Spain Chapter of MCAA?

Hi,

I am in and ready to take responsability as member of the chapter, we need at least 5 people! Let´s get organized! Please share your ideas in this new post!

Hi all,

I'm a ESR in the project ITaRS which links atmospheric remote sensing instruments with different scientific fields. I would be very interested to join the Spain chapter you are creating.

We also have another ESR and an associated ER here at UPC Barcelona. I will speak with them as they probably will join too.

Regards,

Robert

Hi everyone,

I am an ESR in MANANO project which concerns manufacturing and applications of nanostructured materials. 

I agree that we can first set up a geographical region chapter in order to promote MCAA in Spain, network and exchange experiences. And maybe inside this broad team we could find fellows with common research fields for collaboration. 

I am more than eager to participate and take action!!

Best regards,

Vasia

  Hi All,

 Just a quick information about MCAA, which are the advantage to create a group ? and is there any Italian chapter MCAA?

Best,

Simonetta

  Hi All,

 Just a quick information about MCAA, which are the advantage to create a group ? and is there any Italian chapter MCAA?

Best,

Simonetta

I also would like to join in the contribution of "Spain Chapter"and get involved in each activities. It would be interesting to share ideas and experiences from all of you guys too!

Girum

Dear Simonetta

Regarding MCAA-Italian chapter, we are already working on it and I got to have now support of 9 MCAA currently working and residing in Italy (we need only 5 to start). The fellows are spreading down the italy from north-to-south (from Turin/Milano to Bari/Lecce) and just not concentrated in one city, giving an advantage to participate fellows from all regions. We thank you for your interest in Italian chapter and need your support and experience.

Please contact me by message on my profile and we ll update you how far we have reached and include you in our discussion for the planning and co-ordination.

Thanks

Shikhar

Hi all,

Currently i am working as ESR for EMVEM project at Ikerlan, which is a Research center from the Basque Country, and enrolled with de University of the Basque country. I would be interested to join to this group.

Regards,

Victor

Hey, Im a Marie Curie ITN in Spain Thinks its a great idea an iberian more than a spanish chapter

Im in

Dear all,

I had the same thought, I think a MCAA Spanish or Iberian Chapter it is an excellent idea. Please count me in! I am a RYC researcher with an european project, CIG, and I am based in Barcelona, Institut Ciencia de Materials de Barcelona.

Keep in the loop. I think we should get organized soon in order to submit the chapter.. deadline is getting close.

Anna

Hi all,

I'm a Marie Curie CIG from Portugal (Oeiras). I think the Iberian Chapter can be very interesting!! count me in.

From the email several points were given to initiate the discussion,

>>>>What do you think the main objectives of the MCAA chapter should be?

Dissemination of MC fellow work in the peninsula and setup of a strong community to strength the knowledge and scientific network within Spain and Portugal. Nowadays interaction with EU and national Infrastructures is a example of something were we could play a role in.   

>>>>What activities (meetings, events, and communications) would be most useful to you?

Dissemination of the MC grants in combination with the National Contact points for H2020, They already do it so we can offer to help by providing our insights into the programs thus atracting more applicants. 

Setup of a Iberic "think tank"/ "brainstorm group" on how to approach H2020 calls for the MS fellows (as we are more or less in the same stage) 

>>>>Where are you based (i.e. which city in Spain/Portugal) and are you interested in helping with organizing meetings and events?

Portugal, Oeiras (Lisbon region)

I'm interested in helping organizing meetings and events

Hi all,

Currently I am working in the University of Oviedo (Spain) and my previous position was at the University of Aveiro (Portugal) so I know the realities of iberian plant sciences. I would be interested to join to this group, even providing objectives, ideas or helping with the organising of activities.

Best,

L.

Hi all,

I am a former MC Fellow from the FP6-IEF program. Currently, I am a Ramon y Cajal researcher at the University of Oviedo (School of Chemistry). I think the Iberian Chapter could be a great idea. I would like to join this group and, therefore, I am fully available to help you with any application regarding to the MCAA iberian chapter.

Regards

Jandro

Hi there

I was an ESR in Barcelona and am Portuguese, so I definitely am very interested in this Iberian chapter.

1. What do you think the main objectives of the MCAA chapter should be? - Main focusing how to promote networking in the iberian environment, which usually is less active than in central europe.
2. What activities (meetings, events, communications) would be most useful to you? - events tailored to gather your own community. Workshops, conferences.
3. Where are you based (i.e. which city in Spain/Portugal) and are you interested in helping with organising meetings and events? - Based in Barcelona and Lisbon and would be interested to help in Lisbon.

Hello everybody,

I'm a JdC CIG fellow in Valencia. I'm working on molecular (spin)electronics. Count on me for the MCAA initiative.

I think the objectives of the call are more or less clear:

• Encourage local networking and to establish mutually-beneficial relationships between MCAA and its alumni within a defined geographic area;
• Initiate activities that add value to the Alumni network and input to the general body;
• Recruit, attract, support and facilitate connections between MC fellows and alumni;
• Sponsor and support activities that will enhance the image of MCAA.

I will be especially interested in meeting people not necessarily working in my area. I will like to know what you guys are doing and see if we can profit from mutual collaboration.

I think that one possibility is to organize a meeting where MC fellows can meet and present what we are doing. Most probable, this will happen in the framework of our centres. This usually means students/researchers. So if the meeting/workshop is open this will help PhD/undergraduate students to become aware about what we are doing and about the funding possibilities offered by the MC program.

In any case any initiative should count with the support of the local contacts. In my university recently there have been hold some meeting where the contact points explained the funding scheme an possibilities of the new Horizon 2020. I think we should include something like this in our proposal.

I don’t know what you think.

Best

Hi everybody

I am a RyC working at the CRAG in Barcelona, where Reyes is also working. Here at CRAG we have 4 MCA and tomorrow we are all meeting together and one of the topics is actually discussing creating the chapter.

Since I am Portuguese I am all for the idea of the Iberian Chapter. Initially we were interested in having a Plant Science oriented thing, but actually it might be even more interesting to have different research fields.

I am currently collaborating with the Associacion Nacional de Investigadores Ramon y Cajal so I have somehow limited time available but I can help in setting up meetings or in writing the application.

The deadline is close so we should decide soon how we want to organize this application, no? We need 5 MCA and we are already more thant that, and it seems that we are all interested in trying this.

For me the most important thing to get out of such a thing would be the possibility of networking with other researchers in the same career stage as me and also to exchange scientific experiences (here a bit more limited to the plant science people). 
I also contacted MCA friends that are in Portugal.

OK then, let's keep this thing going!

Best

Rossana

Hello, 

An Iberian Chapter is a great idea! Count me in! I'm based in Barcelona and my main focus of research is mental health (neuroimage and clinical). 

I agree with the general objective of getting to know eah other - regardless the line of work - to enhance collaboration and strengthen our research. 

Let me know how I can help, 

Ximena

Dear All,

I am a RYC researcher with a CIG working in the Public University of Navarra (Pamplona), in forest sciences. i am interested in joining an Iberian chapter, although due to family duties my commitment could only be small. My answer to the questions:

1. What do you think the main objectives of the MCAA chapter should be? Mostly helping MCAA members to meet each other and discuss interdisciplinary research
2. What activities (meetings, events, communications) would be most useful to you? meetings, but due to the overloaded meeting calendar, communications could be more effective.
3. Where are you based (i.e. which city in Spain/Portugal) and are you interested in helping with organising meetings and events? I am in Pamplona (Spain). I am interested in helping, but realistically will have very little time to do so.

Best regards,

Juan

Hi all,

I am interested in the Chapter and I am willing to get involved. I briefly unswer your questions:

1. Local and global networking between members. Share info. Get involved in local research policies. Info. Contact with new fellows.

2.Meeting, communications, networking.

3. Sevilla. I am interesting in helping in whatever I can.

Best

Francisco.

Hi everybody,

Dear all,

My name is Joana, a portuguese researcher based in Spain (since my FP6 funded Marie Curie Fellowship- 2005) and I work in the Institute of Biomedical Research in A Coruña (INIBIC) within the National Biomedical Research Networking Center (CIBER). In this context we have recently set up a National Chapter for the Young Scientists for the European Society of Biomaterials, which experience might be useful for setting up the Iberian Chapter for the MCAA. I also work with science & society activities, collaborating with local/national media and local/national science museums (some of them regarding European Researchers and different roles of their ("ours") careers and Research within an European Framework) which I believe can be valuable for dissemination activities of the MCAA to the general public and other specific audiences.

I'll be very happy to join and contribute to the Iberian Chapter of this Association.

Regarding Nadine Vermorel last comment, I believe it would be an asset to first define the 5Ws. Here are some comments on:

1. We could also use the European Corner of the European Night of Researcher's (takes place yearly on the 4th friday of September, over Europe) to present MCA and MCAA and in case the Iberian Chapter is already created by then, present it as well.

2. We could try to have first a meeting online using maybe http://www.webex.com/?? Otherwise in October (?) there will be the MCAA meeting in Porto, which might be a good opportunity to meet personally and define the scope of the MCAA Iberian Chapter (application form, define activities, members..)??

@Reyes Benlloch Ortiz, as I believe you started this thread, would you like to decide when and how can we meet??

Best regards,

Joana

Hi all,

Is good to see that there are many people interested. As the deadline is approaching I think is time we decide who will take the responsability to write the application and send it (so decide who would be the 5 founder members). I volunteer to work on it, but I have no previous experience on setting National Chapters, so that it would be nice to have someone on board whith this experience . I dont know Webex platform, is it easy to set? I guess decisions must be taken quite soon...

I would say that it would be good to have the 5 members chosen before friday so that they can work together during next week. It will depend on how many volunteers we have, as Nadine said, we would have to vote or see how we choose between us...Any ideas wellcome! But please keep in mind we have to move fast now...

As I said I volunteer, maybe @Barry Hayes also wants to? He was the one in charge of sending the general mail to all Iberian MCAA...

BEst,

Reyes

I can also volunteer as a founding member if it is necessary. Although I do not have experience in this Webex platform. I guess for instance Joana Magalhaes that has experience it would be a great asset.

Keep in the loop,

a

Hi all again,

Here I post the list of the interested people for now (19 people: 18 base in Spain, 1 in Portugal). I mark in bold members that volunteer as founders...Please, you can express your interest in be a founder member in this thread so that we can decide soon. If I forgot anyone, do not hesitate to write a message so the I can include you in the list (so we have an overview of where we are coming from and how many we are):

• Dr Barry Hayes (Madrid, Spain)
• PhD Student Robert Banks (Barcelona, Spain)
• MSc Vasiliki Tsikourkitoudi (Navarra, Spain)
• PhD Student Girum Ayalneh Tiruye
• PhD Student Victor Herrera (GIPUZKOA, Spain)
• PhD Student Alejandro Manzano Marín (Valencia, Spain)
• Dr Anna Laromaine Sagué (Barcelona, Spain)
• PhD Afonso Duarte (Oeiras, Portugal)
• Dr Luis Valledor (Oviedo, Spain)
• Associate Prof Manuel Alejandro Presa Soto (Oviedo, Spain)
• PhD Claudia Simao (Barcelona, Spain)
• PhD Sergio Tatay Aguilar (Valencia, Spain)
• Research Associate Rossana Henriques (Barcelona, Spain)
• PhD Ximena Goldberg (Barcelona, Spain)
• Dr Juan Blanco (Pamplona, Spain)
• Dr Francisco Vega (Sevilla, Spain)
• PhD Student Nadine Vermorel (Valencia, Spain)
• PhD Joana Magalhaes (A Coruña, Spain)
• Dr Reyes Benlloch Ortiz (Barcelona, Spain)

We keep in contact!

Best regards,

Reyes

I can also volunteer as a founding member, I don't have experience on the setting up a Chapter but have experience on organizing small events and projects so once the tasks/roles are decided i can join (both locally and virtually). PS I'm ok to work for it during the next weeks.

Best 

Afonso

Hello everyone,

I am Cati Ana, molecular biologist working in cancer research, and from September on, IEF based at University of Balearic Islands. 

I will be happy to join you for this Iberian chapter, although my contribution will be reduced due to time constraints.

Here are my answers to the questions:

1. What do you think the main objectives of the MCAA chapter should be? Interdisciplinar networking and support to/from fellows.
2. What activities (meetings, events, communications) would be most useful to you? Communications would work the best for me.
3. Where are you based (i.e. which city in Spain/Portugal) and are you interested in helping with organising meetings and events? I am in Palma (Majorca) and am keen on collaborating with meetings and events.

Last comment: It sounds a bit weird for me the name 'Iberian' since the archipielagos are excluded, although I understand it is a quite intuitive name.

Best regards,

Cati Ana

Hello everyone,

I am Cati Ana, molecular biologist working in cancer research, and from September on, IEF based at University of Balearic Islands. 

I will be happy to join you for this Iberian chapter, although my contribution will be reduced due to time constraints.

Here are my answers to the questions:

1. What do you think the main objectives of the MCAA chapter should be? Interdisciplinar networking and support to/from fellows.
2. What activities (meetings, events, communications) would be most useful to you? Communications would work the best for me.
3. Where are you based (i.e. which city in Spain/Portugal) and are you interested in helping with organising meetings and events? I am in Palma (Majorca) and am keen on collaborating with meetings and events.

Last comment: It sounds a bit weird for me the name 'Iberian' since archipielagos are excluded, although I understand it is a quite intuitive name.

Best regards,

Cati Ana

Estimado Reyes,

I think I am not in the list yet:

• Dr Juan Javier Rivera Andia (Barcelona, Spain)

Saludos,

Javier

Hi, 

Catalina, I agree with the name issue, more now that we have you on board, as you said it was intuitive name...

Juan Javier, I will add you to the list. I will publish an update of the list today. We are still missing volunteers...

Thank you for your contributions,

Reyes

Hi Reyes,

I would be happy volunteer as you suggested, and I can help out with the application if needed.

The response to the group email has been fantastic - lots of interest and good suggestions for activities etc. 

Just an idea - we could collaborate using Google Docs, maybe more people are familiar with this tool?

Barry

Dear Reyes,

I would be also a happy volunteer for founding the chapter and collaborating in writing all of the required stuff.

Warm regards,

Luis

Hi all,

I am an ESR based at the Universitat de Girona as a member of the SANITAS ITN (http://www.sanitas-itn.eu/), working on the management of Urban Wastewater Systems.

I'm up for collaborating and helping with anything needed in this chapter.

Antonia

Dear Reyes

Webex was an example but I agree with Barry that maybe we could use googledocs instead, as more people would be familiarized with it.

I also volunteer as a founding member of this chapter.

also @Nadine:

I believe it's a good idea to vote, and at least try to have representations of the different communities in Spain (and regions in Portugal, although there is only person in the group for the moment) and gender balanced.

Regarding our possible participation in the European Researchers Night (RN), we could try to reach the National Contact Points of both Portugal and Spain and get the contact of the coordinators and see if we could present ourselves using the European Corners that have been surely set up already for this year (probably in different cities). As long as there are volunteers I believe this might be simple and a target we could aim for. Otherwise we can organize ourselves for 2015.

So, should we set up a date to have a webmeeting then??

Regards,

Joana

Dear all,

My feeling is that a web meeting and a voting session will take long and we are too many to meet all virtual. I would suggest that the first five people that volunteer would be in charge of writing the application and submitting it (this would be Barry Hayes, Anna Laromaine, Anfonso Duarte, Luis Valledor and myself if i am not mistaken). We can concentrate on writting that during next week and maybe pass it on the others for reviewing and suggestions once before final submission. Actually, they say it is 5 founder members at least, so in reality we can all write the name on the application as founders (you can have a look  at the chapter application form here https://www.mariecuriealumni.eu/form/chapter-application-form). Even if we all can be there in the application it still would be a good idea to keep the 5 "founders" to work on the application as i think it would be very difficult to write an application 20 people at the same time. 

I think is really important to keep it simple as the application deadline is coming soon.

I paste here an update of the member list with the 5 writting the application in bold. Also bellow a summary of the 4 points we have to write about in the application. We have to keep in mind that the maximum amount will be 5000 euro which is not a lot taking in account the amount of people in the Chapter:

SPANISH CHAPTER MCAA

• Dr Barry Hayes (Madrid, Spain)
• PhD Student Robert Banks (Barcelona, Spain)
• MSc Vasiliki Tsikourkitoudi (Navarra, Spain)
• PhD Student Girum Ayalneh Tiruye
• PhD Student Victor Herrera (GIPUZKOA, Spain)
• PhD Student Alejandro Manzano Marín (Valencia, Spain)
• Dr Anna Laromaine Sagué (Barcelona, Spain)
• PhD Afonso Duarte (Oeiras, Portugal)
• Dr Luis Valledor (Oviedo, Spain)
• Associate Prof Manuel Alejandro Presa Soto (Oviedo, Spain)
• PhD Claudia Simao (Barcelona, Spain)
• PhD Sergio Tatay Aguilar (Valencia, Spain)
• Research Associate Rossana Henriques (Barcelona, Spain)
• PhD Ximena Goldberg (Barcelona, Spain)
• Dr Juan Blanco (Pamplona, Spain)
• Dr Francisco Vega (Sevilla, Spain)
• PhD Student Nadine Vermorel (Valencia, Spain)
• PhD Joana Magalhaes (A Coruña, Spain)
• Dr Reyes Benlloch Ortiz (Barcelona, Spain)
• PhD Catalina Ana Rosselló Castillo (Balearic Islands, Spain)
• Dr Juan Javier Rivera Andia (Barcelona, Spain)
• PhD Student Antonia Hadjimichael (Girona, Spain)

Application

1. Please provide your reasoning to propose this Chapter and the multiple objectives you aim to achieve (max 500 words).

2. Please provide information about the activities (e.g. meetings, events, communication, etc.) you are planning to promote within the Chapter (for a minimum of 1 year and the maximum of 2 year period), and with a final report of the activity to the following AGM

3. Please provide information about the budget required for implementing the above described activities (for the same period as for the activities proposed).

4. Please provide information on any external support you may be able to bring into this activity

Barry Hayes, Anna Laromaine, Anfonso Duarte and Luis Valledor, do you have an email account that we can communicate through? Communication through this forum is not so fluid i think... My email is reyes.benlloch@cragenomica.es

Best regards,

Reyes

Hello,

Unfortunately, I've only seen these posts only yesterday, so I guess my post is late. I'm a Portuguese researcher, now based in Spain - at URV (Tarragona) with a Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowship. My work is related to the use of environmental biomonitors to assess air pollution. I'd be delighted to collaborate with you guys in this Spanish Chapter, now or/and at a later stage.

Cheers,

Sofia Augusto

Mine is valledorluis (at) uniovi.es

G'day!

I couldn't check the blog before, sorry. I see you have already all organized, and, as Sofia (we are in the same office), I'm sorry to be too late but I'm keen to help or jump in at any stage. Feel free to ask, anything you need.

Looking forward for the application.

Cheers,

Gemma. 

Hello everybody,

I am a CIG-researcher from IMDEA Materials (Madrid). I am back from a conference so I have just checked this email thread. I am also interested in joining the chapter. Of course, I will be happy to help,

Best!

Roberto

Dear All,

Speeding up the process for the application by having a small group writing a first draft within the next week and send it around to all for reviewing is definitely a very good idea :) (the voting would have been only if 20 people were to volunteer...)

Althought, if I'm not mistaken, only 6 people have volunteered: the above-mentioned 5 and Joana. As more than 5 people are allowed to be founding members, we could consider having 6 [founding members =(for now) working group members for the application]  instead of 5, don't you think? (having someone with previous experience in setting up chapters to write the application is definitely an asset, no? And it would be more gender balanced ;)...) Well, the choice is up to you.

If you need any help, please let us know.

Best regards,

Nadine
 

Dear Nadine, of course Joana is welcome to help, I just listed the five first people to volunteer. I have already asked her for the email so that we can have a more fluid communication. 

Dear Sofia Augusto, Gemma Giménez Papiol and Roberto Guzman de Villoria, I have added you to the list, please keep an eye on the forum for updates. 

Barry, I am not sure I have your email, can you send it again to me please. 

Thank you very much. Best,

Reyes