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Diane is a true team player and an asset to university life. She will make time for any problem from anybody. She's the perfect blend of efficiency and compassion, an excellent teacher and a well-loved administrator. Working close to her has made a huge positive change in my mental health. She strives to make a positive impact in the lives of everyone in her institute. Her students and staff truly appreciate and trust her, and always know they can count on her. Diane has harboured a wonderful camaraderie within the RIS team, keeping us all proud to be her colleagues.

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Sukanya is a meticulous and involved supervisor supporting students in navigating and contributing to the research culture. She has spearheaded the creation and sustenance of the Women of Colour collective in the School of GeoSciences – in 2023, she started an informal mentoring space for WoC PGRS and ECRs to meet, and share food, concerns, support and laughter, recognising the lack of such spaces in the school. The collective has grown in scope and numbers, securing grants, a journal article, and a project – “Found Families in Academia: WoC navigating higher education”. Warm, encouraging, and candid, Sukanya leads by example.

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I am delighted to nominate Katie, who has been an enormous help with running research activities in IGC. I want to recognise her incredible commitment to support her colleagues in IGC. Katie is a Directors PA, but she goes out of her way to help everyone in the school. She is always full of smiles and very knowledgeable about any questions you ask her. Katie works tirelessly behind the scenes, and I am very happy to celebrate her through this project.

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Karen is responsible for all the interactions with the Home Office that permit individual researchers to work with animals, observing the highest standards of welfare and rigour. She is genuinely one of the unsung heroes of the university, working tirelessly and often thanklessly, sometimes having to deal with quite obstructive individuals, but always treating everyone with respect and kindness. Without her attention to detail, a lot of research would grind to a halt. She really is the beating heart of BVS.

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It has been great to work with Ian in the ACRC Academy. He has built, among the staff and the students, a strong sense of pride in the programme and the unique interdisciplinary training in Ageing and Care. We have learnt a common language to work across disciplines and build a positive yet challenging environment for the students. It has encouraged me to develop more collaborations with the school of engineering, and to further integrate interdisciplinary principles in my research. And it has been great fun spending time with him and the students at enrichment weekends  - I've learnt the importance of social events as well as work events to build a cohort, and a leadership team.

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Daniel and I started working together on a small grant where his computing expertise helped utilise AI software. Although Daniel is an expert in coding, not in AI video analysis, he was up for the challenge.  We have exceeded expectations, teasing out data from often cumbersome and frustrating data imputation. Daniel is always positive, calm and troubleshoots effectively.  He makes this steep learning curve a positive learning experience, giving up time in his last fellowship year. The data was recently presented at an international conference, was well received and prompted international students to apply to learn these techniques with us.

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Wendy is the Director of the MRC Human Genetics Unit, IGC. Wendy is a great mentor who is dedicated to supporting her research team members. Her door is always opened to them despite her busy schedule as a director of a unit. She is very attentive and recognises their individual strengths. With the recent change in the University, Wendy has been proactive in working with her senior scientists to develop their career and acquiring funding for their independent research. Her passion for the growth and development for her team is worth celebrating!

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Victoria is an extremely supportive colleague who will always listen carefully and provide constructive feedback, new ideas and ways to improve processes. She approaches every challenge thoughtfully and calmly. I appreciate her direct communication and “no nonsense” approach. I really value our chats, both about work and life, and am glad to have her back in the team!

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Tuygun Oruc has made an outstanding positive impact on research culture in ECA as Research Excellence Manager. She works with clear goals, motivating and developing colleagues while enabling individuals to identify and build on their strengths, creating a cohesive, supportive team, united by shared purpose. Tuygun’s influence is evident across all research support. She brings expertise across pre and post award processes and leads by example, modelling professionalism, curiosity and kindness while continually testing new ideas to enhance service and culture. Her strategic insight strengthen long-term research culture, and colleagues feel supported, valued and empowered under her leadership.

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Tina is a brilliant colleague who I really value. She is always there to provide support and guidance both when things are going well but, more importantly, especially in those challenging times. Tina is she is committed to creating a supportive and inclusive working environment where we do not lay blame but support one and other and openly share our knowledge and expertise. She celebrates her colleagues and she is reliable, transparent, and highly trustworthy. Working alongside Tina is hugely enjoyable and feels very safe. Thank you Tina!

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I had the pleasure of briefly overlapping with Theoni. She was incredibly supportive during my induction, always approachable, and willing to answer questions - even after she was no longer working on the project. Her warmth, generosity, and helpfulness were truly appreciated.

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Susan is an excellent colleague, providing a very high standard of support in her role as lab manager. Susan's contributions go beyond her technical and scientific skills. Susan is kind, patient, understanding, supportive and fair to all our colleagues; she uses great diplomacy to ensure people can work closely together without misunderstandings developing. Her skill in balancing so many personalities and interests is amazing! Susan is always ready to listen and seek solutions. She really cares about everyone, on a personal and professional level. Susan is a real gem and it is a privilege to work with her.

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Since starting as the Project Manager on an EU-funded project, Stuart has consistently been willing to help, offering clear and practical guidance whenever we have had questions or needed clarification. His professional support has made navigating complex administrative and funding processes much more manageable. His responsiveness and collegial approach have genuinely enhanced my experience working on this project and reflect the supportive research culture.

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Stanislava always ensures our roles align well to collectively ensure CAHSS researchers get the best of opportunities made available to them, which in turn helps build their capacity and capabilities for research engagement & impact. It's a joy to work together in that way, and ensure we have a blether, and laugh about life in generally too! She is caring of wellbeing, now one of ERO's MHFA too. Joyful citizenship would sum up Stanislava!

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Sotos has always been a great team player. I have found, at least in his relationship with me, that he has helped me to thrive, driving me to achieve my utmost through giving me responsibilities and addressing my lack of confidence, and supported me in my endeavours, even when this was not directly beneficial to his own goals.

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Simon has made significant contributions to fostering a positive research culture. He helped create an engaging seminar series that brings students and scholars from diverse backgrounds. He led the Exhibition on Blue Space and Health Space, making a massive impact and particularly supporting students in Landscape and Wellbeing and other design disciplines. I am thankful for Simon’s patience and guidance when I joined the department as Programme Director. He organised meetings to provide constructive feedback and invited me to present my research in a seminar, which has supported my professional development. Thank you, Simon, for your generosity!

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Shona is unflappable and an invaluable font of institutional lore, she consistently goes above and beyond for researchers. She’s great at handling complex, difficult requests and finding practical solutions, and is always striving to find a way to say yes. She cultivates a positive working culture, supporting her team of administrators through thick and thin. Her guidance has directly improved grant applications and research collaborations, helped post-award projects run smoothly, and does a million other things to make the School’s research culture better.

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I have known Shirley since towards the end of my PhD and owe my participation in many of the research projects I have done with her. She has always included me, other PhD students and early career researchers in research groups, networks and projects, offering mentorship & development opportunities, leading PGR student mentor groups.  All the while being a supportive and encouraging colleague who also admits to learning from us too. She is incredibly collegiate and collaborative. No request for help/advice/support is ever ignored. I would not be the researcher I am today without Shirley's mentorship and belief in me.

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Shauna, Head of the Law School's Research, Knowledge Exchange and Impact Office, has worked tirelessly to create an inclusive and vibrant research culture within the School.  Despite managing complex projects, particularly in the the run up to REF, she has created an environment where colleagues can engage with her, and members of her team, to help develop their ideas into research and impact projects that make a difference in the world.  An encouraging and supportive like Shauna has made a hugely positive impact on my own work, and on colleagues working on research throughout the school.

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Seb Georges is a fantastic team member within the College of Science and Engineering.  His positive attitude and helpful demeanour provide invaluable support with all things technical within the College office teams.  In particular he has provided the technical expertise to support the Research Culture Catalogue to make it a great resource that is easy to use, both for those submitting examples, or those browsing for inspiration.

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Sara’s approach to supporting others is generous, personalised and unpretentious. Sara shares herself with you, revealing a bit of vulnerability that allows you to connect, truly self-examine, take inspiration and move forward with determination. Words of encouragement that I first heard from her over a decade ago when she ran the Ingenious Women programme still echo in my mind at difficult moments, sustaining me when I’m nervous about giving presentation or I’ve had another grant rejection. Beyond her unmatched practical skills and experience in researcher development, Sara has an amazing ability to make you feel heard, supported and empowered.

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Samar is a dedicated research scientist who approaches her work with enthusiasm and integrity. She brings research experience and the culture from her home country in equal measure. She has been particularly supportive with peers while studying towards her PgCAP. She is always keen to engage in community activities which is so important in ensuring a positive research culture.

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Rustam is a fantastic academic to work with as a PS staff member. He takes great care to communicate clearly, sets out expectations (and manages others' expectations of himself) and carries them out meticulously. He makes a point of seeking out and then showing his gratitude for and appreciation of the expertise of PS colleagues, which makes it really rewarding to work with him, even on small things. He treats everyone as important and takes the time to chat with everyone, creating a collegial atmosphere. If every academic were like Rustam, the institute community would feel a lot more cohesive!

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Ros truly stands out for the way she creates a safe, welcoming, and supportive space for everyone around her. Her kindness, thoughtful communication and genuine care for others make her one of the most wonderful colleagues I’ve ever worked with.

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Richard joined us on a temporary contract to cover maternity leave, arriving during an exceptionally busy period for the International team. From the outset, he demonstrated calm, values-led leadership working with integrity, resilience and genuine respect for colleagues. He consistently approached challenges with compassion and professionalism, creating a supportive environment where people felt heard and empowered. Richard actively encouraged collaboration across the team and communicated clearly and constructively, taking time to learn from existing expertise while also sharing his own skills in a way that strengthened how we work together.

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Richard’s approach exemplifies a form of research leadership grounded in generosity, technical rigour, and collective responsibility. He creates the conditions in which complex work can be realised, not through asserting authorship, but by enabling others to think, test, and take risks with confidence. His engagement with the exhibition extended well beyond technical problem-solving, fostering a collaborative research culture in which ideas were refined through dialogue and care. For me, his support directly shaped the ambition, clarity, and public reach of the work, demonstrating how thoughtful technical leadership can meaningfully influence research outcomes and impact.

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Rebecca listens to people, understands their views and then provides measured, well thought-out advice drawing from her wealth of experience both as a researcher and research manager, and her strong moral code of what's fair for everyone. She never fails to look at both sides of an argument and consider how decisions might affect others. She takes a genuine interest in colleagues' personal lives supporting those who are facing tough times, including taking work off their desks. She has been particularly supporting towards colleagues moving from research to admin roles, or building their admin careers.

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Professor Susan Shenkin is an academic geriatrician interested in interdisciplinary research to improve the care of older people in health and social care, particularly in care homes. She is an outstanding leader in care home medicine research, technology and data driven innovation and cognitive ageing. Professor Shenkin has developed important new collaborations and enthused early career researchers. She is extremely kind to everyone whom she comes into contact with professionally. She generates an amazingly positive working environment in the University of Edinburgh, NHS Lothian and beyond. It is an honour to nominate her for this award.

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My PhD supervisor, Professor Pankaj, has been consistently supportive, thoughtful and generous with his time. He creates a positive and encouraging research environment where questions, discussion and critical thinking are genuinely welcomed. His approach to supervision balances high standards with empathy and trust, which has helped me grow in confidence as an independent researcher. Professor Pankaj leads by example, modelling good research practice, care for wellbeing and respect for others. His guidance and encouragement have had a lasting positive impact on both my research and my development as an academic, and I’m very thankful!

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Sara could not be more supportive of her research team and wider colleagues. She leads effectively, providing strong focus and clear decision making while remaining open, approachable, and willing to listen to colleagues at every level. She promotes a positive research culture, collaborates widely, and provides a forum where honesty, research integrity, and open dialogue are central. She advocates for her team, provides mentorship, guidance and promotes career progression.  She recognises and celebrates both personal and academic success and supports work-life balance through part-time and flexible working.
Thank you, Sara!

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Alexander has brought clear-headed and measured leadership to our Institute. Specific examples include his support for an initiative aimed at promoting the exchange of ideas between students, as well as his efforts to mitigate the effects on research culture arising from outside of our School. This has had the result of quietening external distractions, making this an Institute that I am excited to work in.

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Sue Fletcher-Watson leads with kindness, generosity, and integrity. Despite her busy schedule, she consistently makes time for individuals, offering thoughtful guidance and genuine encouragement. She creates a research culture where curiosity and ambition are balanced with care, always reminding us that well-being matters as much as productivity. Sue challenges us to think creatively, push boundaries, and aim high, while providing the confidence and support needed to do so. Her leadership fosters trust, collaboration, and resilience, empowering those around her to grow both professionally and personally. Working with her has strengthened my confidence and expanded my work.

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Phyllis Quinn has had a transformative impact on my work and others' through her steady, people‑centred approach to leadership. She creates an environment where colleagues feel valued, supported and able to grow, and she is intentional about building a research culture grounded in openness, fairness and shared purpose. She gives her time generously, offers clear and constructive guidance, and always makes space for others to succeed. Her ability to connect people, nurture talent and champion collaboration has strengthened our community and enhanced the quality of our work. I am a better researcher because of her support, encouragement and example.

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Peadar is very generous with his time to support other researchers to apply for research funding, particularly early career researchers. He has provided excellent mentorship and guidance, evidenced by the Marie Curie Fellowship and Leverhulme Visiting Professorship awarded to researchers he supported. Peadar continues to support ECRs to apply for further opportunities whilst managing his own AHRC grant and participating in other research projects. Witnessing Peadar's generosity has been an inspiration to me.

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Norah's commitment to supporting and encouraging mentees is notable. Their supportive and positive style gives mentees the confidence to develop and take their next steps within our research culture. NS valuable contributions in this area will certainly be missed when they retire in the coming months.

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Nicola Cuthbert from the IAD researcher developer team, has provided invaluable support to the Postdoc societies across the University.  In the College of Science and Engineering, we deeply appreciate her support for our PDRA Forum, and encouragement for all Schools within the College to develop their own Postdoc society.  Attending every meeting of the Forum, she supports our work with advice and feedback.

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Nessim is a fantastic combination of knowledge, experience and efficiency when it comes to intellectual property. He adeptly supported our project with aplomb through multiple invention disclosure evaluation panels to successful patent filings and issuance. He was extremely supportive and insightful, giving irreplaceable assistance as we prepared our documents, and celebrating enthusiastically with us as we made it over each hurdle and reached each milestone. He is truly an invaluable part of our team!

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Neil is an incredibly busy person, but he never seems stressed and his approachable demeanour encourages you to take your issues to him. Neil doesn’t micromanage; he trusts you to get on with the job and make your own decisions, but if you need him, he’s there for you. Once, I emailed him and got a response from him within the hour, stating that he was across the Atlantic but would connect for an online chat during the break between conference sessions. He not only made the chat but immediately offered a good solution. He is a great line manager!

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Nathalie is the key supporter behind our ongoing REF preparations. With her excellent organisation skills, resourcefulness and sense of humour, she makes our REF work much easier and enjoyable. Thank you very much for all your work!

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Moa has provided exceptional support while covering the Co-Director of Research Excellence role. She has been reliable and collaborative. She stepped up for internal approvals, contributed significantly to application reviews, and was a driving force behind the ECR Research Funding session we delivered. Moa approached every task with clarity, good judgement, and a strong commitment to supporting colleagues and maintaining high standards. Moa went beyond simply covering the role, but used the opportunity to provide strong leadership, contributing to the strategy and activity, for ECA research culture. Above all, Moa was a pleasure to work with during her time in this role.

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I am continually impressed and inspired by Miranda's contribution to research culture in ECA.  Having joined the ECA RKEI service in 2024, from a non-HEI background, Miranda found her feet remarkably quickly and has become an invaluable member of the team. Drawing from her background in the Scottish charitable sector and building on her growing expertise in higher education, she has introduced innovative processes which enhance service delivery and foster strong academic partnerships, threading a clear commitment to EDI throughout her work.  Notable contributions include networking events connecting staff with industry partners and producing the Artful Inquiry Podcast.

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Miguel has made a significant contribution to fostering a positive and supportive research culture. He is patient,  willing to listen carefully to the ideas of his direct reports and actively supports colleagues in their career development. He has been supportive of my own professional growth, encouraging and enabling my participation in the Edinburgh Manager Programme. He organised mentoring meetings to guide me as a new member of the department, helping me integrate smoothly into the local context and prepare to take on my role as Programme Director for postgraduate programmes. Thank you, Miguel, for your generous support and leadership.

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Mara has the ability to ensure the 'nuts and bolts' are attended to in our research culture. She makes things happen with diligence and ensures we can follow through on the many activities we deliver to help build a positive culture of research engagement & impact - sometimes having to go the extra mile to find solutions to the problems we can all face within our system. Getting things turned into reality and run smoothly is so important to our research culture. Thank you, Mara!

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Lucy is the Programme Manager for the Advanced Care Research Centre, which is a complex collaboration across eight schools at the University of Edinburgh. As well as calmly and effectively dealing with the many organisational and process barriers to working across schools, she has been instrumental in creating the virtual and physical space and culture where academics and professional services staff can work together across boundaries in a mutually respectful and maximally productive way.

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Lucia tirelessly sets a standard for advocacy and support, both within her institute and across the wider school. She champions students’ voices, ensuring their needs are heard and acted upon with care, fairness, and persistence. Lucia generously shares resources, ideas, and opportunities, strengthening the collective work of colleagues around her. She gives her time freely, offering thoughtful guidance grounded in genuine empathy. For early career researchers in particular, Lucia is an inspiring role model: collaborative, principled, and unfailingly supportive. Her everyday actions demonstrate how academic excellence and compassionate leadership can, and should, go hand in hand.

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It is for Lorraine’s positive contributions to early career researchers that I wish her to be recognised. She administers the ECDS “bridging funding” scheme for ECRs and provides support for the CMVM Research Staff Committee. Her efforts in this role are incredible and wide-ranging, from leading the organisation and delivery of the recent ECR symposium, to multiple day-to-day tasks like disseminating information for opportunities to our ECR community, and organising smaller events and regular talks. She does all of these with great professionalism and enthusiasm, and is a colleague to work beside. I can’t recommend or celebrate her enough.

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Liv is a wonderful member of the Edinburgh Infectious Diseases team.  She is our communications and engagement officer, and brings her flair, enthusiasm and dedication to work every day.  She is innovative, always open to new approaches and ideas, and willing to take on new challenges at the drop of a hat.  She helps to make managing a somewhat unwieldy research network possible, and has huge impact on our little team and me.

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I would like to take this opportunity to recognise Lisa Guenther's exceptional collegiality. Since we met a couple of years ago, I have been continually impressed by her openness and willingness to share resources, notes from conferences and events, personal insights, etc. She is a true model for what collegiality should be, and how to approach it with humility and honesty. In an environment where information is sometimes hoarded for personal advantage, Lisa's generosity in sharing knowledge fosters a collaborative atmosphere. Please don't ever change, Lisa!

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Lisa has made a huge positive difference to me and to our collective capacity to build better research cultures. From our first meeting, their exceptional skill, knowledge, motivation and joy as a changemaker have shone through. Their approach to supporting others is both intellectually value-based, and (vitally) embodied in their everyday behaviours and practices, including listening, curiosity, self-awareness, empathy, humility and integrity. Lisa actively seeks further learning and enables this for others. Working with Lisa has taught me so much, including having confidence to do what feels right even when it is difficult. Thank you, Lisa!

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Linda is someone who is incredibly collaborative to work alongside and willing to share her insight, experience and expertise in ways that is beneficial not only to individual colleagues, but for wider strategic initiatives - especially on policy engagement with research. Citizenship, generosity and a willingness to help other colleagues succeed has a positive impact on our research culture here at Edinburgh. Thank you, Linda!

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We would like to recognise the exceptional pre-award support given by Lesley-Anne Hunter for our EU Funded project and her continued guidance since its launch. Since the project began, she has remained approachable and generous with her time, ensuring we continue to feel well supported. Her professionalism and commitment have made a positive impact on our project and team.

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Lena is an incredibly supportive colleague in how she includes people across our complex university system, designing better internal funding processes or the energy she gives to leading on changing practice for the better too e.g. on EDI.  She brings a smile and compassion when things are difficult for any of us outside of work. I hugely value this personally and professionally; she shows us all how we can improve our research culture for the better.

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Laura has made huge contributions to the Early Career Academic research culture in the School of Social and Political Science. The ECA reps have organised writing retreats, other valuable networking events and coordinated responses to university decisions for and with colleagues in different Subject Areas across a large and often siloed department. Laura is not only a pleasure to work with, but a driven and organised colleague who cares passionately about early career working conditions.

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Conflict between personal and professional life is not inevitable: a constructive fusion is possible. Offering (as a trained instructor) an optional yoga session before lab meetings is just a starting point. By design, political science, behavioural insights and social cohesion are all central tenets in her academic inquiry. Laura has uniquely managed to distil positive findings from these research areas, sewing them together to create a working environment that is itself a microcosm of social and cultural ideals. A human-centred approach lies at the heart of the Neuropolitics Lab - a living example of a happy, multigenerational, academic family.

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I’m delighted to nominate Kirsty Craigie, Senior Technical Officer, for her outstanding support, mentorship and collegial leadership. Kirsty consistently goes above and beyond to help others, generously sharing her expertise in advanced imaging and experimental techniques. Her collaborative spirit and enthusiasm have directly enriched my own research experience, empowering me to grow as the lead of the LSM3D imaging facility. Through her practical teaching and collaborative spirit, Kirsty actively builds a positive research culture, making our community stronger, more equitable and better connected.

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Kim is such an interesting and fun person to work with. She is extremely professional, insightful, thoughtful and multi-disciplinary, and despite being very busy, always makes time to check in with the human first. I have learnt a lot from Kim since she started in the team, and I look forward to working more closely as REF preparations ramp up and learning even more. Thanks for the weekly penguin posts, and more!

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Kelly is always so positive and enthusiastic about supporting positive research culture. Her can-do attitude is an inspiration!

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Katrien is an exceptionally supportive colleague! She is an incredibly caring and helpful person whose patience has been invaluable in our team. By creating a safe space for learning and asking questions, she has had a direct, positive impact on her projects and has inspired professional confidence in her colleagues. She truly embodies a supportive research culture.

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Katie provides values-based leadership, setting standards for our team culture. As our authority on EDI, she carries a huge responsibility: supporting Fellows and colleagues through challenging, often sensitive situations with care, discretion and clarity. She lives her values every day, advocating persistently for those who are disadvantaged or under esteemed by our systems, and translating principles into practical changes. Katie is creative and determined in finding solutions, resilient when progress is slow, and unwavering in doing the right thing. Working with her has strengthened my own leadership, giving me confidence to respond well to complex issues and improve our culture.

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Kathy is an inspirational leader at DataLoch. She has a refreshing mindset for the University context: for tricky situations, she values team inputs, considers the pros and cons, and then makes a confident decision (which can be revised if future information shows that another path would be better after all). Furthermore, she is dedicated to the growth of all team members and actively supports training and experiences that advance careers – even if that is away from DataLoch! Kathy is simply the best manager I’ve had the pleasure of working with.

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Kathrin has made huge contributions to the Early Career Academic research culture in the School of Social and Political Science. The ECA reps have organised writing retreats, other valuable networking events and coordinated responses to university decisions for and with colleagues in different Subject Areas across a large and often siloed department. At a challenging time for the sector and university, Kathrin is a positive and supportive colleague, always bursting with ideas and initiative, which genuinely make the School a better place to work.

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Katherine consistently strengthens our research culture through thoughtful, proactive support. She is passionate about enabling researchers across CSE to thrive, and she turns that commitment into action by creating opportunities—connecting people, opening doors to projects, and encouraging visibility for emerging work. What stands out is how seriously she takes colleagues’ perspectives: she seeks my input, treats it with respect, and then amplifies my points to senior leaders so they are heard and acted on. This advocacy has increased my confidence and sense of belonging, and it has helped me access opportunities that have directly developed my skills, networks, and impact.

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Julien is a generous collaborator who unhesitatingly acknowledges and rewards everyone’s contribution to the success of the project. He makes time to mentor junior scientists and is quick to offer encouragement and bolster flagging confidence. Over the years that I’ve worked with him, I’ve really appreciated his authenticity and the fact that he will unwaveringly call out my achievements in our collaboration and push me into the spotlight. It sometimes feels uncomfortable, but it has helped me to grow so much in my self-confidence and progress in my career. I truly can’t thank Julien enough for his unstinting support!

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I would like to nominate Jonathan for the exceptional support he provided during a particularly stressful moment. Having been recommended by two others for being incredibly approachable, he has repeatedly taken the time to properly listen and alleviate concerns in a calm, clear, and reassuring manner. His ability to combine warmth, humour, and positivity with concise and practical guidance is a rare skill. Given he knew nothing of the situation, his professionalism and genuine concern have gone a long way to keeping me in academia.

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Jenny is a person who raises up others and recognises and supports people wherever she can. Jenny has also driven much of the work to push forward sustainability in the labs and helping to change the culture around applying a better approach.

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Jennifer has been a vital member of the Edinburgh Infectious Diseases team for several years.  She is dedicated, caring, compassionate, thoughtful and supportive.  As the team’s project officer and postgraduate administrator, she takes on a huge variety of different activities, untangling arrays of university systems and processes to keep things running smoothly.  She is a true pleasure to work with, and continues to have an enormous impact on our little team and me.

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Jen is a wonderful example of positive research culture in action. She leads the CMVM Research Office by example and contributes as a senior leader to cross-institutional initiatives and programmes, embodying excellence at every opportunity. Jen supports others without fail, regardless of hierarchy, demonstrating a phenomenal ability to understand a problem and find solutions. Jen tirelessly recognises those she works with, whether within or beyond the CMVM Research Office team. This helps to boost morale and highlight the impact of the work we all do in research support. Jen has personally been a great help to me.

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Jenn Yoo is project manager of the ACRC Academy, the pioneering, diverse, demanding, all-college Centre for Interdisciplinary Doctoral Training, funded by Legal & General Group. Jenn is central to the efficient functioning of, and widely acknowledged as representing the beating heart of, the Academy. In responding to their diverse needs with the deftest of touches, Jenn brings support, guidance, order, and harmony to grateful students, enthusiastic supervisors, committed professional services colleagues and well-meaning professors. From the School of Engineering to the Usher Institute via the College of Art and more, Jenn has earned the lasting respect and affection of all.

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I would like to thank Javier, my supervisor, for his constant support throughout the year. His guidance went far beyond formal supervision and reflected the care, trust, and generosity of a true friend. He consistently made me feel supported not only as a researcher but as a person. During a particularly challenging period, when I was struggling to cope, he took the time to listen and be there for me in exactly the way I needed. His kindness, support, and leadership will stay with me.

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Jan’s knowledge and efficiency as a PA is legendary! She radiates positivity, helpfulness and efficiency. There is nothing that Jan doesn’t know about the University’s administrative systems, and no problem that she can’t help fix. For example, when I approached Jan for help navigating the University’s travel booking system, she immediately said, “leave it to me; I’ll look into it and send you some options”. While sending me a few links via email could have sufficed, Jan instead sent me potential itineraries with tips for the best options and even booked my travel afterwards. Jan is truly and utterly exceptional!

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Jack is a dedicated researcher who has gone above and beyond to enhance the undergraduate research culture within the university. He founded the Edinburgh Student Journal of Science, an open-access, peer-reviewed journal which highlights undergraduate research in the field of science from across the university and beyond. It has also provided the opportunity for postgraduate students to get involved, with researchers signing up as reviewers and forming the editorial team. Jack's initiative to spearhead this endeavour has provided an opportunity for the undergraduate and postgraduate communities to collaborate on a project to enhance undergraduate research visibility.

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Helen is the Science and Strategy Manager at IGC. She is kind, thoughtful, brilliant and very cheerful in carrying out her job. Thank you Helen for being proactive in managing your team. Recognising our contributions and being an awesome mentor. Helen is very involved in improving the research culture and wellbeing of people in IGC.  Helen is an invaluable member of our research community!

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Prof Gillian Mead is an inspirational leader, one of relatively few female academic geriatricians, and a trailblazer in the life after stroke, influencing numerous practitioners to provide better evidence-based care, and improved the lives of countless stroke survivors.  As Head of Department for Ageing and Health has brought a spirit of integrity, empathy and respect for others. She works hard to support others, particularly female academics, providing clear and supportive input to her students. She is kind, deeply thoughtful and always considering who else could benefit from opportunities.  This nomination shows in what high esteem she is held.

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Giles deserves recognition for his commitment to fostering a supportive and flexible work environment. This year, he went above and beyond to accommodate a significant change in a team member's personal circumstances. By streamlining the process for reduced hours and granting immediate leave, Giles removed the barriers between professional duties and urgent personal responsibilities. His decisive actions are a testament to his leadership style and his dedication to supporting staff through complex life transitions.

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Emma has shown a huge commitment to research culture within our institute. She co-founded and chairs our Institute Research Culture Committee. She has organised discussion fora around AI, research culture and publishing models. The feedback from these workshops is beginning to have a direct impact on our local institute's practice. She has obtained funding for a train-the-trainer approach to widening the use of lab handbooks, being instrumental in creating a lab handbook for the research group she is part of. She helps give confidence that some of our wider aims around a positive research culture will be locally achievable.

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Cait's approach to research leadership and support is both inspiring and impactful. Despite her extensive work commitments, as a professor, a project lead with many 'side quests' into public and policy engagement, she remains exceptionally supportive and genuinely interested in enhancing my work experience and in achieving my career goals. Her openness to new ideas and readiness to assist with things that can make life easier, often goes well beyond her own time constraints. With her engaging personal interests, like glass art and crocheting, she boosts staff morale and enriches our team culture, making her an indispensable leader and mentor.

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Prof Bruce Guthrie is an example of academic leadership. In leading the ACRC, he created an encouraging environment for interdisciplinary work. His strong work ethic, but also demonstrating the need to balance work with external responsibilities, sets a positive example.
He always adds a huge amount of value to every project, and is highly encouraging – peppered with a dash of realism and stretching challenge. The ACRC has been a key success in developing colleagues at all career stages to work collaboratively across disciplines. He is truly an inspiration and an outstanding colleague.

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Alasdair has been positively transforming the research culture at Institute for Energy Systems (Engineering) one step at a time. He is extremely good at recognising people's strengths and finding ways gently nudge them to contribute to the community in different ways. His initiatives have made the culture more inclusive, collaborative and supportive overall. He is generous with his time, approaching difficult/stressful situations in a calm and collective manner, and putting the spotlight on others (especially, early career researchers). His leadership and mentorship surely had a positive impact on me and other around me. Thanks Alasdair!

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Prof Wilkinson is an excellent colleague as part of the ACRC Academy Leadership team. It has been a pleasure to work with her to support the PhD students as they learn interdisciplinary skills, and on various projects relating to dementia. She has such a holistic and empathetic approach, and a deep commitment to co-creation of research which has been inspiring. I have learnt from her skills in managing meetings, politely yet firmly challenging assumptions, and the importance of listening. I hope we can continue to collaborate even when she moves to pastures new.

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Hannah is a rare role model who is able to hold time and space to listen to others and help them grow by guiding them to find their own solutions to the professional challenges at hand. She is very supportive and keen to share her resources, guidance and institutional knowledge to influence positive changes in our research and education culture. She is an inspirational and empathetic leader and mentor which has had a positive impact on me and many others - as she is very generous with her time when there is a need for her guidance.

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Gilbert is a very collaborative colleague who is always willing to work together across our respective roles for mutual benefit. Despite working in such a large school with so many researchers to support, he still manages to ensure they get the best of opportunities and support for engaging with policymakers. Thank you Gilbert!

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Gary has a brilliant way of spotting where the most useful connections are and ensuring he follows this up. This has ensured Business School researchers have had the best of support for their research engagement & impact. He also helps beyond his school-level role if he can, I know he helped me once with a mini-project that would not have succeeded without his citizenship! Thank you Gary - you help make a difference to a positive research culture indeed!

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Fiona is a valued Co-lead on the InFrame Embedding Collective Leadership project.  She has been instrumental in designing and delivering the project, offering wise council, practical and emotional support to the team.  Fiona has a gift for framing questions that help colleagues move forward, provoking us to reflect, or stimulating the right kind of discussion, in a gentle and supportive way.  Her good humour and strong sense of self and presence allow her to hold herself and others through difficulty, modelling and living what it means to create a positive culture for research and innovation to thrive in.

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During my internship at the IAD my manager, Fiona who is the Head of Researcher Development/Assistant Director at the IAD, was incredibly supportive, generous with her time, and genuinely invested in the people she worked with. Fiona led by example, creating a positive and inclusive working culture where questions, reflection and collaboration were actively encouraged. I always felt trusted and supported to contribute meaningfully, and her guidance helped me build confidence and develop professionally. Fiona’s approach to leadership showed how thoughtful, people-centred support can make a real difference, both to individuals and to the wider academic community.

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Emily Woollen in the IAD researcher developer team was responsible for collating a great set of resources to stimulate and challenge researchers who are stepping into leadership roles, and those that have been doing the role for some time.  She generously shared these with the College Research Deans to support their novel Leadership Academy Programme which is being trialled in academic year 2025/26.  She also provided advice and encouragement.

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Emilie exemplifies inclusive research leadership. Although exceptionally busy, they always make time to listen without judgement and offer compassionate, practical advice. They clearly remember what it feels like to be at my stage and their guidance is empathetic and grounded, helping me navigate challenges with more confidence. Emilie also strengthens our research culture by noticing what colleagues care about and proactively sharing opportunities (papers to read, seminars to attend, introductions and collaborations) so people feel valued and included. Their enthusiasm for their work, and their commitment to educating others about health inequalities, is genuinely inspiring.

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I am delighted to nominate Emer O’Leary for her outstanding contribution to building a positive and inclusive research culture within the AMBER project and beyond. Since joining in 2024, Emer has strengthened researchers’ confidence in Patient and Public Involvement and fostered meaningful relationships with our Lived Experience Advisory Panel. By creating a bespoke training programme, introducing creative methods and demonstrating inclusive facilitation, she has empowered others to collaborate and learn together. Her thoughtful approach has created supportive spaces where all voices are valued. Emer’s work exemplifies how a thoughtful  approach can positively affect research culture.

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Ellen has been a force to be reckoned with since she joined the CMVM Research Office. She immediately took charge of a new field, improved communication processes, engaged within and beyond the University and built up a strong global network. She particularly showed her vision and dedication through the Strengthening Global Partnership project, with a legacy of equitable partnerships. I look forward to watching Ellen grow in her role and continue to make a difference.

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Lizzie leads a Flow Cytometry facility, working with different members of staff. She has created a positive, collaborative and open working environment for users of the facility. She is kind and thoughtful. Whether you are struggling with a complex experiment or have had a tough day in the lab, Lizzie is always understanding and happy to help. As well as being a wealth of technical expertise and able to solve many a flow problem, Lizzie is friendly and warm. Research is challenging and Lizzie goes above and beyond for those she works with and her approach deserves to be celebrated.

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I would like to nominate Dr Janet Skinner for the way she leads and supports her team. Dr Skinner creates a genuinely safe and nurturing space for early career researchers. She takes our ideas seriously and encourages us to explore them, giving us freedom while always being available with thoughtful guidance and research expertise. Her support is grounded in trust — she believes in us and that makes a real difference. Because of her encouragement, I feel more confident to pursue my own research interests and to contribute meaningfully to the team.

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Dora is extremely supportive and committed to leading her team to continuously improve. She nurtures a positive team culture by always listening to ideas and being encouraging and flexible, and is generous in sharing thoughts, advice, and development opportunities. I feel supported and valued and that my contributions are recognised and appreciated.

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Elizabeth Georgeson Fellow Desen Kirli exemplifies commitment to women’s representation in engineering through steady, visible leadership. As co-chair of the Molly Ferguson Initiative, she helps shape programs that open doors, amplify voices, and build community. She shows up - organising events and creating spaces where students and professionals connect with mentors and opportunity. Desen listens to, advocates for, and champions the women around her, celebrating wins and offering support through challenges. Her work blends strategy with care, proving that progress comes from persistence, collaboration, and showing up for others, again and again, with generosity and resolve.

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Dawn is a wonderful person to work with. She is caring, understanding, and has a great "go with the flow" attitude that helps the whole team. I admire how adaptable she is and how she is always willing to learn new things. Her sunny personality makes the office a much brighter place to be! She always has a smile on her face and creates a really warm, friendly, and engaging working environment. She is very approachable and forms solid working relationships with ease. Dawn brings joy and fun to working environment which I am very grateful for. Thank you, Dawn!

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Professor Lyons is an exceptional mentor and colleague who unfailingly goes above and beyond for students and staff at every career stage. Dave leads with integrity, generosity and a strong commitment to collaboration, creating a research culture that is inclusive, supportive and genuinely enjoyable! His lab is a place where people are encouraged to grow something reflected in the many successful researchers who have emerged from it. An outstanding scientist and inspiring role model, he balances high standards with kindness, fairness and humour. I am deeply grateful for his support and aspire to lead with the same spirit.

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Dara is such a fantastic addition to the team. Even though she is new, she is already jumping in wherever she is needed and has been incredibly kind and open from day one. She is a very effective communicator and is always nice to work with. Her energy and willingness to get involved have made a real difference in a short amount of time!

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Daniel has been a super supportive colleague and ally who is committed to improve the research culture and environment at the School. He has made significant impact regarding EDI in his role as the AthenaSWAN champion. I would like to give him credit for being an empathetic listener and reliable role model for early career staff.

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In his role as Director of Career Development in the School of Biological Sciences, Dan Nussey has been a beacon for positive research culture within the School and more broadly.  He has put in place support for research staff career development both for those on fellowships and those working on postdocs on fixed term contracts.  He has brought warmth and compassion to the problem of precarity, and been a key source of support for the highly successful research staff society in the School, BioDocSoc.

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Claire has made an exceptional impact as a new team member, bringing a wealth of experience and a calm competence that is genuinely reassuring. She is highly intuitive: she spots what needs doing, steps up to lead without fuss, and shares her knowledge to help others succeed. Claire’s consistent positivity—always smiling, constructive and solutions-focused—has strengthened the tone of our work and made the team feel more connected. Importantly, she is assertive and confident: when leadership needs steering, she challenges thoughtfully and respectfully, keeping mutual benefit in mind. Her presence has increased my confidence and improved the quality of our decisions.

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Ciara is truly inspiring in the way she leads her team - with empathy, generosity, and trust. She consistently creates a supportive environment and her leadership is grounded in genuine care for people and a strong focus on finding constructive, positive solutions. As a beginning line manager myself, her guidance has been invaluable to my own growth.

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Dr Merrick initiated the highly successful BioDocSoc, Postdoc society in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Edinburgh during the pandemic, when she recognised the strong need for connection and support amongst the Postdoc community. The society has grown in numbers and activities over the intervening years, with an engaged committee providing a variety of meetings and events through the year.  More recently, Christine has quietly but resolutely advocated for Postdocs across the College of Science and Engineering.  She is a key figure in the PDRA Forum, where she has encouraged and inspired other postdoctoral researchers.