You are invited to participate in the 2026 edition of emmaConnect – the initiative by the European Media Management Association (emma).

emmaConnect brings together early-career researchers with more experienced scholars in an informal and temporary set-up. This may take the form of one or multiple online conversation(s) in which the research and/or career path of the early-career researcher is discussed. This may also potentially lead to research collaboration with the more experienced scholar and their team, or, possibly, the inclusion of the early-career researcher in online meetings of other PhD or postdoctoral researchers at the experienced scholar’s university. The experienced scholar and early-career researcher may also work towards developing joint publications.

How does emmaConnect work?

1. We will post a list of names of experienced scholars, including their fields of research and interests, on our emma website. This list will be visible only to emma members.
2. From this list, early-career researchers and postdoctoral researchers who wish to connect with more experienced scholars will be able to select up to three preferred experienced academics with whom they would like to have one-on-one discussions.
3. Early-career researchers and postdocs who wish to connect with more experienced scholars will complete a short application for emmaConnect. In addition to indicating their preferred experienced scholars, they will provide information about their research interests, as well as a brief explanation of how discussions with particular academics would contribute to their academic development.
4. The emma Board will review the applications and facilitate the matching process, in close coordination with the experienced scholars. While every effort will be made to take into account the stated preferences of early-career researchers and participating postdocs, matches may also be proposed with other experienced scholars whose expertise aligns closely with the applicant’s research interests.
5. Once the matching process is complete, the participants can arrange the date, time, and modality of their virtual meeting(s).

Early-career researchers participating in emmaConnect must be registered emma members. You can register for membership here.

When will emmaConnect start?

The matching process will take place in early April 2026. Meetings are expected to begin from 15 April 2026 onward.

Interested? Send in your application by March 24, 2026 directly to emma Board member Ivana Kostovska (kostovska.I(at)outlook.com). Get to know more details about emmaConnect here. Contact Ivana if you have further questions about emmaConnect.