The early-career researcher subcommittee of the Particle Therapy Cooperative Group is a dynamic and growing community dedicated to supporting early-career professionals in the field of particle therapy. Established in June 2023 during the 61st PTCOG conference in Madrid, Spain, the subcommittee has already grown to over 150 members. Its members include PhD students, postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers, trainee medical physicists and physicians, residents, and early-career scientists.
Upcoming Events at PTCOG 63
Here’s a glimpse of what’s in store for ECRs at the upcoming PTCOG 63 conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina (2-7 June, 2025):
• The ECR Plenary Session will be held on Thursday, 5 June. in Room Buen Ayre B&C. It is titled "How to Deal with Negative Results" and will feature speakers Dr Jason Efstathiou (Massachusetts General Hospital, US) and Dr Jeanette Jansen (the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research, Germany). They will discuss the impact of negative findings in clinical and research settings, and strategies for communicating such results and navigating their publication and professional reception.
• The ECR Social Event is a chance to connect, unwind and network with fellow ECRs in a relaxed, informal setting. Details will be announced soon.
• One-on-One Industry Mentoring with IBA: A novelty for this year, ECRs can book 15-minute sessions with IBA professionals to gain personalised advice on industry roles, job opportunities, and career progression. Sessions will be held in the dedicated ECR lounge at the IBA booth in the hotel.
• Two themed Mentor Networking Lunches are planned: "Careers in Academia" will be the subject on Wednesday, 4 June, and "Careers in Industry" on Friday, 6 June. These sessions will feature panels of experienced mentors sharing insights into different career pathways and how to navigate them.
• The Annual General Subcommittee Meeting takes place every year at the PTCOG annual conference. This will be the point of contact with the whole subcommittee, where annual progress, updates, and the plans for the year to come will be presented and discussed.
For more information on the ECR events at PTCOG 63 visit the page: https://ptcog63.org/ptcog-ecr-events/
ECR webinar series
We’re excited to announce the launch of a new webinar series designed specifically for ECRs in particle therapy. This series will explore scientific topics and career development strategies, and will offer invaluable insights and tools to help ECRs grow, connect, and thrive in their professional journey.
Check out the full line-up and learn more about how to join: https://ptcog63.org/early-career-researchers-webinars/
Get Involved
Join the PTCOG-ECR community to gain access to:
- a dynamic professional network;
- opportunities to shape PTCOG-ECR initiatives;
- exclusive career development events and mentorship; and
- our PTCOG-ECR newsletter.
For more information and to stay updated on ECR activities, visit the PTCOG-ECR events page: https://ptcog63.org/early-career-researchers/
Authors:
Giorgio Cartechini, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Department of Radiation Oncology (Maastro), GROW School for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht, The Netherlands. giorgio.cartechini@maastro.nl
Beth Rothwell, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. brothwell1@mgh.harvard.edu
Gabriele Parisi, Institut Curie (Paris, France), &
the French Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (ASNR) (Fontenay-aux-Roses, France). g.parisi3004@gmail.com