painSTAR Delegate Report

Author: Simon Summers painSTAR Report:

Dr Simon Summers is a Lecturer at Queensland University of Technology. His primary research interest is understanding the role of the brain in the persistence of pain, both in clinical and elite athletic populations. Current research is focused on using brainbased treatments, such as non-invasive brain stimulation, to facilitate the development of novel diagnostic and treatment strategies for musculoskeletal pain.

Attending painSTAR was such a valuable experience as an early career researcher. My highlights of attending were the networking opportunities, developing a deeper understanding about translational research and science communication, and the opportunity to discuss career progression strategies with senior researchers in the field. I was particularly inspired by talks from Professor Mark Hutchinson and Associate Professor Tasha Stanton. They both provided real world, practical strategies for improving my research impact and science communication skills. For example, the workshop activities that facilitated ‘Bench to Bedside’ thinking has made me rethink my approach to research design and the value of consumer consultation.

I am also very thankful for the opportunity I had interacting with other like-minded academics, researchers, and clinicians. I have developed new research collaborations and established a formal mentor. I also thoroughly enjoyed the group activities put on by painSTAR, particularly, the funding pitch! Getting together with peers, socialising and brainstorming grant ideas was super fun and I learnt a lot! Thank you painSTAR for a fantastic experience – highly recommend!

Declaration

The author has nothing to declare.