IVVN and POMS Early Career Researchers and Mentors Gather in Vienna for Fellowship Scheme Launch
On 15-16 August 2025, the International Veterinary Vaccinology Network (IVVN) hosted the launch of its Early Career Researcher (ECR) Fellowship Scheme in Vienna, Austria. The scheme aims to support the professional development of researchers working in veterinary vaccinology over an 18-month period.
The IVVN ECR Training Fellowship runs in parallel with the Plowright One Health Mentoring Scheme, a separate programme for early career researchers working on veterinary infectious diseases, funded through the RCVS Knowledge 2024 Plowright Prize.
A Diverse Global Gathering
The launch event brought together 60 delegates representing 25 nationalities - including 25 early career researchers, 15 mid-career researchers, and 20 senior researchers. Fellows from the IVVN and members of POMS met in person for the first time to connect, share experiences, and set the stage for their fellowship journeys.
Prof. Fiona Tomley, Director of the Plowright One Health Mentoring Scheme (POMS), reflected on the event: “The launch was fantastic, and I am so grateful to everyone for their enthusiasm and proactive participation. The buzz of discussion permeated every session, break, and social space, and feedback has been universally positive with excellent suggestions for future activities. With one-to-one mentoring pairs now established, and a volunteer steering group in place, we look forward to an exciting year ahead.”
Day One: Collaboration, One Health, and Shared Challenges
The event opened with a welcome from Prof. Fiona Tomley (POMS Director) and Dr Tim Connelley (IVVN Director), followed by an icebreaker session where participants uncovered fun facts about each other.
Senior researchers then reflected on their own career journeys, discussing how they learned to collaborate across disciplines, overcome challenges, and advocate for One Health approaches. This was followed by short, discipline-based research talks focused on building healthy, sustainable, and resilient food systems — highlighting the many different approaches that can be taken and the need to build common understandings if we are to solve complex global problems.
In the afternoon, a scenario-based World Café activity encouraged participants to design strategies for incorporating One Health research into national action plans for pandemic preparedness.
For many ECR fellows, the discussions were as valuable as the exercise itself. Assoc. Prof. Lam Than Nguyen (Can Tho University, Vietnam) reflected:
“By joining this fellowship, I’ve been able to meet several incredible experts in my field. I’m building good communication with them so that in the future I can implement what I’ve achieved here, both for cooperation with my home country and to strengthen the One Health approach.”
The day closed with a facilitated session where ECRs openly discussed barriers to career progression. Their insights will shape future fellowship priorities, ensuring support is grounded in the real needs of early career researchers.
Day Two: Leadership and Reflection
Day two focused on leadership and personal development. Dr Margaret Collins, a professional coach and former academic, delivered the first instalment of a bespoke coaching course in research leadership. The three-hour session on introductions and intention-setting laid the foundation for a six-part programme that will continue online over the coming months.
The event concluded with an open discussion and Q&A, giving participants the chance to ask mentors about their experiences in multidisciplinary teams, lessons learned, and advice on navigating the challenges of a research career.
For ECRs, this was also a chance to connect their own work to the bigger picture. Dr Bharti Mittal (The Pirbright Institute, UK) shared:
“This event has been really valuable for me because it has helped me improve my communication and learn how my work in bioinformatics connects with what others are doing. It’s a great opportunity to expand my knowledge and broaden my role as a bioinformatician.”
Looking Ahead
The launch marked the beginning of an 18-month journey for fellows across both schemes. Through a mix of training, mentoring, and peer support, the programmes aim to strengthen capacity in veterinary vaccinology and One Health - equipping the next generation of researchers with the skills, networks, and confidence to shape the future of animal and global health.