Welcome to Early Career Researchers in Polymer Physics!

We are a vibrant community of graduate students, postdocs, and early-career professionals committed to fostering collaboration, camaraderie, and professional development within the field of Polymer Physics. Here, you can connect with peers and established researchers to exchange ideas, gain insights, and discuss the latest developments in our field.

Our Slack channel serves as a dynamic platform for academic and casual communication. Whether you're looking for insights about upcoming conferences, discussing innovative papers, exploring potential career paths, or simply sharing a photo of your beloved pet, our Slack community is the place for you. We believe that a balance of work, play, and supportive interactions helps to cultivate a strong and productive scientific community.

Besides facilitating academic discussions, we also organize monthly Self-Development Seminars, designed to support and guide you in navigating the academic and professional landscape. These seminars feature respected guest speakers who share their experiences and offer advice on various topics from transitioning between academia and industry to mastering conference etiquette.

But it's not all work and no play! We understand the importance of relaxation and fun in maintaining a healthy work-life balance. As such, we also host monthly game nights, networking events, and other activities to provide an informal, friendly space to relax, socialize, and forge lasting connections with fellow researchers.

If you're a graduate student, postdoc, or early-career scientist or engineer in soft matter research, we warmly invite you to join our community. Please reach out to Bharath Venkatesh (rbharath [@] ucsb.edu), Anastasia Neuman (annaneu [@] seas.upenn.edu), Liliana Bello Fernandez (lb6 [@] illinois.edu),  or Pierre Kawak (pskawak [@] gmail.com) for more information or to join us on slack here.

Together, we can create a lively, engaging space where everyone can grow, learn, and thrive. We look forward to welcoming you to our community!