This vibrant space welcomes Early Career Researchers – including PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, teaching fellows, research assistants, and others at the early stages of their academic journey – who are working on research with international students.
RIS ECR offers a unique opportunity to share your work, receive constructive feedback, connect with peers, strengthen your academic profile, and engage with senior scholars in the field. Join us and take your research journey to the next level!
RIS ECR leadership team
The RIS ECR network is organised by:
- Andreana Pastena
- Vera Spangler
- Gourangi Kumar
- Arif Abu
Read more about the co-convenors on our About Us page.
RIS ECR mailing list
The RIS ECR mailing list is separate from the general RIS mailing list, and sends information about upcoming events specific to early career colleagues.
Got a question or an idea you’d like to explore?
Whether you’re curious about how to get involved, looking to facilitate a session, or simply want to connect with a broader international community, we’re happy to hear from you! Feel free to reach out to us at ris.ecrnetwork@gmail.com or get in touch with the co-convenors Andreana Pastena at andreana.pastena@uib.cat and Vera Spangler at v.spangler@surrey.ac.uk.
RIS ECR activities
All ongoing activities are advertised on the main RIS events page, where you can register directly. You can also stay updated by joining our mailing list to receive regular announcements and opportunities. If you have any questions or would like to get involved, feel free to contact the activity coordinators directly.
Reading Group
The monthly ECR Reading Group is a welcoming and supportive space for ECRs to exchange ideas, reflect on shared readings, and discuss ongoing research.
Each session lasts around 1.5 hours and takes place online once a month. We begin with a short 15-minute catch-up, where participants can share updates on upcoming conferences, network activities, and other relevant events. The main part of the session centres on one or two selected readings, with discussion led by a moderator who also offers guiding questions to help shape the conversation.
In addition to the reading itself, our discussions often explore broader themes such as research methodology, ethics, and different theoretical and conceptual approaches—offering a chance to reflect not just on what we study, but how and why we do it. We close each session with a brief round-up and informal goodbyes.
We warmly encourage all interested ECRs to join us—and to consider facilitating a session themselves. It’s a great opportunity to engage in thoughtful discussion, build connections across the network, and strengthen your research practice in a collegial setting.
Details on the selected readings and discussion points will be shared ahead of each session.
Activity coordinator:
Vera Spangler(v.spangler@surrey.ac.uk)
Research coffee and chai chat
The Research Coffee and Chai Chat is a relaxed, informal space for ECRs working on similar themes to connect, exchange ideas, and engage in peer learning. Designed to foster insightful discussions, these sessions provide a great opportunity to share perspectives, explore emerging research, and build meaningful connections amongst peers.
In this session, we begin with introducing the session’s themes and brief introductions of the panelists. The conversation is then guided by a session moderator, who will facilitate an open, interactive discussion. The focus is on exchanging ideas, learning from each other’s experiences, and gaining fresh insights that can enhance our work.
We welcome all interested ECRs to join and actively participate. Whether you are looking to share your thoughts, seek feedback, or simply engage in dynamic conversations, Research Coffee and Chai Chat offers a welcoming space to do so.
Activity coordinator:
Gourangi Kumar (gourangi.kumar@sciencespo.fr)
Global insights: Conversations on Research with International Students
Global Insights is a virtual event series that brings together senior and emerging scholars to explore timely, critical, and creative approaches to research with international students. Held quarterly (April, June, August, and October), these conversations offer our members a space to engage with diverse perspectives, build community, and deepen our collective inquiry into the experiences, politics, and possibilities of international student research.
Past events:
- April 11th, 2025: “Navigating intersectionality, policy, and activism: Queer international students in the Global North” – Chaired by Dr Lisa Brunner, with presentations by Dr Anne Campbell, Mohit Dudeja, Fatemeh Gharibi, and Tori Yan (Event information)
- January 30th, 2025: “Aligning research goals and intentions involving international students with personal ethical commitments” – A conversation with Dr Jean Michel Montsion.
Activity coordinator:
Abu Arif (aabu@mun.ca)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.