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For ECRs

A room of ECR Network members networking

Early Career Researchers are shaping how society understands itself

Across the humanities and social sciences, early career researchers (ECRs) explore how people live, think, create, govern and connect. Their work deepens our understanding of cultures and communities, and helps shape the future we share.

But life for ECRs can also be isolating and uncertain. Opportunities are not always distributed equally, and many researchers face barriers to collaboration, funding and support.

The Early Career Researcher Network (ECRN) exists to change that.

Built by ECRs, for ECRs, the Network brings people together across disciplines and institutions.

Join a community of early career researchers shaping the future of humanities and social science research.

Opportunity calls | Wednesday 1 April, 12:00-12:30 and Monday 13 April, 12:00-12:30

Find out more by joining the ECR opportunity call

About the ECRN

Join the ECR Network

By joining the Network, you become part of a community built on collaboration, shared experience and mutual support; a place where researchers connect, ideas grow and opportunities are shared.

Members get:

  • Access a supportive network of peers who understand the challenges (and possibilities) of early career research.
  • Find a space to collaborate and connect at in-person and online events, and through our dedicated community platform.
  • Get high-quality training to sharpen your skills, from grant writing to career development.
  • Access to funding opportunities and practical support to help you secure them.
  • Secure a trusted source of information so you’re always informed about opportunities across the sector.

Who can join

Membership is free and open to UK-based early career researchers working in the humanities and social sciences, regardless of background or funding source.

You are eligible if you:

  • Have completed your PhD within the last 10 years
  • Work in a humanities, social science or arts discipline
  • Are primarily based in the UK

We welcome both staff on teaching-only contracts who identify as research-active and practice based researchers and academics.

Flexibility is applied for career breaks to ensure the Network remains accessible to researchers with different career paths and circumstances.

How to join

Joining the Network takes just a few minutes:

  1. Complete the online registration form
  2. Select the regional cluster closest to you
  3. Start connecting with researchers and opportunities across the UK

Once registered, you will gain access to the Network’s community platform, events programme and funding opportunities.

Join the network

What members say

Members often describe the Network as more than a professional resource, it is a space for connection, recognition and collective growth.

Danilo describes the Network as:

Recognising our common struggles and working together to overcome them through a collective voice.

For Tariq, the Network represents something broader:


It is not just about career stage, it's about collective growth, mutual respect and the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to global challenges.

And for Joanna, the Network offers something deeply personal:


This network is our safe space. This isn’t just a training or development hub. It’s our designated time and space to step back from all that precarity and claim our researcher identity.

Join thousands of early career researchers already shaping the future of humanities and social science research.

Join the ECR opportunity call

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