jpg\")
Mervi Lampinen<\/h3>\n
\nAt EMBL:<\/strong> IT Manager, 2004\u20132008, Core Facilities and Scientific Services<\/p>\n![\"Zoi](\"https:\/\/news.embl.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/ZoiLygerou-WEB.jpg\")
Zoi Lygerou<\/h3>\n
\nAt EMBL:<\/strong> Predoc, 1991\u20131995, Genome Biology<\/p>\n![\"Joep](\"https:\/\/news.embl.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/Joep-Muijrers103143-WEB.jpg\")
Joep Muijrers<\/h3>\n
\nAt EMBL:<\/strong> Predoc, 1997\u20132001, Genome Biology<\/p>\n![\"Britta](\"https:\/\/news.embl.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/K5_0095_A_skaliert-WEB.jpg\")
Britta Schl\u00e4ger<\/h3>\n
\nAt EMBL:<\/strong> Research Technician 1989\u20131998, Genome Biology<\/p>\n![\"Sarah](\"https:\/\/news.embl.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/sarah2-WEB.jpg\")
Sarah Sherwood<\/h3>\n
\nAt EMBL:<\/strong> OIPA Officer, 1999\u20132007, OIPA<\/p>\nLegal representatives<\/h2>\n
![\"Gareth](\"https:\/\/news.embl.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/GarethG-WEB.jpg\")
Gareth Griffiths, Chair<\/h3>\n
\nAt EMBL:<\/strong> Group Leader, 1977\u20132009, Cell Biology and Biophysics<\/p>\n![\"Jacqueline](\"https:\/\/news.embl.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/Jacqueline-Mermoud-WEB.jpg\")
Jacqueline Mermoud, Vice-Chair<\/h3>\n
\nAt EMBL:<\/strong> Predoc, 1990\u20131994, Genome Biology<\/p>\n![\"Roberto](\"https:\/\/news.embl.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/RobertodiLauro-WEB1.jpg\")
Roberto di Lauro, Vice-Chair<\/h3>\n
\nAt EMBL:<\/strong> Group Leader, 1986\u20131991, Genome Biology<\/p>\n![\"Annabel](\"https:\/\/news.embl.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/AMG-Photo20110529b-WEB.jpg\")
Annabel Goulding, Treasurer<\/h3>\n
\nAt EMBL:<\/strong> Head of Pay and Benefits, 2002\u20132011, Administration<\/p>\n