Early Career Membership

Early Career Membership is for molecular bioscientists who are starting out in their careers in molecular biosciences and are within 10 years of gaining their most recent qualification.

Join the learned society for molecular bioscientists and become part of our community of experts, develop as a scientist and advance your career.

Join us today

Becoming an Early Career Member will help you...

Develop your expertise

Engage with the latest novel science through...

discounted registration fees to attend our diverse programme of scientific events, presenting cutting-edge research
discounted registration fees to attend our in-person and online training courses, covering practical, computational and soft skills
opportunities to present your research in the ECR strand of our popular Biochemistry Focus webinar series
discounted registration fees for Royal Society of Biology events and training courses, via our partnership
access to Care and Assistance grants* to support any assistance-related costs required for you to attend our events and training, available from the start of your membership

Grow as a scientist and progress in your career journey with...

access to a range of grants to fund your professional activities, including conference travel, lab visits, online attendance, and more*
access to early career fellowships and grants from FEBS and IUBMB, via our organisational membership
opportunities to apply your knowledge and have an impact on the sector through science and education policy discussions
exclusive access to opportunities to grow your skillset and support our mission through our Early Career Network
access to sponsorship for your own locally organised lectures, events and training*
opportunities to propose an event or training course to co-organise with us

Join our community to connect with scientists within and beyond your field by...

accepting invitations to attend member-only and networking events, such as our annual Early Career Symposium
helping shape our support for our early career community by joining our Early Career Network
expanding your international networks through automatic membership of the FEBS/IUBMB, and access to International Sponsored Places*
getting your first 2 years of membership of the Royal Society of Biology for half price and connect across the biosciences
leveraging opportunities to shape our activities via Annual General Meeting voting rights
taking advantage of opportunities to apply for select members-only governance positions

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Vikesh's story - Early Career Member, UK

"I was motivated to join the Society following the Protein Purification and Biophysical Characterisation training event which directly advanced my research by equipping me with specialised skills that elevated the quality of my publications, proving how invaluable the Society’s resources are for an active researcher. As my career evolved, the Society supported my trajectory by providing the resources and funding needed to lead high-impact local initiatives and bring cutting-edge scientific dialogue to my local community. This has been critical to my long-term career in scientific leadership by sharpening my project management, advocacy and public speaking skills."

Key details

*Duration, cost and eligibility

Early Career membership is those who obtained their most recent qualification in molecular bioscience, or a related subject, under 10 years ago. This timeframe is not inclusive of career breaks such as maternity leave.

If your most recent qualification in molecular biosciences or a related subject was more than 10 years ago, then please explore Full membership. If you're currently studying at postgraduate level, then our Postgraduate membership is for you.

1-year membership

Early Career membership costs just £55.50 for 1 year. You can join at any time of the year. Members on 1-year memberships can apply for member-exclusive grants* after 12 months of continuous membership.

3-year membership

Or, if you sign up for 3 years, this costs £150 (10% discount). 3-year members can also apply for member-exclusive grants* earlier, after 6 months of continuous membership.

*Please note that all grant funding is awarded by the Grants Committee based on a successful application in line with each grant's eligibility criteria.

Low- and middle-income countries

We offer a 50% discount on membership fees for those residing in low- and middle-income countries, as classified by the World Bank. Find out more about discounted membership on our member FAQs page.

Tax Relief

If you pay your own Society membership subscription and are a UK taxpayer, you can claim the tax back on your annual membership fee. Further details can be found on gov.uk.

Career breaks

If you are taking a break from your career, or have a background in molecular bioscience but now work in a related profession, you qualify for an associate membership.

For questions around costs or eligibility, please contact our Membership team who would be happy to assist or call them on +44 (0)20 3880 2793. You can also explore our FAQs webpage.

If you have questions about how Biochemical Society membership can support you, why not talk to your local Biochemical Society Ambassador? Our Ambassadors are Society members who you can contact with your questions about Society membership.

Explore our activities and support for early career bioscientists

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Explore FEBS funding

Explore funding schemes offered by our partner FEBS, the Federation of European Biochemical Societies, for which members of the Biochemical Society can apply.

Early Career Bioscientists

This page serves as a hub for the support the Society provides for early career bioscientists.

Events Calendar

From scientific meetings and training courses to our wide-ranging webinar series, we bring together molecular bioscientists from across the sector to share knowledge and enhance their expertise.

Grants and Bursaries

The Biochemical Society offers a programme of grants for all career stages supporting research, attendance at scientific conferences, and the sponsorship of events. Members of the Biochemical Society are also eligible for FEBS Fellowships and IUBMB Fellowships.

Webinars

Our Biochemistry Focus webinar series covers different topics related to the molecular biosciences, as well as practical sessions to support career development. Each webinar is free to attend and provides attendees with the opportunity to submit questions for the speakers.