STORABLES’ Journal Club: empowering the next generation of researchers

Within the STORABLES cluster, a new initiative is bringing fresh energy to collaboration among early-career scientists: the STORABLES’ Journal Club. Designed specifically for PhD candidates and early postdoctoral researchers, this activity creates a dynamic space where young scientists take the lead in shaping scientific dialogue.

The concept is simple yet impactful. Participants select a scientific paper, present its key findings, and moderate a discussion among their peers in an online, camera-on setting. Beyond knowledge exchange, the Journal Club places strong emphasis on developing essential soft skills such as scientific communication, critical thinking, and discussion moderation.

What makes this initiative particularly valuable is its role in fostering connections. STORABLES brings together 10 partners, including three doctoral networks and more than 20 organizations overall, with five industry partners actively involved. In such a diverse ecosystem, building relationships early on is key. By encouraging informal yet structured interactions, the Journal Club helps participants become more confident and familiar with one another, smoothing future collaborations in conferences, meetings, and joint activities.

Importantly, this initiative also contributes to bridging the gap between academia and industry. By involving business-oriented perspectives within discussions, young researchers gain insight into how research translates beyond academia, enriching their understanding of real-world applications and innovation pathways.

The creation of the STORABLES’ Journal Club was inspired by recommendations from the Horizon Results Booster, a European Commission initiative that supports EU-funded projects in dissemination and market uptake strategies. This guidance highlights the importance of engaging young researchers not only as participants, but as active drivers of collaboration and impact.

Through initiatives like this, the STORABLES cluster—and by extension NeoGiANT—continues to strengthen its commitment to capacity building, knowledge sharing, and cross-sector collaboration, ensuring that the next generation of researchers is well-equipped to tackle future challenges.

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