Young genomicists get connected

PhD students and postdoctoral fellows around the world struggle with the same everyday problems. What technique shall I use? How do I analyse these data? Where do I find this article? Is there a course on that subject? And their advisers are often too busy to provide an immediate answer. Arguably, life would be much easier for students and postdocs if they could share their questions, insights, new ideas or problems with scientists in the same career phase. After all, their colleagues are likely to have the same problems — and maybe even the same frustrations.

In the Netherlands, the Genomics Network for Young Scientists (GeNeYouS) was set up to make such interactions happen. As a result, young researchers from all over the country and from all parts of genomics research gather both in person and on the Internet.

The Netherlands is a small country but there is genomics research under way at more than ten universities and a range of institutes — all of which have their own specialities and expertise. As the greatest distance between any two academic institutions takes about four hours to travel, it is possible to meet people from within the network regularly.

But for everyday business, a four-hour drive is still too long. Then the GeNeYouS website is the place to be. It provides a quick reference to courses on different topics given in different institutions, an up-to-date overview of career possibilities, a calendar with GeNeYouS and genomics events, and a forum to reach out to other young researchers. It also offers a search engine for jobs.

Currently the network has more than 330 members. The website is the backbone of the network, with all information about activities freely available. In addition, the network sends out a monthly digital newsletter to all of its members.

This January, GeNeYouS held its first symposium. Lectures and workshops led by experts in the field helped the 120 young researchers gathered there to make some tough everyday decisions: how to set up a genomics experiment, how to make your academic career successful, how to get funding. Once again, young researchers from all over the Netherlands struggled with some everyday problems. But this time they did it together.

→ http://www.geneyous.nl