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Early Career

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The Early Career program is a series of workshop-style sessions and pre-conference webinars for people in the early stages of their careers. It is intended to help guide program participants in navigating a successful career path. Topics include funding, mentorship, self-promotion, communication skills, resiliency, and time management.

Travel and registration support is available for up to 10 participants. See Support Provided below for details.

focus your career path

Early Career Schedule
Monday, November 17, 2025

SC25 Schedule
attendee

Early Career Chair
Alana Romanella, University of Colorado, Boulder

Early Career Vice Chair
Michael O. Lam, James Madison University

Early Career Applications Are Closed

Early Career Applications

1 APR 2025

Applications Open

20 AUG 2025

Support Applications Due

31 AUG 2025

Applications Close

15 SEP 2025

Notifications Sent

How to apply

What is Early career?

The Early Career program provides a one-day series of special sessions for early-career researchers, educators, and technical professionals. This includes academic, industry, and laboratory staff and post-docs within the first seven years of a permanent position. The Early Career program is available to participants by application only. The program aims to help participants secure a better understanding of the issues and challenges faced while navigating a successful research career.

Topics may include:

  • Goal Setting: Discerning, planning for, and pursuing career goals
  • Collaboration: Exploring opportunities for local and remote collaboration to increase impact and pursue career goals
  • Funding: Understanding the agencies, funding instruments, and strategies for securing research funding
  • Publishing: Understanding the landscape of conference, journal, and other publication venues, including getting involved in conference leadership or journal editorship
  • Mentorship: Understanding the difference between a mentor and a sponsor and establishing effective, long-term mentoring and sponsoring relationships
  • Science Communication: Discussing effective ways to promote research and development by communicating science to the public, as part of interdisciplinary science research
  • Time Management: Striking a balance between our professional and personal responsibilities and obligations
  • Project Management: Combining multiple technical and soft skills to successfully guide projects and engage diverse stakeholders
  • Academic Service Roles: Balance involvement in various academic service roles at one’s institution, and in conference organization, program committees, editorial boards

The program will include engaging interactive sessions aimed at helping participants develop their professional skills, as well as a strategic vision for their future.

Preparing Your application

The application includes submission of a statement (maximum 250 words) on why you want to participate in the Early Career program.

upon acceptance

registration

Accepted Early Career participants are required to register for the Technical Program. A Workshops registration is not required. See more information at Registration.

on-site

schedule and location

Early Career sessions will be held in a workshop format on Monday, November 17, 2025, before the full SC Program begins – this allows participants to enjoy as much of the Technical Program as possible.

networking

Early Career participants have various networking opportunities throughout the day, including informal mingling during breaks and other more formal activities.

support Provided

new this year

The Early Career Program (ECP) is pleased to announce that travel support will be provided for up to ten ECP participants this year. This support package includes conference registration, airfare, hotel accommodations, and airport parking. It covers attendance at the entire SC Technical Program, not just Early Career Program activities. This support is available to all U.S. and international applicants.

How to Apply

Travel support requires a separate application in addition to the ECP application. To be eligible, applicants must have applied to the Early Career Program first.

The travel support application will require brief statements addressing:

  • Demonstrated financial need
  • Planned engagement at the conference
  • Personal contributions to the field or community
  • Anticipated benefits from attending the SC Conference

Due to travel constraints, the deadline to apply for travel support is August 20, which is earlier than applications for the program itself (August 31). This is a hard deadline; there will be no extensions. Notifications regarding travel funding will be made on September 1.

Travel Support Form

Ready to Apply?

Create an account in the online submission system and complete the form. A sample form can be viewed before signing in.

Apply

If you have questions about Early Career applications, please contact the program committee.

contact us
SC attendee

dates & deadlines

Submission, application, and nomination deadlines for all programs and awards, the housing open date, the early registration deadline, and more – all in one place.

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