The ECN's membership has doubled over the past two years. Our over 600 ECN members are at the heart of the ECN activities. The ECN is run by a committee consisting of early career scholars, headed by a Chair. The committee is always looking for ideas from you, the current and future members, about how the ECN can help you make the most of your early career experience. 

The Early Career Network Committee

Matthew Hepplewhite, President

Hi, my name is Matt and I am honoured to be the President of the Early Career Network (ECN). The ECN has been a tremendous help to me during my postgraduate studies – I chose to get involved as I want to make sure that it continues to help postgrads the way it helped me.

I am a doctoral student and am researching what kind of people (in terms of sociodemographic characteristics) Britons want to act as their representatives.

Niamh Cashell, Secretary

I am a Politics PhD student at the University of Manchester. My research looks at election campaign adverts on new and old media, using visual methods to develop our understanding of implicit messages. My main research interests include political communication, visual methods and social media. I have a background in supporting students for the Students’ Union Advice Service as well as working as a graduate Housing Officer supporting tenants.

So much knowledge about how to actually succeed in academia or industry is unwritten and passed amongst networks, and I want to ensure that all ECRs can access this information.

Arvind Kumar, Communications Officer

Daniel Bowman, Events Officer

Daniel is a doctoral candidate based in the Department of Politics at the University of Liverpool. He is examining the politics of mental health policy and is in his final year. He has a strong background in events having co-convened previous PSA conferences and organised a range of events in the UK Parliament as the former Director of Mental Health at the Parliament Street think tank. He is passionate about the Early Career Network and wants to use his previous experience in events to deliver for PGRs and early career academics.

Stephanie Luke, Treasurer

Stephanie Luke is a Research Associate at the University of Sheffield. She has a PhD from the University of York which analyses how far-right parties influence mainstream party positions on European integration in Austria, Germany and the UK. Key areas of interests include far-right parties, Euroscepticism and party competition. She has also taught on several undergraduate modules at both Durham University and at the University of York. 

Manuel Hernández-González, EDI Officer

Manuel is a PhD candidate in Political Science at the University of Nottingham. His main research interests revolve around comparative politics, especially in topics such as presidential systems, quality of democracy, political parties and elections. As an international student from Latin America, he is convinced that opening our discipline for ECRs from all backgrounds is necessary.