BNA Scholars Design and Host "Brain Sciences Symposium" aimed at supporting Early Career Researchers from Underrepresented Backgrounds
13th January 2025
ECR Membership
“Being part of the BNA means I’m connected with all things neuroscience. By that I don’t only mean news and events and access to bursaries. As a member I get a say in the future of neuroscience in the UK. It’s important to me that I’m integral to a movement for positive change.”
“Why did I join BNA? I want to be part of a neuroscience hub, for sharing best practice, for calling for changes, for ensuring neuroscience has the networks, connections and credible pathways that will ultimately benefit society.”
Examples of ways that BNA membership can grow your enjoyment of neuroscience and develop your career:
Reduced registration
Heavily reduced fees for BNA events, including the Festivals of Neuroscience
FENS
Free membership of the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS)
BNA Bulletin
The BNA Bulletin, full of neuro news & research, delivered direct to your door
BNA journal
Reduced APC charges for the BNA journal
Presenting opportunities
Presentation slots at the Society for Neuroscience annual Neuroscience meeting
Networking and career opportunities
Get the chance to network with other researchers and access career resources
Join online today
Boost your early career by being part of the UK's thriving neuroscience community, accessing world-leading events and CPD, networking and publishing opportunities, and grants and bursaries.
Eligibility criteria
Individuals are eligible for Early Career Researcher membership for the first five years following completion of their highest degree (e.g. BSc, MSc or PhD) or, for clinicians, the first five years following completion of F2, or for clinical psychologists, the first five years after starting a Professional Doctorate or work as a Clinical Psychologist. After five years early career members are welcomed to progress into either Full, Full (Industry) or Associate membership. Please contact us as you approach your renewal date to inform us of your new career status so that we can assist your transition into the most appropriate new category.
Please note that Early Career Researcher membership can only be obtained once and cannot be applied should a member return to full time education after time as an early career member.
Benefits
Our core membership benefits for early career members are listed below.
- Free or reduced registration rates for all BNA events, and those run by partnering organisations
- Eligibility for BNA student prizes
- Eligibility for travel bursaries
- Monthly eBulletin with news, funding calls, jobs and events
- Access to new and archived editions of the BNA Bulletin
- Publishing opportunities for your writing on the BNA website or BNA Bulletin
- Involvement in the events and campaigns of your institution's BNA Local Group, and the opportunity to become a BNA Local Group Student Representative (LGSR) to lead and organise your local neuroscience community
- Eligibility for Local Groups Funding (via your own Local Group Representative)
- Free membership of the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) (see how to activate)
- Reduced registration fees via FENS-sponsored abstract slots for the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting (read more)
- 50% discount on fees to publish in the BNA journal Brain and Neuroscience Advances
- Reduced APC charges for the BNA journal Brain and Neuroscience Advances
- Free online access to the European Journal of Neuroscience
- Free access to e-learning, virtual patients, webinars, and CPD points via ebrain, the world's largest online e-learning resource
- Free training materials, webinars, virtual conferences other resources at Neuronline
- 20% discount on the Human Brain Anatomy course (see here for information)
- 50% discount on Royal Society of Biology membership for the first two years
- Up to 50% off Royal Society of Biology Training events
- 15% discount on all books from Wisepress
- Access to members-only information about travel grants, fellowships, grant-writing and other useful resources and offers
- Free advertising in the BNA Bulletin, eBulletin and website
- Free online job listings
Membership fees:
- £52 per year if paid by Direct Debit (tick the box 'Pay by Direct Debit' at the beginning of the joining form) (NB. Payment via Direct Debit is only available to UK bank accounts. If your bank account is from outside the UK or you are intending to pay in any currency other than GBP, you will need to select the option to pay by credit/debit card)
- £58 per year if paid by credit/debit card
Research Group Membership Scheme
Early Career Researcher members may be able to benefit from the Research Group Membership Scheme, which allows Full Members to give up to nine members of their research team reduced-fee subscriptions with the BNA, giving them extended access to bursaries, reduced meeting fees, membership of FENS, and more. Ask your group leader if they are a member of the BNA, and whether you can get your membership for a reduced fee.
Be part of the UK's largest neuroscience society: representing the UK neuroscience community and our interests across all sectors, nationally and internationally