Are you a social media whizz? Do you have a flair for writing? Or are you looking to develop these skills? If so, the Symposium Communications Ambassador Programme is for you!
Every year, the International Symposium on ALS/MND showcases the incredible research happening worldwide. We share regular updates on the research presented at the Symposium with the wider MND community, including people living with and affected by MND. We are now looking to increase the number of updates we can produce for the non-scientific audience.
We are looking for enthusiastic international early career researchers (ECRs) to become Symposium Communications Ambassadors and help us bring ALS/MND research into the spotlight. Ambassadors will have the opportunity to let their creativity run wild to create social media and blogs posts that make the research accessible to all. We will be on hand to provide training and support, to help guide and develop our Ambassadors.
This is an exciting opportunity for ECRs to develop their communication skills, as well as raise their profiles within the MND research community. As a thank you, Ambassadors will receive a 50% discount to attend this year’s International Symposium on ALS/MND.
For more information, please see the FAQs below.
Applications are now closed
The Symposium Communications Ambassador Programme is open to all ECRs, including PhD students and up to 5 years post-docs (career breaks will be considered), who have chosen MND/ALS as their area of investigation.
Applicants must have a good command of written English.
Symposium Communications Ambassadors will help showcase research presented at the Symposium to the wider community. The Programme will run from September 2024 to 31 January 2025. By accepting this role, Ambassadors will be expected to:
- Register for the Symposium by the 13 September 2024.
- Help develop a ‘get to know the Ambassadors’ blog post. This will include providing written answers to a short Q&A, a photo of themselves and a short biography (200 words). Details of social media accounts will also be shared in the blog.
- Create and share one social media post per week during November. Examples of posts includes sharing they are attending the Symposium and highlighting what they are most looking forward to (such as a session they are excited about, or a particular presentation/networking event/poster presenting opportunity etc).
- Create and share a minimum of two social media posts per day during the Symposium. Posts should focus on discussing the science presented at the Symposium (about talks/posters they enjoyed and key findings presented).
- Write a minimum of one blog after the Symposium, reporting on the science by covering a key talk/poster/highlight. On-demand recordings of presentations from the Symposium will be available to help with this.
As part of the Programme, Ambassadors will be representing the MND Association. They will be expected to include “all views are my own” in the bio of any social media platform used as part of the Programme. They will also be expected not to post any offensive or harmful content during the time they are an Ambassador.
We reserve the right to remove anyone not following these expectations from the Programme at any time. If an Ambassador is removed from the Programme, the 50% discount will be invalidated and the Ambassador will receive an invoice to pay the full amount.
Ambassadors will have the opportunity to:
- Learn how to write social media posts about research for non-scientific audiences.
- Build writing for a lay audience skills through blog writing guidance.
- Take part in other methods of communication, such as podcasts, video interviews and become a regular guest blogger.
Support will be available in written and video format, as well as an opportunity for a virtual training session. We will hold a virtual launch meeting of the Programme so that ambassadors can meet each other online before attending the Symposium. Provisional dates for sessions can be found below.
| Session | Provisional Date |
| Virtual launch meeting | w/c 2 September |
| Social media training | w/c 30 September |
| Lay summary workshop | w/c 4 November |
| Video interview tips 'n' tricks | On Demand |
| Blog writing training | Post Symposium |
We will also share details of Ambassadors’ social media accounts on our blog and social media to help grow their follower base and increase their reach.
As a thank you for taking part in the Programme, Ambassadors will receive a 50% discount to the 35th International Symposium on ALS/MND. Successful applicants will receive a discount code on acceptance of an Ambassador place. If you are applying for the Programme, we ask that you wait to register for the Symposium until the outcome of your application.
If you are interested in the role, please complete the application form before 23:59 (GMT) on the 16 August 2024.
Please note that spaces are limited, and we are looking for an international representation. Successful applicants will be contacted by 21 August.
If you have any questions or would like further information about the programme, please email research@mndassociation.org with the subject line ‘Symposium Communications Ambassador Programme’.