AWRN Coordinating Group Positions

 

 

AWRN Members are invited to apply for the following positions on the Coordinating Group:

1) Early Career Representatives - Two people in the early stages of their career to provide leadership and direction on Early Career issues within the AWRN. These roles have a two-year term and are selected by the Early Career Committee. 

2) New Positions - We are also offering the opportunity for people to create their own position on the Coordinating Group. This can be any role that would benefit the membership of the AWRN. So, if you look through the current Coordinating Group roles and think there is something missing, in an area that you would like to support, then please consider applying. These positions will be for a 3-year period and are selected by the Coordinating Group. 

 

Early Career Representatives

We are excited to announce that we are now welcoming applications for two AWRN Early Career Representative roles.

What does being an EC Rep involve?
The EC Reps sit on the AWRN Coordinating Group, providing leadership and direction on EC member issues within the AWRN. They also co-chair the Early Career Committee, where they oversee committee meetings, keep committee members on track, and serve as a link between EC members and the AWRN Coordinating Group.

Key responsibilities:

•    Represent EC members on the AWRN Coordinating Group.
•    During EC Committee meetings, lead the committee through the agenda, chair discussions, take minutes, and keep to time.
•    Encourage and support the rest of the EC Committee.
•    Organise and run the EC afternoon at the AWRN annual meeting (in conjunction with the Network Manager/ Assistant Network Manager), as well as assist with the annual meeting more generally. In exchange the network will cover your registration fee and expenses.
•    Organise advertising and recruiting for the AWRN lab exchange scheme.
•    Assess, alongside the EC committee, applications for the annual meeting ECR plenary.
•    Organise the advertising for and recruiting of new EC committee members.
•    Ensure the EC Committee Terms of Reference are followed and kept up to date.
There are also opportunities to get involved with other network activities such as assessing grant applications, planning and running workshops, helping with social media outputs, or sitting on EDI panels. The roles are really what you make of them, and you have the flexibility to implement your own ideas too.

The T&Cs
To apply, you must be a current AWRN member and in your Early Career. This may be as an early career researcher , or an early career non-researcher (examples include Animal Technicians, Keepers, charity positions, etc.) You may be classed as being Early Career if you do not yet have a permanent role, or are less than 2 years full-time (or equivalent duration of part-time work, excluding career breaks) into your first permanent position (e.g. lecturer). Candidates from underrepresented communities are especially encouraged to apply. Above all, we want people enthusiastic about promoting our EC members, contributing to the Network, and improving animal welfare.
There are two positions available. Historically, these have been appointed to one PhD Student and one Postdoctoral Researcher. However, for this round we will be extending this to also include EC members, outside of these two groups, who have similar levels of experience.

How to apply:
You will need to submit the following, via email, to the Network Manager Poppy Statham (awrn-manager@bristol.ac.uk).
1) A statement explaining who you are, your current career stage, and why you would be a good fit for the role (200 words max).
2) A statement explaining what you would like to achieve in the role (200 words max).
The deadline for applications is Tuesday 3rd March 2026.

Want to find out more, or chat to our outgoing reps about their experiences?
Then join our bonus MMU on Thursday Feb 26th 1-2pm, where we will also discuss the upcoming Lab Exchange Scheme. Details and the link will be circulated to the Skills Development Mailing list near the time. 

New Positions

We are also offering members the opportunity to propose their own role, based on their specialist area of expertise or interest. These may complement the current roles or develop a new area of work for the AWRN. We recommend you look through the current Coordinating Group roles and decide whether there is a gap that you would like to fill. 

All positions on the CG are voluntary roles, but each offers a unique opportunity to gain an understanding of a research network and to help direct the activities of the AWRN to benefit our members. We welcome applications from all members of our community, candidates from underrepresented communities are especially encouraged to apply.

What are the Benefits of Joining the Coordinating Group?
If you are selected to join the CG, you will be working with a fantastic team of people who are friendly and enthusiastic about supporting the animal welfare research community. Your network will naturally expand as you start to work with the other CG members and potentially with the Stakeholder Advisory Board, ECR Committee or the newly formed Outreach Committee depending on your role. There are plenty of personal development opportunities, from reviewing grant submissions and abstracts to helping to organise events or elements within them, liaising with funders and inputting to future grant proposals. There will be support offered to those new in a role wherever needed. Most importantly, you’ll contribute to the AWRN, our wonderful community, and hopefully help to make real improvements to animal welfare.
Whilst these roles are voluntary and the AWRN is unable to offer payment for your time, they are able to cover reasonable costs for CG members to attend the Annual Meeting. 

How to apply?
Please email Poppy Statham (Network Manager) with your:
- Full Name
- Affiliation
- Title of Role you are proposing
- What you would like to achieve in this role (max 200 words). 
- Who you are and why you would be a good fit for this role (max 200 words)

The deadline to apply is Tuesday 3rd March 2026. If you have any questions then please just get in touch.