IUBMB Trainee Initiative

Welcome to the website of the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (IUBMB) Trainee Initiative! Our goal is to bring together scientists around the world through initiatives and events covering educational, technical, and professional development. Our initiative is run by trainees for trainees – whether you are a student in a high-school, undergraduate, master’s, or PhD programme or a post-doctoral researcher, we hope that our activities and resources will help you navigate your journey into the wonderful world of biochemistry and molecular biology!

Who We Are

Our leadership committee represents all geographical regions, by including committee members from all four regional IUBMB member societies: FAOBMB (Federation of Asian and Oceanian Biochemists and Molecular Biologists), FASBMB (Federation of African Societies of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology), FEBS (Federation of European Biochemical Societies), and PABMB (Pan American Association for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology). Our current trainee representatives include our chair, Sana Ahmed (PABMB); Dharitri Chaudhari, JONG Hui Lan, and Merc Emil Matienzo (all from FAOBMB); Arnold Anaasi, Aishatu Muhammad Malami, and Kundai Matinyarare (all from FASBMB); Rocío Nunez-Vasquez, Patrick Penndorf, Sophie Strich, and Simon Tang (all from FEBS); Sana Ahmed, Cathy Cozma, Tiara Mulder, and Maria Elisa Vázquez (all from PABMB). You can find more about us by visiting our Trainee Leadership Committee page.

Our Aim

The aim of the IUBMB Trainee initiative is to provide opportunities for emerging researchers of all levels. That entails access to our network and opportunities for skills development, training resources and a supportive team to help them in their professional and scientific journeys! Accessibility, diversity, and inclusion are most important to us. Whether you have limited access to resources, are a first-generation scientist trying to navigate the world of academia, or face visible and invisible barriers – we want to make the “invisible curriculum” open to everyone who wants to explore the world of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. So, whether you are trying to build a career in academia or outside of it, advance your learning or just explore, we hope to have something for you!

A Message from IUBMB President Professor Alexandra Newton

“Trainees are our future and the best investment we can make is to nourish their interests, provide opportunities for their research, education, and career development, and engage their passion in biochemistry and molecular biology. I am thus thrilled to welcome the leaders of tomorrow to the international biochemistry and molecular biology community. The IUBMB Trainee Initiative is run by trainees for trainees, with the full support of the IUBMB. I thank every member from Africa, Europe, the Americas, and Oceania/Asia for volunteering their time, energy, and ideas to engage trainees around the world and wish them much success as they rise to the challenge of building and shaping the initiative.”
-Alexandra Newton, January 2022.

A Message from our Chair Sana Ahmed

Our community is composed of creative, curious, and passionate individuals who strive to achieve that next breakthrough and continuously raise the bar for the field of biochemistry and molecular biology. As Chair of the IUBMB Trainee Initiative, it is my absolute pleasure to support the creation and growth of a collaborative environment and, of resources aimed at supporting trainees at all levels of scientific discovery – whether that is holding a pipette for the first time to submitting a third revision for a manuscript! Together our efforts have led to the development of resources where trainees can take advantage of fellowship opportunities, career webinars, networking events, and our offerings continue to grow in both depth and reach. With so much change occurring in today’s world, it is more important than ever that young scientists are aware of the resources available to them. Our team is deeply committed to not only sustaining these initiatives but expanding them across all regions represented by the IUBMB. So, we urge you to stay curious and join us in building our initiatives.”
— Sana Ahmed, PABMB, March 2025.

Messages from our Regional Leaders

“As the Regional Leader for the Asia and Oceania region within the IUBMB Trainee Initiative (IUBMB TI), I recognise that awareness of this initiative is still growing in our region. To help bridge this gap, the FAOBMB team has committed to promoting IUBMB TI’s webinars, travel grants, and professional development opportunities more actively among our peers and networks.
Since becoming involved with IUBMB TI, I have experienced firsthand the value of being part of a global, collaborative scientific community. It has provided unique opportunities to connect with like-minded trainees, participate in international conferences and symposia, and contribute to a broader exchange of ideas. These experiences have been both enriching and inspiring.
Beyond regional outreach, we are equally committed to strengthening global ties. By fostering international collaboration, we aim to build a more inclusive and interconnected scientific community, one where trainees are empowered to make meaningful contributions on a global scale.
Together, we can amplify the reach and impact of IUBMB TI and help shape a vibrant future for our scientific community. “
–Hui-Lan Jong (Grace), FAOBMB, January 2025.

“As the leader for Africa in the IUBMB Trainee Initiative (TI) Leadership Committee, I’m focused on improving learning and mentoring opportunities, collaborations and scientific career paths across Africa or beyond. The IUBMB TI is a great place for up-and-coming researchers to connect and grow their understanding of biochemistry and molecular biology (as well as science at large). We want to inspire our peers and other trainees to keep exploring new research avenues and pursue scientific collaboration. With our regular online events, we aim to highlight global talent in biological research and open science. I’m hopeful we can encourage more young people from all African countries to join STEM fields with passion, enthusiasm and confidence. By working together, we’ll make a real difference in each other’s lives and in the world, through the expert scientific discussions we promote both in and outside the laboratory.”
— Aishatu Muhammad Malami, FASBMB, May 2024.

“Looking back at the very beginning of the IUBMB Trainee Initiative, we started an effort to support students and early-career researchers across the globe. That mission still drives us today, and I continue to follow this endeavor closely. As one of the founding members, I’ve witnessed the growth of many exciting projects—and we’re still going strong. We will continue to host events, create helpful content, and provide support for young scientists worldwide.
In the FEBS region, we’re especially passionate about helping students explore their career options. We plan to organize events and create practical guides that show early-career researchers what opportunities exist, how to make the most of them, and how to transition into industry if they choose that path.
Furthermore, we understand how important it is today to build your personal brand as a scientist. That’s why we also focus on developing our members’ skills in science communication and strengthening their presence on social media—so they can confidently share their work and engage with the broader scientific community.
Most of all, I’ve met so many incredible people through the IUBMB TI. I’m extremely grateful to have made this journey alongside such inspiring colleagues—and I look forward to what we’ll achieve together next.“
— Patrick Penndorf, FEBS, June 2024.

“As the Regional Leader for the PABMB region within the IUBMB Trainee Initiative this year, I am incredibly grateful to be part of this inspiring group in the company with other highly motivated members. In these challenging and changing times for science across the region, especially in both North and South America, I believe that the support and opportunities offered through this initiative are fundamental for trainees. By organizing events that focus on the needs of students, we’ve gained a clearer understanding of the difficulties we currently face in science. This has allowed us to plan meaningful activities, such as programs and workshops on scientific visualization tools, even including hands-on sessions on topics essential to our experimental work. As a trainee from a developing country, I am also particularly thankful for new IUBMB opportunities such as the PROBio-LatAm Fellowships, which are helping more students access valuable research experiences in other regions. I sincerely hope we can continue working together to demonstrate the importance and value of science and research in our countries. Let’s stay connected!”
— Rocio Meinero, PABMB, August 2025.