Call for AECURN Committee Members

Deadline: Mon 25 May, 2026

We are looking for two colleagues to join us as AECURN Committee members! 

Committee members are instrumental in steering the network towards greater heights, contributing to the development of a robust community that empowers emerging scholars. The committee comprises 10 members and is supported by the Australasian Cities Research Network (ACRN).  

  • Committee members will be:

    • Able and committed to attend at least 8 out of 12 meetings in a calendar year

    • Able and committed to join and contribute to at least one AECURN working group

    • Considered to be an ECR. This refers to a PhD or a colleague who is typically up to 7 years post-PhD, accounting for personal circumstances and varying career trajectories. It includes colleagues who: don’t currently work in academia; are on teaching and research tracks; are employed in professional roles; and are in precarious, temporary, casual employment (not ongoing or full time).

    • A member of AECURN, or willing to join. 

    Committee members also: 

    • Provide strategic direction and vision for AECURN's activities. 

    • Foster connections between early career researchers, promoting interdisciplinary dialogue. 

    • Create a supportive environment for sharing experiences, challenges, and successes. 

    • Champion the interests and concerns of early career urban researchers within the academic community. 

We invite you to submit your Expression of Interest (EOI) for a Committee Member position, outlining your vision for AECURN and the contributions you can bring to the organization. Regardless of your level of experience, your enthusiasm and dedication are vital to driving positive change within our community.

To submit your EOI, please write to aecurnvic@gmail.com by Monday 25 May with the following details (max 250 words overall):

1.        Contact details 

2.        Academic affiliation (if any)

3.        Motivation/interests and vision for AECURN 

4.        Skills and expertise 

We look forward to receiving your submissions!

Horizons Program - Call for Participants

Deadline: Thu 28 May, 2026

We are partnering with the Melbourne Centre for Cities to deliver their 2026 Horizons Program for urban PhDs and ECRs.

Applications for the Horizons program are now open. Full details and application form are on the Melbourne Centre for Cities Horizons page.

Horizons is the Melbourne Centre for Cities’ flagship doctoral and early career researcher (ECR) capacity‑building program. The program is designed for approximately 20 PhD candidates and post‑PhD early career researchers working on urban, cities and place‑based research across disciplines, including geography, planning, architecture, urban policy, sociology, and related fields.

In 2026, Horizons will be delivered as a six‑month, cohort‑based program that combines early career research capacity building with progressive exposure to academic leadership and convening practice. In line with our own objectives, Horizons also aims to strengthen the wider Australasian urban research ecosystem.

Core Components

The 2026 Horizons program will run from July to November 2026 and is organised around three phases:

  • July to September

    The first phase of Horizons will focus on building a strong cohort, developing a shared language and understanding of the urban research sector, and supporting participants to reflect on their own skills, aspirations, and roles within that sector.

    Each session will combine short provocations from senior and mid‑career scholars and practitioners, facilitated cohort discussion, and reflective and practical activities that link individual development to collective capacity building. Sessions will address topics such as urban research practice, career trajectories, writing and publishing, grants and partnerships, wellbeing, and engagement beyond academia.

    All sessions will be held online to support participation across Australia and New Zealand.

  • October to November

    A defining feature of Horizons in 2026 is the integration of planning for Melbourne Centre for Cities Annual Symposium. Throughout late October to early November, Horizons will shift to a series of shorter, weekly online sessions focused on event skills.

    These weekly sessions will focus on activities such as developing and working with run‑sheets, facilitation and chairing techniques, supporting speakers, time‑keeping, managing discussion, and responding to challenges during live events.

  • 26 November: Melbourne Centre for Cities Annual Symposium

    Horizons program participants will play a leading role at the Melbourne Centre for Cities Annual Symposium, linking learning to a major scholarly convening.

    Roles and responsibilities will be determined by the cohort throughout the monthly Horizons sessions. Involvement will be self-determined and involve working closely with the Horizons Convenor, the Melbourne Centre for Cities team, and the AECURN Committee.

    27 November: Horizons participants event

    The Horizons participants event on 27 November will bring together the outgoing Horizons cohort, Horizons alumni, and incoming participants, include short presentations or reflections from the 2026 cohort, and connect participants into ongoing ACRN- and AECURN-linked networks.

    In addition to the Melbourne Centre for Cities Symposium, the Horizons cohort will be supported to design and deliver an ECR-focused day to reflect on learning and implications for future Horizons iterations and create an agenda for ECR-focused leadership in urban research.

    This will be supported by AECURN and may include senior mentoring sessions, presentations, workshops, and co-authored reports or manifestos. This will also include presentations, feedback, and networking with ACRN and AECURN communities, and a celebration with Horizons alumni.

Applications for the Horizons program are now open.

Full details and application form are on the Melbourne Centre for Cities Horizons page.