Print This PostMissed the Alzheimer’s Society Early Career Researcher Retreat? Now you can catch up on all the sessions from this year’s event.
Held on 8th and 9th July 2025 at the Mercure Hotel in Northampton, the Alzheimer’s Society Early Career Researcher Retreat brought together researchers, professionals, and practitioners for two days of shared learning and discussion. For those who couldn’t attend in person, recordings of all the sessions are now available to watch online.
The programme reflected the broad and complex realities of life as an early career researcher, with talks covering publishing, leadership, personal wellbeing, and the science of self-awareness. The sessions offered practical advice and reflective space in equal measure—grounded in real experiences across academia, health, and industry.
We’re pleased to share these recordings to make the content more widely available. Alzheimer’s Society’s continued support for early career researchers is evident in the quality, openness, and relevance of these sessions.
Here’s what you can catch up on:
🧠 How the Human Brain Thinks About Itself – Professor Steve Fleming, UCL
A fascinating look into metacognition—how we reflect on our own thoughts and decisions. Professor Fleming shares what brain imaging and behavioural studies reveal about confidence, error awareness, and the role of self-monitoring in mental health and decision-making.
🧭 From Researcher to Leader: Shaping Academic Futures – Panel Discussion
Chaired by Siân Gregory (Alzheimer’s Society), this discussion explores the transition from researcher to leader with insights from Simon Beacham (EDF), Dr Lucy Devendra (Alzheimer’s Society), and Professor David Cash (UCL). The panel reflects on career development, leading through change, and building influence both within and outside academia.
🧱 Boundaries: It’s Not You, It’s Me – Tackling Stress in Academia – Dr Luana Scrivano, University of Manchester
A practical and reflective session on the importance of boundaries in academic life. Dr Scrivano explores why we say “yes” too often, how to recognise early signs of burnout, and how personal values can guide better decisions around time and energy.
🧠 Dealing with Stress and Anxiety as an Early Career Researcher – Dr Ehsan Ezzatpour Ghadim & Dr Frane Vusio, University of Warwick
This session takes a closer look at the emotional demands of academic careers. The speakers discuss the sources of stress, how anxiety manifests in research environments, and offer strategies to manage wellbeing more effectively in the long term.
🧬 Improving Dementia Care – Professor Dame Louise Robinson, Newcastle University
A personal and career-spanning reflection from one of the UK’s leading figures in dementia care research. Professor Dame Louise Robinson shares how lived experience shaped her research priorities, from post-diagnostic support to health inequalities, and what’s needed to improve dementia care going forward.
📝 Publishing Your Research – Dr Johanna Jackson (Imperial), Dr Simon Andrews (Babraham Institute), Dr Christian Schnell (PLOS Biology)
A practical session offering insights into the publishing process from three perspectives: researcher, data expert, and journal editor. Topics include preparing a manuscript, dealing with peer review, choosing journals, and the value of clarity and communication in scientific writing. Hosted by Cherie Nyota from Alzheimer’s Society.
These sessions are now freely available online to watch at your own pace. Whether you’re just starting out or considering your next step, we hope you’ll find advice, reassurance, and inspiration throughout the recordings.
Once again, our thanks to Alzheimer’s Society for continuing to champion and support early career dementia researchers through opportunities like this retreat.
Alzheimer's Society
