The ECR Network aims to further the personal and professional development of those in the early stages of their career, through:

  • disseminating relevant information about upcoming opportunities
  • discussion of research ideas, developments, innovations, opportunities and issues
  • networking and peer-to-peer support
  • facilitating knowledge transfer and support for career and professional development
  • opportunities for presenting your work to peers in a supportive environment
  • providing help and advice when applying for research grants and/or jobs
  • signposting relevant events and conferences

The network actively encourages suggestions on the types of events and resources you, as an early career researcher, would like to be offered so that the OR Society can work to provide this. Please get in touch via our LinkedIn page.

Information about our upcoming events can be viewed below:

ECR Workshop

7th September 2026

 

The ECR Network of the OR Society is holding a pre-conference one-day workshop at OR68, University of Nottingham. This follows on from previous successful ECR Workshops at OR60 and OR65. We will split the day into two halves, each focusing in depth on core parts of an ECRs role for professional development such as publishing research and grant applications. Both will be done in a hands-on way to help you see how it can improve your research skills. All ECRs, from late-stage PhD students to early-stage lecturers, are eligible to apply to attend. Fill out this form to apply for a spot.

Successful applicants will receive a link to register for the ECR workshop. Registration for the one-day workshop will cost £62.40. Registrants will then receive an email with a discount code to register for the full conference if they wish.

Apply here

Meet our speakers!

  

Antuela Tako

Antuela Tako is a Professor of Operations Research and Director of Sustainable Operations and Analytics Research Lab at Nottingham Business School, Nottingham Trent University, UK. Her research interests include simulation, facilitated modelling, behavioural OR and problem structuring, applied to healthcare, circular economy and supply chains. Professor Tako publishes in the European Journal of Operational Research, Decision Support Systems, Journal of the Operational Research Society, Journal of Simulation. Antuela has 10 years editorial experience; she is currently joint Editor-in-Chief of Health Systems, while previously was editorial board member of Health Systems, Journal of the Operational Research Society and Journal of Simulation. She is a member of the EPSRC Peer Review College.

Christine Currie

Christine Currie is a Professor and Head of the Operational Research Group in Mathematical Sciences at the University of Southampton. She is a member and previous Director of Southampton’s Centre for Operational Research, Management Sciences and Information Systems (CORMSIS). She was Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Simulation from 2015 to 2024, Chair of the Operational Research Society’s Research Committee from 2022 to 2025, and elected Companion of Operational Research in 2024. Currently, she is a co-lead for the Knowledge Exchange Hub for the Mathematical Sciences, a national organisation that aims to promote, facilitate, and support knowledge exchange activities between Academia and Business, Industry and Government. Her research interests include simulation optimization, digital twins, and applications of simulation, particularly to health care and transportation. Her email address is [email protected] and her homepage is https://www.southampton.ac.uk/people/5wzzxf/professor-christine-currie.

Tolga Bektas

Tolga Bektas is Professor of Logistics Management within the Operations and Supply Chain Management Group at the University of Liverpool Management School.  With nearly three decades of experience, his research focuses on mathematical modelling and optimisation for freight transport, distribution, and supply chain networks.  He has been investigator in projects on last-mile logistics, vessel efficiency, and railway capacity planning.  He serves on the editorial boards of Computers & Operations Research, Networks, and, until recently, Transportation Science.  

His Homepage is https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/people/tolga-bektas.

Event Schedule

The below timings may change closer to the time. Attendees will be sent the final schedule before the event. 

09:00-09:30 REGISTRATION AND NETWORKING

09:30-09:40 WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION

09:40-10:30 HOW PAPERS GET ACCEPTED?

10:30-11:20 GROUP EXERCISE: REWRITE YOUR CONTRIBUTION

11:20-11:35 BREAK

11:35-12:25 PANEL & DISCUSSION: FROM SUBMISSION TO INDEPENDENCE 

12:30-13:30 LUNCH 

13:30-14:15 THE FUNDING LANDSCAPE

14:15-16:15 MOCK PANEL: REVIEW PROPOSALS IN 60 MINS

16:15-16:30 BREAK

16:30-17:00 Q&A SESSION & WORKSHOP CLOSURE

Previous Events

You can view some of our previous events on YouTube!