Calling all EMBO Fellows!
EMBO fellowsNet – an interactive post-doc community

With nearly 900 registered users, the EMBO fellowsNet online portal continues to develop new features to support the EMBO community of fellows and post-docs around the world.

Main features of this portal include: a searchable database of EMBO Fellows highlighting researchers’ profiles and their recent scientific publications; information and documentation on EMBO Fellows Meetings together with a calendar of events suggested by the community; scientific movies and lab protocols; active forums for the exchange of technical, scientific and practical information; the possibility to post collaborations and jobs (in collaboration with the EMBO Life Sciences Mobility Portal) and to distribute this information to the mailing list of registered users.

In collaboration with the EMBO Science & Society Programme, a new section called “myScience” features lay reports submitted by EMBO Fellows following the completion of their fellowship. Through these reports, the fellows explain their project and their results in a non-scientific style for the general public. Together with the scientific publications, these reports contribute to increase the visibility of the research projects supported by EMBO.

Another recent initiative, the EMBO fellowsNet Movie Competition, was held for the first time in June 2007. The prize for the best video clip submitted was awarded by an international jury to "Ultimate knowledge" by Thomas Splettstoesser. The clip portrays episodes taken from daily life in a computational molecular biophysics lab. The top five entries can be viewed, rated and downloaded in the fellowsNet Movie Section. So far, the winning clip has also received the highest number of hits and highest rating by EMBO fellowsNet visitors.

The movie collection also includes "Twisted Sisters", an already published clip by EMBO Fellow Alex McDougall, winner of the "Cinema of the Cell" competition held during ELSO 2005. In the movie section, fellows can share their scientific video clip and/or recommend captivating movies found on the web, and contribute to the collection of useful links for other online multimedia resources.

Due to its online nature, EMBO fellowsNet is constantly evolving. EMBO Fellows past and present as well as other post-docs are encouraged to actively contribute content to the portal and suggest ideas for new features. In turn, they are rewarded by receiving increased visibility for their research, a chance to expand their professional network and access to opportunities for new collaborations and professional growth. This is the spirit behind the portal’s interactive approach – to support the development of an active and vibrant international post-doc community.

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