What is the Young Researchers Seminar (YRS)?

An in-person event organised every two years in a different European country. The common vision for the Young Researchers Seminar is the preparation of a new generation of transport scientists and science-based professionals in the area of transport (all modes). The objectives are:

• To train young researchers belonging to the Supporting Organizations’ Members, ECTRI, FEHRL, FERSI, EURNEX, HUMANIST and from United States’ Universities, to prepare papers and present oral scientific communications, by direct interaction with assigned tutors.
• To enable the exchange and networking opportunities of young transport researchers with their peers and tutors.

Therefore, this Seminar is not only aimed at building up scientific excellence, it also seeks at improving presentation skills and the ability to communicate science. 

What are the topics of the Seminar?

The indicative research domains covered during this seminar are:

• Transport economics, policy, and transport behaviour
• Transport sustainability and environment
• Transport safety
• Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) & Traffic management
• Transport logistics and freight
• Transport engineering (incl. road and railway infrastructures)

Who is invited to participate?

The young researchers are incited to participate by their own organisations (Institutes or Universities). They are novice researchers, preferably PhD students; postdoctoral may also be accepted, within 1-2 years after their PhD. They are involved in (at least) one of the research domains.

Attention is also given on ensuring a balanced representation among the organisations based on the following criteria:

• Maximum 1 young researcher per research domain for organisations with more than 300 staff,
• Maximum 3 young researchers in total for organisations with less than 300 staff,
• And maximum 1 US young researcher per research domain.

The tutors are senior researchers from the Supporting Organizations but also from United States’ Universities.

What is offered?

The format of the seminar is:

• content oriented through technical sessions with oral presentations of 20 minutes and 10 minutes’ feedbacks and Q/A.
• cross-cutting oriented, with sessions of two types:
  • small keynote sessions on specific subjects 
  • scientific methods on tools and research process sessions.

The technical sessions are organised under the supervision of the Steering Committee. The tutors will moderate the sessions and provide feedback to the presentations. Besides these scientific activities, networking activities such as technical and social visits and an official dinner are also included. 

YRS2023 Key Dates

Deadline for abstracts & submission of tutors extended to 17th October!

• June 22, 2022: Launch of call for abstracts and call for tutors
• September 30, 2022 > October 17, 2022 (deadline extension): Deadline for submission of abstracts and nomination of tutors
• December 1, 2022: Notification on abstracts review results and tutors’ appointment February 1, 2023: Deadline for full draft paper submission
• February - May 2023: Exchange between tutors and young researchers
• May 3, 2023: Deadline for submission of final paper
• May 10, 2023: Deadline for submission of presentation
• May 15-17, 2023: Holding of the Young Researchers Seminar