Participation in the ESRS Conferences: Challenges for Early Career Professionals
Dr. Monisha Ravikumar
Postdoctoral researcher in health and behaviour change at Loughborough University, and Education and Training Lead for the ESRS ECN.
Michaela Pawley
PhD researcher in sleep, self-harm and suicide behaviour in adolescence at the University of Warwick, and Engagement Lead for the ESRS ECN.
A Seat at the (Sleep) Table.
Attending international conferences can be a transformative experience for early-career professionals, offering opportunities to share findings, learn from peers, and expand professional networks. However, for some, particularly those from underrepresented regions or with limited institutional support, attending these events poses significant challenges.
This Sleep Science Friday post introduces an ongoing study by the Early Career Network (ECN) in collaboration with the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee (EDIC) of the European Sleep Research Society (ESRS), which explores the barriers and obstacles faced by early-career professionals in attending the ESRS Congress. Through a survey, we aim to capture the experiences of Early Career Professionals, exploring hurdles such as high travel and registration costs, visa issues, caregiving responsibilities, and challenges with institutional leave or funding.
The initiative reflects the ESRS’s broader commitment to inclusivity and equity. By understanding the lived experiences of its early-career members, the society can shape future congresses to be more open to and supportive of our diverse scientific community.
We hope this work not only fosters dialogue but also drives action, ensuring that equality, diversity, and inclusion are at the heart of sleep science, so that all our members across Europe and beyond are heard, supported, and represented.
Watch the video below to learn more about the project: Participation in the ESRS Conferences: Challenges for Early Career Professionals, including why it matters and how you can get involved. We are currently inviting early-career professionals to complete our short survey. If you are a member of the ESRS, an MSc or PhD student, or post-doctoral researcher/educator/clinician who obtained a PhD or MD <10 years ago, and whether you’ve attended an ESRS Congress before or not, we want to hear from you!
The survey is now open.
Recent publications from ESRS members
- Samea F, Mortazavi N, et al.(2025). Insomnia and emotion dysregulation: a meta-analytical perspective integrating regulatory strategies and dispositional difficulties. Sleep Med Rev
- Barateau L, Paryl MG, Chenini S, Pesenti C, Giraud L, Béziat S, Jaussent I, Dauvilliers Y.(2025). Depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts in Idiopathic Hypersomnia: A cross-sectional and longitudinal study. Sleep
- Cirillo F, Fernandes M, Placidi F, Izzi F, Mercuri NB, Liguori C.(2025) Variability of excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy according to seasonality: A study in central disorders of hypersomnolence. J Sleep Res.
- Gentina T, Micoulaud-Franchi JA, Gentina E, Wang KP, Pépin JL, Bailly S. (2025) Association between Self-Efficacy and 1-Year CPAP Adherence Trajectories: Insight from the SEMSAS Study. Ann Am Thorac Soc.
- Bot L, van Mill JG, Smarius LJCA, Hoogendoorn AW, et al. (2025). Sodium Oxybate as a Potential New Treatment for Catatonia in Patients With Depression, Bipolar Disorder, or a Psychotic Disorder: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Res Protoc.
- Lozano-Tovar S, Cremascoli R, Nuccetelli M, et al. (2025). Cerebrospinal-fluid Orexin-A levels in different neurocognitive disorders: a comparison study. Neurol Sci.