To attend, applicants will need to provide:

  • A poster abstract – following the poster abstract guidelines.
  • A personal statement of 200 words addressing why you want to attend the next generation scientists symposium.
  • A curriculum vitae, which should include your education details, the date that you obtained your PhD (if applicable), publication history, presentations given, and awards. Please detail any career breaks if relevant.
  • A letter of recommendation/reference (up to 500 words) from a scientist who has agreed to support your application, usually your group leader or someone who knows your work well.

Applications to attend in person closed on 26 February 2023

Before applying, applicants should also ensure that they have read:

Applications to attend in person have now closed. 


Sign up for our early career mailing list for information about virtual participation and future events. 

Applications to attend closed on 26 February 2023, with decisions have now been confirmed to all applicants. Shortlisted applicants will then have two weeks to confirm if they are able to accept their place at the symposium. Some applicants may be placed on a waiting list to attend and should space become available the Events and Promotions Manager will be in touch to extend the offer to attend.  

If you applied and have not received a response, please check your spam filter for an email sent on 5th/6th April before contacting Christine Phillips, Events and Promotions Manager. 

Successful applicants will receive free registration. Delegates attending from outside of Singapore will receive three nights of accommodation in student halls of residence at the National University of Singapore, as well as a travel grant to support their travel to the symposium.

Delegates to whom we are unable to offer a place to attend in person can indicate if they would be interested in having access to online/streamed content from the symposium.

Full details of any online attendance and streamed content is still to be confirmed. Further details will be announced in May 2023, sign up to the early careers mailing list to be informed when details are announced. 

Applications for Next Generation Scientists 2024 are expected to open in November 2023, and close in early December. 

Travel grants 

Delegates selected to attend New Phytologist next generation scientists will receive a travel grant to support their attendance. The travel grant will be paid directly to the delegate by bank transfer to the delegate’s nominated account after the symposium.

The amount of your travel grant is based on your location:

  • Within 3000 km: £100

This includes delegates travelling from Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Hong Kong and southern China

  • Between 3000 km and 8000 km: £150

This includes delegates travelling from India, Pakistan, Australia, Japan, Korea, North and East China, and the Middle East

  • Over 8000 km: £200

This includes delegates travelling from Europe, Africa and North/South America

Delegates are encouraged to seek additional funding from their institution to assist with travel costs.

We appreciate that some delegates may have limited funding. The New Phytologist Foundation has limited additional funds for delegates where travel costs significantly exceed the travel grants, and where additional funding sources are unavailable. Requests for additional support should be made to the Events and Promotions Manager by email prior to the in-person application deadline. Any applications for additional travel funding will not be shared with the scientific organising committee, and will not form a part of the decision to shortlist applicants for attendance at the event. The result of any requests for additional funding will be confirmed to the applicant with the outcome of their application.

Why should you attend New Phytologist next generation scientists?

“It was excellent to have a high concentration of ECRs at one conference. It was great to see how diverse our community is but also identify things that unify us. The scientific component was super high-calibre and the social dimension was also excellent. Overall I had a great time!” – Jamie Waterman, University of Bern, 2022 #npnextgen delegate

“NPNextGen really is an excellent way to meet inspiring people and also broaden your outlook on science. I think we get so wrapped up in our own field sometimes that we forget to look at other areas for inspiration and the bigger picture! I would 100% recommend this meeting.” – 2022 #npnextgen delegate

“I was stuck with my research and running out of inspiration. I feel recharged now. Secondly, we had some serious career related conversations that filled in most of my uncertainty thought gaps.” – Acheampong Atta-Boateng, University of Oxford, 2022 #npnextgen delegate