During our 4th training week, Professor Eveline Peeters gave a workshop called “Constructive alignment: Networking and EU funding”. She showed the fellows how to use their own personal branding and how to express their unique value propositions in order to discover their super powers. Eveline’s approach was based on a visual concept reinforced by her personal narrative, as she explained:
During this workshop, I explained to the imπACT fellows how my personal experiences have led me to recognize the significance of aligning one’s competences and talents with a personal mission statement and a complementary network. Such an alignment is crucial for increasing the likelihood of securing funding in a competitive landscape. The participants were encouraged to contemplate their own journeys and identify their inherent talents and skills, as well as the influence of mentors and past events. They were tasked with identifying a “superpower” they possess or could attain in the near future, such as unique research skills, prolific writing abilities, interdisciplinary approaches, or working at the intersection of science and society. Additionally, they were required to outline a path towards achieving their chosen “superpower.” This superpower enables them to bring distinct value to the table.
We deliberated on whether researchers should consider personal branding beyond their affiliated institutes. Subsequently, the fellows were prompted to share and reflect on how they cultivate a network, determine their most valuable network partners, and recognize the importance of complementarity in collaborative relationships. We discussed how to build confidence and evaluated the sharing of data and information during initial interactions with potential collaborators.Lastly, the imπACT fellows were urged to develop their own mission statement based on their backgrounds, their “superpower” and the strengths of their network. It was advised to create a narrative that is easily comprehensible and appeals to a diverse audience, including researchers from other disciplines, citizens, and funders. I concluded the workshop by sharing the insight that funders seek alignment among various criteria, such as competences, a well-connected network, and a well-defined project concept that aligns with their own objectives.
Eveline Peeters has a PhD in Bioengineering Sciences (2007) and was appointed in 2014 as a professor at the VUB in the Department of Bioengineering Sciences. During her career as an independent researcher at VUB, she has built a research group in molecular microbiology/microbial biotechnology that combines fundamental research with application-driven research, thereby exploring approaches of synthetic-biology engineering of microorganisms as cell factories for biomanufacturing (chemicals and materials).
