Early Career Committee (ECC)

The IWRS Early Careers Committee (ECC) welcomes students (BS/MS/PhD) and professionals from all backgrounds who share an interest in insect welfare—and arthropod welfare more broadly. The ECC provides opportunities for early career researchers to make valuable contributions both to the field and the community.

The committee meets online each month, with plans to expand its activities through in-person meetings, conferences and workshops in collaboration with the IWRS and affiliated organisations.

Led by Kieran David Robertson, Urja Thakrar and Suki Bagan, the ECC is always eager to connect with new members. If you're interested in joining the IWRS ECC or would like to learn more, please don’t hesitate to email us at ecc@insectwelfare.com.

Leadership

  • Kieran David Robertson (Co-chair + Secretary)


    Role: PhD Researcher, RES IAFF SIG Convenor
    Institution: Queen’s University Belfast

    About me: I am an entomologist and PhD Researcher at the Institute for Global Food Security, Queen’s University Belfast where I investigate insects as a protein source for livestock feed. With a BSc in Animal Management, and having previously been a zookeeper, I have always been interested in invertebrate welfare, from both the keeping side, to the care of our feeder insects. I am a workaholic, so in my spare time, I love to write: I am currently working on a project with Springer Nature which is really exciting! I also keep insects as a hobbyist; over the years, I have kept over 200 praying mantids! My dream would be to hold a Toxodera beieri.

  • Urja Thakrar (Co-chair)


    Role: PhD Researcher
    Institute: Royal Veterinary College, University of London

    About me: My doctoral research focuses on farmed invertebrate welfare in aquatic food systems, and I’m especially interested in exploring ways in which we can minimise suffering for shrimp farmed in the Global South. In my research, I’m also aiming to answer broader questions such as: Are trade-offs between animal welfare and environmental sustainability in aquatic food systems inevitable? Are there feasible changes we could make to the way we farm and capture aquatic animals to simultaneously improve welfare and sustainability? In my spare time, I love to play racquet sports, read literary fiction, and go to live sports events.

  • Suki Bagan (Co-chair)

     
    Role: BSc Animal Behaviour Student
    Institute: University of  Chester

    About me: I am probably the (academically) youngest member of the committee, but I am very passionate about the welfare of invertebrates, particularly farmed insects. My bachelor’s research focuses on welfare assessment in farmed terrestrial invertebrates, and whether widely used welfare assessment tools can be successfully adapted for these species. Moreover, I am interested in validating welfare indicators for three farmed terrestrial invertebrate species; Drosophila melanogaster (fruit flies), Schistocerca gregaria (desert locusts), and Gromphadorhina portentosa (Madagascar hissing cockroaches). In my free time I enjoy travel, outdoor sports, and I am an avid Formula 1 fan. I also have two German Shorthaired Pointers who keep me busy when I am not studying!