Candidates announced for the Career Development Working group’s Chair elections

Dear members of the Career Development Working Group,

As you know, your Working Group is running elections for the Chair position. Please find below the eligible candidates in alphabetical order:

• Praveen Kumar
• Sureyya Akyuz

You can read about each candidate's manifesto below.

What happens next?

The election poll will open for voting on 1st August at 00:01 CEST, and remain open until the 4th of August 2024 at 23:59 CEST. During this time, candidates are asked to refrain from campaigning. 

Information about voting will be emailed to members  and published on the Working Group page. 
 

Candidates’ manifestos

• Praveen Kumar

Over the past two years as Chair of the Career Development WG, I have spearheaded numerous initiatives and actively engaged members, resulting in the highest active membership and followers within the MCAA WGs. With over 12 years of engagement with the MCAA, I also transformed the Indian Chapter as Chair (2017-2021) into the largest and most active chapter within the organization. 

My vision for the next two years includes continuing successful activities such as webinars, seminars, and workshops on career development, academia-industry collaboration, entrepreneurship, grant writing, mental health, and work-life balance. I also plan to introduce new initiatives to comprehensively address the career development needs of MCAA members, ensuring we lead in supporting their professional growth. With a rich background in both academia and industry, I understand the challenges and opportunities professionals face. I am committed to driving strategic initiatives, fostering collaboration, and empowering MCAA members to reach their full potential. Together, we can create a future where every MCAA member thrives.

Brief Background: As an Associate Professor at the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Sciences (IACS) in Kolkata, I have made significant contributions to Physics and Material Sciences, with 102 publications, 4 patents, 11 books, and over 75 invited talks. My accolades include the Fulbright Nehru Professional Excellence Fellowship, the MRSI Medal, and the MCAA Societal Impact Award. I hold influential positions in organizations such as The Global Young Academy (GYA), the National Academy of Sciences (NASI) in India, and the Indian National Young Academy of Sciences (INYAS). My editorial roles at Materials Letters (Elsevier) and Nanotechnology (IOP) Journals, along with my leadership of the CDWG, underscore my commitment to advancing and disseminating scientific knowledge. 

Your support will sustain our impactful initiatives and foster a thriving MCAA.
 

• Sureyya Akyuz

As being 11 years of MCAA alumni, I gained experience on my own career path after MSCA fellowship in addition to national and international collaborations with both academia and industry. I would like to pass my knowledge to young researchers to help their career development through webinars from both sectors academia and industry and also through talks that I can make to telll my own experience. Furthermore, I was head of the Math department at my university, Bahçesehir University, for 5 years which added administrative skills to me. I believe that mu whole 20 years of academic experience and the last 5 years of administrative experience will  help me to lead Working Group of Career Development. 

Sincerely, 

Prof Dr Süreyya Akyüz