Early Career Researcher

Early Career Research Network: Bite for Tomorrow

Our mission

Bite of Tomorrow is a peer-led network created to empower early-career researchers (ECRs), the next generation of leaders in sustainable protein.

ECRs face unique challenges: navigating short-term contracts, uncertain career pathways, and the transition toward research independence, all while being expected to develop broader skills in leadership, management, collaboration, and communication.

We aim to

Provide a supportive, connected community through a shared ECR registry.
Support ECR development by expanding opportunities for visibility, skill-building, leadership roles, and secondments.
Foster cross-stakeholder collaboration and knowledge exchange between academia, industry, policy, and non-profit partners.

Our goal is to create a thriving, collaborative environment where ECRs can grow, lead, and shape the future of sustainable protein.

Our management Committe

Dr Lisa Neidhardt

Postdoctoral Research Scientist in Sustainable Protein

Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein | Microbial Food Hub at Imperial College London

“I love plants and have more than 40 of them at home“

Dr Chloe Uyl

Postdoctoral Research Associate in Alternative Proteins – Microbial Food Hub

Quadram Institute

“I have an identical twin sister“

Dr. Sonja Blasche

Senior Research Associate in Microbial Fermentation and gut microbiome

MRC Toxicology, University of Cambridge

“Occasionally I do long hikes of more than 30 miles in one day.“

Dr Fatemeh Mirpoor

Postdoctoral Research Associate in Alternative Proteins

Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein

“I know how to cook many of the traditional dishes (Mostly Mediterranean)“

Dr Valerie Rodrigues

Postdoctoral Research Scientist in Sustainable protein

IBERS, Aberystwyth University

“I speak/understand 4 languages “

Dr Alex Van de Steen

Postdoctoral Research Associate in Sustainable protein production

Microbial Food Hub at Imperial College London

“I believe all carbohydrate in any dish are commutable.“

Dr Yixing Sui

Senior lecturer in Biotechnology

University of Greenwich

“I am such a night owl that I am starting to become an early bird“

Dr Ben Dagés

Postdoctoral Research Scientist in Cultivated Meat

University College London

“I create scientific illustrations for my own and colleagues’ publications. One even ended up on the front cover of ChemSusChem 16(17).“

Olivia Calkins

PhD Student in Precision Fermentation

Imperial College London

“I founded a food systems non-profit called Food 4 Thought Innovations!“

Amir Ayazbayev

PhD Student in Bioengineering

Imperial College London

“I used to compete in lifesaving (yes it is a sport, Google BULSCA)“

Lauren Kinsey

PhD Student in Cultivated Meat

Tufts University

“Prior to alternative proteins, most of my jobs revolved around coffee.“

Alexis Walker