The Guild Young Researchers workshop

In November 2025, I had the opportunity to attend The Guild Young Researchers workshop at Babeș‑Bolyai University in Cluj‑Napoca, Romania. The workshop brought together early career researchers from across Europe for presentations, discussions and skill-building sessions. I also had the opportunity to deliver a presentation on my own research.

One of the most impactful sessions for me was on the topic of ‘Research Integrity’. This engaging workshop reinforced the important responsibility we hold as early career researchers to prioritise honesty, sincerity and ethical conduct in our research above other external pressures. I also really valued the practical session on how to develop competitive funding applications for European grants where we prepared a mock proposal and received feedback from peers. Last but certainly not least, I made new friends and connections from diverse backgrounds and fields across Europe- we learned so much from one another during the workshop- and whilst exploring Cluj-Napoca in our free time.

A bonus highlight was getting to explore Cluj-Napoca (a city I had never heard of before!). We were treated to a guided walking tour of the UBB campus and surrounding landmarks by a local historian- I learned so much about the rich history, architecture, traditions and culture of UBB and Cluj-Napoca and hope revisit this wonderful city in the future.

Overall, attending this workshop was an unforgettable and enriching experience. It reminded me of what truly matters in my academic journey- believing in your vision, working with integrity and doing the best you can in your field to try make the world around us a better place.

I’m very grateful to the University of Warwick for the opportunity!

Ifra Ali, NIHR Doctoral Research Fellow, Warwick Applied Health, Warwick Medical School