People Make Research: CAREERS by Res Dev

Arpine Maghakyan

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 13:53:11 UTC

Arpine co-initiated a quantitative research study group and regularly hosts seminars to enable PhD students and academics to freely discuss academic papers, present work, receive feedback, and develop potential collaborations. As a participant in this study group seminars and a PhD student supervised by Arpine, I have learned a lot about the fundamental methods of conducting academic research and have been inspired to broaden my research interests.

Cindy Smith

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 13:53:11 UTC

I have only known Cindy a short period of time but is been long enough to witness what a force of nature she is. She leads by example and with care and humour. On top of everything it means to at the top of her field she has made it her mission to improve the opportunities and representation of underrepresented groups within her school. As chair of the JWSE EDI Committee she has overseen the development and now the delivery of a new fellowship opportunity which centres on developing inclusive leaders within the school of engineering.

James Chalmers

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 13:53:11 UTC

As Research Director, James (along with his co-director, Fiona Leverick) has established a transparent, fair and efficient system for supporting research activities in the School. I cannot emphasise enough how significant it is that they (i) provide weekly updates on research policy, deadlines, and University projects, reframing things in a language which is relevant to our discipline; (ii) established a research Moodle page, which is regularly updated and contains, inter alia, examples of funding bids, a user-friendly guide to the REF, and policy documents; and (iii) an internal peer review process that is encouraging, quick and consistent. But more than this, James and Fiona are people-focused, and when it matters, they prioritise the person and not the researcher.

Julie Riddell

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 13:53:11 UTC

Julie has been a constant, reasonable and articulate voice for G6/7 research staff in SPHSU, who are facing redundancy following withdrawal of MRC funding and who were overlooked in all formal review processes. In particular, she has consistently argued against the status quo of keeping G6/7 research staff on insecure short-term contracts, highlighting the short-sightedness of losing experienced and specialist staff in this way and, correspondingly, the potential benefits of longer-term Research Scientist posts that would benefit research both across the university and also the wider academic sector.

Leping Mou

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 13:53:11 UTC

I would like to nominate Dr. Leping Mou for his exceptional commitment to supporting PGRs and fostering a thriving research culture. He actively seeks ways to enhance the PGR experience, from establishing collaborative research groups to introducing essential academic skills and organizing discussions for professional development. His encouragement motivates us to explore new research opportunities, including attending conferences and expanding our academic networks. He always makes time to provide prompt guidance, actively meet with us, and address our concerns with great efficiency. In addition to this, he has never stopped his feet in academic research, demonstrating amazing academic progress and value.

Fionnuala Johnson

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 13:53:11 UTC

I nominated Fionnuala because of her exceptional approach to supporting others and fostering a positive research culture. She is incredibly intuitive and genuinely cares about students’ learning, consistently going above and beyond to ensure they fully understand the material. Fionnuala creates an environment where mistakes are embraced as learning opportunities, offering corrections with grace and ensuring no one feels discouraged. Her support has had a profound impact on me personally, helping me become a more effective, confident tutor and enhancing my experience as a research student. Her inspiring leadership is rooted in empathy, patience, and a deep commitment to the growth and success of others.

Eilidh Balfour

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 13:53:11 UTC

Over the last nine months I have been managing a number of recruitment exercises to different teams and Eilidh has been helping with a number of these. I’ve really appreciated Eilidh’s support, she is responsive and diligent about checking when things aren’t clear and consistent with keeping me up to date on progress of offers etc. I find it tricky managing lots of recruitment at the same time, but I feel I’m in safe hands with Eilidh’s support.

Margaux Kuijlaars

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 13:53:11 UTC

Margaux shines with an infectious passion for her role, creating a vibrant environment that inspires those around her. Her expertise and dedication to engaging, mentoring, and supporting her team foster a nurturing and welcoming approach to research, leaving a positive impact on everyone she encounters.

Constanza Andrea Cárdenas Alarcón

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 13:53:11 UTC

Constanza is a supportive and reliable colleague and a doctoral researcher who actively promotes a sense of PGR community in the School of Education. She is always willing to share practical advice, tacit knowledge, and the "unspoken rules" of PhD research and publication process. Constanza is keen to share her research expertise with PGR peers but also to listen and be there when one needs to be heard - which is sometimes more crucial than professional advice.

Matilda Carter

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 13:53:11 UTC

I invited Matilda along to be part of an event for doctoral researchers considering a postdoc. Matilda generous with her insights and experience of being a postdoctoral research fellow. When I was a doctoral researcher it was the collegial practice of postdoctoral researchers making the implicit explicit that prepared me to make informed and intentional decisions about my career.

Anonymised

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 13:53:11 UTC

Our Head of School has a huge impact, more than I would have ever suspected, on the research culture. I feel very supported in my role, part of a group with a purpose, led by someone with a clear vision—one [they] is keen to share and has the determination to see through. I trust [their] decisions and I am happy to try and give my best to get our School moving forward. (The nominee has been anonymised).

Patawee Asamaphan

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 13:53:11 UTC

Patawee and I first met in a Catalyst Mentoring Training workshop. We were paired to practice our mentoring skills and we got into conversation as to why he was interested in being part of the programme. He told me how much he had got out of being a thesis mentor. It was a no brainer then to invite him to share his insights of postdoc life with doctoral researchers considering their next steps. Patawee was so open and shared a lot of the personal and professional that went into the path his career has taken, how best to prepare for the transition from PhD to Postdoc and the opportunities out there to contribute to the wider research environment.

Daniel Haydon

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 13:53:11 UTC

Dan is a wonderful colleague, a dedicated teacher, and a supportive supervisor. In teaching and supervision he is approachable and encouraging, deeply caring that his students are not overwhelmed by complex topics and that they receive all the support they need. As a colleague he tackles work with frankness, humility, and humour. He understands that thriving at work is all about positive working relationships, and extends his generosity of spirit to junior colleagues to ensure they feel welcome and valued. Dan's kindness, integrity, and inclusivity fosters a research community of openness, warmth, and also a lot of fun.

Ahmad Taha

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 13:53:11 UTC

My nominee provides invaluable guidance for personal development, fostering independence and problem-solving skills essential for research and beyond. They actively support collaborations between academia and industry, helping researchers expand their professional networks and explore diverse career opportunities. Beyond the traditional focus on academic achievements such as publishing papers, they emphasize long-term career planning, ensuring sustainable growth. His leadership creates a positive research culture where mentorship, collaboration, and innovation thrive. Their support has profoundly impacted me, equipping me with the confidence and skills necessary for both academic and industry success, while also shaping my long-term professional trajectory.

Nikki White

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 13:53:11 UTC

Nikki White’s leadership is centred on empowering others to develop their skills and achieve their career ambitions. As the Head of Professional Services for the School of Molecular Biosciences, Nikki fosters a positive and inclusive research culture where staff and students feel supported and valued. Her ability to manage complex budgets and organisational challenges ensures smooth operations, allowing colleagues to focus on their work without unnecessary obstacles. Nikki is a thoughtful leader who listens, provides practical solutions, and nurtures individual talents. Her efforts have created a cohesive, collaborative team and a research environment where everyone is inspired to thrive and succeed.

Robert Bennett

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 13:53:11 UTC

Rob has been a great mentor during my PhD journey. He has, on numerous occassions, gone out of his way to provide guidance and encouragement to my plans for post-PhD life, and done it whilst providing a positive perspective. Rob employs his meticulous, strategic attitude to helping his students succeed and does it with professionalism, humour and dedication. As a result, I have been more prepared to navigate the job market and academia, being open to diverse opportunities and treating each challenge as something to learn from.

Vincent Gallagher

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 13:53:11 UTC

Mr Vincent Gallagher, Senior Technical Specialist at the Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre (SUERC), is an exceptional researcher, mentor, and colleague. His expertise in radiogenic isotope geochemistry and meticulous approach ensures the precision and reliability essential to our research. I have known Vincent since my PhD, during which he provided steadfast support and helped me develop key skills for success. Now as colleagues, I continue to admire his depth of knowledge, attention to detail, and commitment to excellence. He fosters a collaborative lab environment, ensures fair instrument access, and is always approachable and generous with his time and expertise. Vincent’s dedication and mentorship make him an invaluable asset to the SUERC's research and technical community."

Yunhyong Kim

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 13:53:11 UTC

Yunhyong has been a mentor for many years, first through my PhD as lead supervisor and then into my post-doctoral and lectureship posts. She has seemingly unlimited time and energy to help support those around her with their careers and research - she is always open with her time and her thoughts. She is an invaluable member of the university and the type of mentor that everyone should have.

Alex Bartel

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 13:53:11 UTC

Meeting Alex, even briefly, made a tremendous difference to my career. Even though we’re in different fields, he drew on his experience to help me get through a low point (in writing a grant rebuttal) with advice that was spot on. I was numb when we met because I knew his advice was brilliant and I also knew I didn’t have much time left to implement it. After implementing it, he generously spent time outside of work to help me fine tune the rebuttal. I got the grant and genuinely believe his advice made the difference. I feel privileged to have met Alex and view him as a role model that I aspire to be one day.

Karin Williams

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 13:53:11 UTC

Over the past 7 years Karin has welcomed, trained, supported and nurtured a huge number of students and visiting researchers from all over the world; from school children looking for their first experience of research through to visiting professors. She is caring, thoughtful, compassionate and motivating and has overcome a vast range of administrative, professional, personal and emotional issues to get the best out of her students. She is a huge asset to our extended laboratory team and has helped to boost the profile and reputation of the University of Glasgow across the globe. Without her skills, experience and reliability we would not be able to accept and inspire the next generation of researchers.

Zeliha Ertekin

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 13:53:11 UTC

She is versatile, hardworking, and motivating. She is always/collaborates and ready to offer assistance whenever she's called upon.

Claire Carberry

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 13:53:11 UTC

Claire is an exceptional colleague. The Centre for The Cellular Microenvironment is a large, cross-college, centre and Claire has built the environment and culture since she took the centre manager role. She has organised impact days to build community, is active in patient and public engagement (PPIE) – helping deliver a large scale PPIE event with 180 participants. She also supports me in my role of director of IEE for School of Molecular Biosciences: matching opportunities for school staff; keeping impact cases up to date; and helping build collaboration with IBioIC. She supports £25M of funding to the centre, and leads on our drive to clinical trial. She has been transformative to the centre.

Ivan, Erin, and Connor

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 13:53:11 UTC

As Co-Chairs of the Early Career Equality, Diversity and Inclusion group, Ivan, Erin and Connor have made huge contributions to positive research culture in SBOHVM. They have led many initiatives aimed at supporting ECR career development, celebrating diversity, and addressing barriers that limit participation in our research. This includes facilitation of monthly EDI Discussion groups, Black History Month events, workshops on dealing with setbacks in academia, and how to build support for menstruation into the planning of remote field work. They have made SBOHVM a more inclusive and supportive place to work, we are very lucky to have them.

Sabina Siebert

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 13:53:11 UTC

I nominate Professor Sabina Keston-Siebert for her exceptional mentorship, patience, and unwavering support. As an empathetic listener, Sabina has provided thoughtful guidance that has been invaluable to my development as a researcher. Establishing a career as a young female international academic was challenging, but her encouragement and practical advice helped me navigate these difficulties with confidence. Through her mentorship, I have grown from a junior researcher into a more established academic. Sabina’s dedication to supporting others and fostering their growth has had a profound and lasting impact on me, shaping my career trajectory and approach to research leadership.

Patrick Bayer

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:05:54 UTC

Patrick exemplifies outstanding research leadership through his dual roles as Politics and International Studies Research Convenor and Subject Lead for International Political Economy and Development. He actively creates space for colleagues to pursue their research interests while fostering a collaborative research culture. His support extends beyond formal duties, encouraging initiatives like the political economy reading group that builds community. Patrick's approach combines strategic guidance with practical support, ensuring researchers have the time and resources needed to advance their work. His leadership style has created an environment where research can flourish.

Matt Offord

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:06:04 UTC

Matt is one of those colleagues whose excitement for learning is infectious. He has been part of a small group of people to really catapult serious pedagogical research into the mainstream of our School and marry together the spaces of teaching and a high quality research agenda. His engagement with early career staff has been central to carving out research-driven paths for T&L staff, as has his willingness to enter into conversations and support colleagues exploring areas where he has subject matter expertise. In short he is a model citizen and as a colleague a joy to work with.

Julie Langan

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:06:20 UTC

Julie has an unwavering enthusiasm to support her colleagues and students to maximise their potential. Julie is constantly exploring and testing new innovative ideas to improve the student experience and includes colleagues wherever possible. As a leader, she listens to the team and values input as opposed to dictating and overruling. This is empowering for junior staff. Julie has become a role model to me and many others; demonstrating a collegial, open attitude through her commitment to improving student learning and staff wellbeing.

Andrew Elliott

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:06:29 UTC

Andrew helped build a positive research culture within our school by always offering to help. He is consistently available to answer questions and always finds time to help you with a research or teaching problem - something that has helped me with numerous projects. He has also helped to teach all our students how to use the school computer servers, which has been beneficial to almost all our staff and students.

Yvonne Joyce

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:06:58 UTC

This is to recognise the support, time and effort from Yvonne in discussing the PhD process and spending time in reviewing my proposals and spending substantial time and effort even before starting the actual programme. The support and value provided to understand how to form my academic thoughts and how to read and use the knowledge provided in research articles were the most valuable inputs from Yvonne in my journey so far. Yvonne many thanks for all the support and look forward to this journey and I appreciate all your time and guidance provided to date. I do not think just words can say it enough but hope this will encourage you to keep up the good work.

Belgin Okay-Somerville

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:07:08 UTC

Belgin has been an unwavering source of support in my research journey, fostering a positive and constructive academic environment. She always takes the time to critically and thoroughly review my drafts, providing genuine and constructive feedback. Her encouragement has been instrumental in shaping my confidence and perseverance, especially during challenging moments.

Laura Sharp

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:07:18 UTC

Laura has unwaveringly supported me throughout my career but especially during the first scholarship research project I managed. She was incredibly encouraging when I pitched my idea and gave significant amounts of time to help me navigate funding applications. Laura helped me design the study intervention and played a key role in supporting its delivery. Lots of thoughtful assistance was provided when I started supervising project assistants. She's given thorough and timely feedback on evaluation materials. Her belief in the project’s value has enormously boosted my confidence. Laura's mentorship approach is wonderful, warm, and genuine. I'm incredibly grateful to her for championing me every step of the way!

Hannah Mathers

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:08:21 UTC

Hannah is our school’s SoTL champion and has created and leads ‘SPACE’, a valued research group in the School of Geographical and Earth Sciences dedicated to ‘Scholarship, Practice, Active learning, Curriculum and Enhancement’. Hannah has developed a wide interdisciplinary network of academics and organisations outwith the University. She uses this to develop and champion innovative approaches to teaching and learning, in areas such as inclusive fieldwork, GTA development and co-creation of the curriculum. Hannah actively reflects on scholarship activities, engendering insightful and impactful research where all involved are made to feel welcome, with their perspectives acknowledged and appreciated. Hannah’s leadership supports and inspires her colleagues to enhance their teaching practice and engage with novel scholarship research.

Lavinia Hirsu

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:08:51 UTC

I want to take a moment to recognize and appreciate the incredible impact you have on myself and many of us. Your unwavering patience, kindness, and readiness to help make you an invaluable part of our community. You have an exceptional willingness to listen and offer valuable support to many of us. Your calm and comforting presence is a beacon of hope for us. You consistently keep everyone well informed, ensuring that each of us has the best student experience possible. Indeed, your dedication helps us thrive as PGRs. I’m incredibly grateful to you & you truly deserve recognition for the positive influence you have on our lives.

Joanne Edwards

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:09:02 UTC

Joanne Edwards is the PI that broke the mould. She understands what it takes to get the best version of everyone around her, for the benefit of the research group, and for themselves. Her kind, encouraging nature creates a spark in her students and lab members to be the best scientists they can be. Despite her ever-busy schedule of teaching and upper management positions, she always gives her students the attention and guidance they need. There is a lot that can be said about Joanne Edwards, but if there were one word to describe her, it would have to be “inspirational”.

Samantha Reilly

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:09:22 UTC

Sam provides invaluable advice and support to all our staff who are applying for or holding research grants. She gives her time patiently and generously to a wide range of researchers including early-career applicants to fellowship schemes, new PIs preparing for their first major grant application, and seasoned professors juggling several major awards. Her professional approach brings calm and confidence to what can otherwise be a daunting process. Put very simply, the researchers in our School could not do our science without her knowledgeable support and leadership of the grants process. Thank you, Sam!

Christina Cobbold

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:21:19 UTC

I have been very fortunate to meet Christina. She is selfless and makes great effort to help with other people’s problems as much as she can. She truly cares about the people around her and draws upon her extensive research experience to offer genuine advice. She has made countless edits to improve my work (such as a grant rebuttal), even when it significantly drains her time. She makes me feel like I’m not alone — as if my problems are also hers — and does everything she possibly can to dissect a problem and help. It’s a very positive feeling that people like Christina exist. I feel honoured to have her as a colleague and hope to help others in the future the way she’s helped me.

Ruth Pearce

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:21:35 UTC

Dr Ruth Pearce has been a transformative mentor and colleague, helping me realise my worth as a staff member and researcher. Ruth’s generosity in sharing knowledge, providing encouragement, and advocating for inclusivity has profoundly impacted my professional growth. She fosters a positive research culture by championing fairness, celebrating achievements, and pushing me to aim higher. Ruth’s ability to listen deeply and offer tailored advice has been instrumental in helping me navigate challenges and develop my skills. Her leadership is rooted in care and authenticity, making her an invaluable presence in our academic community.

Emily Draper

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:21:44 UTC

Emily's in-depth contribution to the institutional selection panel for Round 9 of the Future Leaders Fellowship call was immensely helpful and a testament to her commitment in giving forward for younger colleagues. Thank you!

Matthew Swayne

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:22:00 UTC

Since joining the university relatively recently Matthew has made an impression with his open and friendly approach to engaging with his peers. At research staff induction where he led his table to design an ambitious if fictitious research project showcasing all their strengths. As a member of the second ever Flourish Cohort, he has been part of an incredibly generous and open group who have found strength in each other's reflections and learnings. As a new postdoc sharing insights and advice to doctoral researchers considering their next steps.

Joao Porto

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:23:00 UTC

Joao was very kind in providing detailed feedback for the institutional selection panel for Round 9 of the Future Leaders Fellowship call, despite many competing priorities and his willingness to help nonetheless was hugely helpful. Thank you!

Anna Morgan-Thomas

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:23:11 UTC

I once believed transformational leaders existed only in theory and novels. But over time, I’ve had the privilege of knowing a few—and today, I have the honour of nominating one for her outstanding contribution to research. Anna Morgan-Thomas is not just a leader; she is a force for research excellence, inspiration, and support. As a colleague, Director of Research, and previously PGR Director, she has championed research with fierce determination and deep faith in those she leads. Her leadership is not about authority but empowerment—lifting spirits, advancing careers, and driving research quality to new heights. Countless colleagues and PhD students owe their success to Anna. She has mentored, nurtured, and tirelessly promoted them, within and beyond the school. Her impact is not limited to a single year or fleeting achievement; it spans over a decade of dedicated service to research at the University of Glasgow.

While she may be too young for a ‘career award,’ her contributions deserve recognition—not just for the past year, but for the lasting legacy she continues to build.

Fiona Leverick

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:23:44 UTC

As Research Director, Fiona (along with her co-director, James Chalmers) has established a transparent, fair and efficient system for supporting research activities in the School. I cannot emphasis enough how significant it is that they (i) provide weekly updates on research policy, deadlines, and University projects, reframing things in a language which is relevant to our discipline; (ii) established a research Moodle page, which is regularly updated and contains, inter alia, examples of funding bids, a user-friendly guide to the REF, and policy documents; and (iii) an internal peer review process that is encouraging, quick and consistent. But more than this, James and Fiona are people-focused, and when it matters, they prioritise the person and not the researcher.

Danielle Barkley

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:23:55 UTC

Danielle brings careers expertise and a great sense of calmness to her work. She is reflective and always has researcher and research professionals experience at the heart of her decisions making. Planning approaches that will resonate and support our researchers and research professionals to tap into their potential and feel empowered to excel in their careers. Her reflections on areas for improvement and how to take a logical approach to processes is greatly greatly appreciated.

Paul Rea

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:24:02 UTC

I am delighted to nominate Professor Paul Rea for his outstanding commitment to fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and inspiring research culture. As a professor of Digital and Anatomical Education, he consistently values and highlights the contributions of his students and colleagues, ensuring that every member of staff—from research support to professors—is recognised and appreciated.

Paul’s positive attitude is truly motivating, creating an environment where collaboration thrives and impact is generated. His unwavering support and encouragement make him an incredible mentor, always there to guide and uplift colleagues both professionally and personally. Whether offering thoughtful advice, championing the work of others, or fostering an atmosphere of respect and inclusion, he exemplifies what it means to be a leader in research and education.

His dedication to teamwork, mentorship, and professional development makes a real difference, and he is truly deserving of recognition for his contributions to the UofG community.

Joanne Power

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:24:11 UTC

Joanne goes out of her way to ensure you are comfortable and equipped with the lab skills needed to conduct your experiments. She always takes time out of her day to show you how to do something you are unsure about. Besides being extremely friendly, welcoming, and up for a chat, Joanne is a great person with whom to have honest discussions about research. Her knowledge and experience in malaria research is impressive! If you ever have a question, she's there to help. Starting a PhD was a daunting experience, but thanks to my lab, and Joanne in particular, I feel extremely well supported. I believe Joanne is a shining example of compassionate leadership. Thank you for everything you do, Joanne!

Michele Sevegnani

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:24:52 UTC

Michele is generous with his time, both in supporting me as I integrated into a new environment, as well as taking the time to steer but not constrain his research team. While devoted to his research, his openness to new ideas and integration of concepts leads to good research, but also empowers his team to explore and achieve their own success. Thanks Michele!

Jan Shearer

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:25:03 UTC

Jan works in a different team than my own (research): accreditations. They are not usually associated with research, but for the UoA17 PCE pilot, I needed their input into several indicators of positive research culture. Jan Shearer handled my requests so effectively, I can honestly say I could not have completed the PCE Pilot submission for UoA17 without her and her team. She is selfless, generous with her time and flawlessly professional. If people make research, Jan is certainly one of these people -and given how her team does not sit at the visible line of it, I would love to give her and her team the visibility they deserve around research, alongside my gratitude.

Saurabh Lall

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:25:14 UTC

Saurabh has worked tirelessly over the past 18 months to improve the COSS ethics system. He has faced significant hurdles (some expected, some not) to focus on what is important to our researchers in this area. The project has been slow and largely thankless. I want to say thank you in a bigger forum!

Kate O'donnell

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:25:25 UTC

Kate is extremely supportive and her door is always open. Kate always goes above and beyond to help where possible, drawing on a wealth of experience and knowledge. Kate always models exemplary behaviour around creating a work culture based on inclusivity, trust and understanding. A fantastic senior colleague that has your back!

Anna Wilson

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:25:53 UTC

I would like to nominate Dr. Anna Wilson for her unwavering support and dedication to both the academic and personal well-being of PGRs. She goes beyond traditional supervision by providing not only insightful research guidance but also genuine care for students’ overall development. She is always approachable, offering timely feedback and encouragement, even amidst her own busy research and teaching commitments. Her positivity, patience, and willingness to support me at every step make a significant difference in my academic journey.

Laura Rattray

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:26:11 UTC

Dr Laura Rattray epitomises everything you could wish for in a research supervisor. She has been endlessly supportive, caring and considerate whilst maintaining her professionalism at all times. She has introduced me to a worldwide array of colleagues who hold her in equally high esteem, and encouraged me to successfully submit my work to major journals and conferences. She leads by example, recently gaining an impressive Leverhulme Fellowship. She discussed this with me, and the intricacies of grant applications, and has maintained regular contact throughout her time away. I am delighted to thank her for all her help, from arranging all those progress reviews, to promptly providing useful feedback, to guiding me through the turmoil of these last pre-submission weeks.

Helen Green

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:26:50 UTC

This is a group shout-out for Helen and the IAA managers who work on the IAA EDI Working Group: Sarah Weakley, Stacy Robertson, Samantha Sherry, Rachel Colman, Mariana Rios Maldonado and Calum Kirk. The way this group works together to improve diversity and inclusion in and around IAA projects is a real joy: genuinely, collaborative, respectful of difference, inquisitive and action-oriented.

Peter Stewart

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:27:05 UTC

Peter is a great mentor and colleague, who is generous and supportive with his career advice and insights. In particular, his feedback on research proposals and advice on embedding impact into them has been very helpful. Although he has a million other things going on, Peter is always happy to make time to have a chat, and he really adds to the positive research culture in our School.

Richard Green

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:27:13 UTC

Many of our PhD students use experimental equipment in their aerodynamics research. Large wind tunnels with an array of instrumentation and the need for careful technique can often be daunting for an inexperienced researcher. As well as providing his own researchers with the necessary support, he is always willing to help colleagues' researchers set up and run complex wind tunnel experiments. He is always generous with his time and support for young researchers who benefit immensely from his unique skills and experience.

Sheon Samji

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:27:46 UTC

Sheon is an absolute star in her approach to running the group's activities, looking after staff and supervising students. Every project is important to her, whether it's an undergraduate student's summer project or international collaborations on major grants. Beyond her research tasks Sheon engages in leadership roles into equality, diversity and inclusion, and these activities directly translate into her approach to supervision. I am grateful to Sheon for her leadership and am well aware how much of her own time she spends on supporting others.

Barbara Mable

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:27:58 UTC

Barbara's enthusiasm and ready willingness to serve on the institutional selection panel for the Round 9 of the Future Leaders Fellowship call was not just immensely useful in terms of her contributions, but also her generosity of spirit. Barbara then helped us with setting up mock interviews at very short notice for Round 8 applicants and was incredibly helpful and flexible with her time, demonstrating the best of collegiality and commitment to giving forward.

Iain Neill

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:28:09 UTC

Iain has both supervised and mentored several researchers right at the beginning of their careers who have since moved into a range of successful careers. Over the last 10 years I have seen him foster the talents of new PGRs, support them in developing their careers beyond their time at Glasgow and ensure they are credited for the work they do through lead authorship on publications coming out of their research degrees. Iain’s leadership and supervision actively contribute to a positive research environment for PGRs.

Stavroula Kapoulea

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:28:32 UTC

I met Stavroula at a World Mentoring day celebration organised by one of my colleagues. She was there because she was part of the UofG pool of thesis mentors. Almost all my interactions with Stavroula have been where she has been volunteering her time or leading initiatives to support other researchers. Whether it is with her School PDRA Network, College Researcher Network or sharing her insights with doctoral researchers considering a postdoc she is leading by example.

Claire Miller

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:30:11 UTC

Claire always makes time to help, despite being one of the busiest people I know. She consistently answers my questions—no matter how basic they may seem—and shares useful information and opportunities. From what I can see, she does this for a large number of ECRs across school and plays a significant role in supporting many academic careers.

Kathryn Crouch

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:30:23 UTC

Shoutout to Kathryn for her unrelenting dedication to teaching and supporting bioinformaticians at the University. I feel lucky and grateful that I had her as my supervisor for my dissertation, and for the amount of personal effort and attention she provides to not just the nitty-gritty of technical details in research, but also to career development and advice. The fact is that she's invested in every single opportunity that her students (former and current) and junior colleagues pursue, in every manner of professional development they are interested in or would benefit from.

I appreciate her especially for creating a healthy environment in which people feel comfortable approaching her with any issues without fear of judgement or backlash, and for helping people from more conservative cultures (such as myself) acclimatise to the more open, more progressive research and academic culture here at Glasgow. She always cares, that's what makes her an excellent manager and a colleague you enjoy working with!

Ernest Schonfield

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:31:10 UTC

Ernest is always welcoming, kind and helpful. He shows community and collegiality in everything he does. He is always ready to offer advice, relating to careers and research, and offer up his own personal journey. Further, he is always happy to give his time to support writing for publication, or offer an eagle eye to proofread. His contribution to the SMLC, and beyond, is valuable and very much appreciated.

Sean Mcginty

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:31:19 UTC

Sean McGinty is an exceptional supervisor, combining deep expertise with a collaborative and supportive leadership style. As a role model and expert researcher, he remains humble while fostering teamwork and cooperation within his team. Leading the EPSRC Centre for Future PCI Planning, he continues his research, cultivates international collaborations, and provides dedicated mentorship to his PhD students. His guidance has given me the freedom to explore my research while shaping my career in multiple directions. With his support, I have stayed sharp and focused, and his leadership has had a profoundly positive impact on my development.

Miles Padgett

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:31:37 UTC

Miles' responsiveness to our request to being on the Future Leaders Fellowships institutional selection panel for Round 9 was hugely appreciated. Thank you for being so generous with your time, expertise and feedback.

Joanna Royle

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:31:46 UTC

I worked closely with Joanna to deliver the Ignite Fellowship Accelerator throughout 2024. I know about fellowships, I don't know how to build and deliver a course - Joanna does! It was a steep learning curve for me, but Joanna made it enjoyable, interesting and engaging. Far more important than my experience was that of our cohort, who embraced Joanna's stylish workshop delivery across the programme, engaging with us and each other throughout. Notably, on day one, yours truly had forgotten to organise catering and felt like I wanted the ground to open up beneath me. Joanna stayed calm, kept focused, and got the workshop going with no fuss. She is very much someone who makes research happen.

Jane Townson

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:32:38 UTC

Over the past year I have been working on a project that Jane is part of, amongst other senior staff. Sometimes, at team meetings with senior people, I feel like the least important voice in the room. Maybe Jane has sensed this before, I don't know, but she has kindly given me positive encouragement and despite being super busy she has always replied to me very quickly when I've needed help on the project. Jane is down to earth and also has a wicked sense of humour! I really enjoy working with her and think she is a brilliant role model for women in leadership positions.

David Mcmenemy

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:32:51 UTC

People make research at the University of Glasgow and David encourages library practitioners to contribute too. As Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals Scotland (CILIPS) 2025 President, David has been a guiding light. Through his recent REVEAL project https://www.cilips.org.uk/reveal/ our profession gained insight and understanding in our shared ethics and values. I have had the privilege of knowing David for many years and always leave a discussion with him feeling positive about the future of my profession. And, as my supervisor, he encourages and listens and never makes me feel that my voice isn't worth a small contribution too.

Heather Jorgensen

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:33:27 UTC

Heather is the School of Cancer Sciences PGR Convenor, and continues to support all students from the admissions stage, through all annual reviews and talks, to the final graduation. She is professional, hardworking, positive, friendly and approachable in this role, and works very hard to support the students during their PhD journey. I find her a fantastic colleague to work with and a good role model for future researchers.

Susan Gannon

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:33:38 UTC

Susan is the most supportive line manager I have had in any employment. She has brought about much change in the building and works consistently hard to achieve it. She goes above and beyond and is supportive in all achievements and ambitions of the technician team. With out her a lot of my achievements would have gone under the radar or I would not have even attempted.

Stephen Currie

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:33:56 UTC

Researchers' jobs often depend on bringing in external funding, a process that is extremely time consuming, stressful and competitive. When you are pulling together a team and writing the academic side of the proposal, you have little time for finance and budget rules. Having someone to respond quickly and give the exact information you need with regard to finance (and being flexible with deadlines!) is invaluable to getting the project submitted and as a morale boost.

Monika Harvey

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:34:12 UTC

Monika has been an incredible mentor and colleague since I joined the university during the COVID lockdown. She took the time to introduce me to colleagues, making me feel welcomed and supported in a challenging environment. As a PhD co-supervisor alongside Monika, I’ve witnessed firsthand how her guidance and encouragement creates a nurturing atmosphere for student development. Additionally, Monika actively facilitates networking opportunities for myself and others and has included me in new collaborations. She is a great role model and I am truly grateful for her support and mentorship.

Claire Martin

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:34:52 UTC

Claire is the kind of colleague everyone hopes to have- thoughtful, supportive, and always willing to go the extra mile. She leads with care, ensuring her team and the academics she supports feel valued and heard. Beyond that, she’s a great strategic thinker, someone who really sees the bigger picture and steers the ship with a steady hand. Whether navigating challenges or creating opportunities, Claire approaches everything with generosity and insight. Her leadership makes a real difference, and I feel incredibly fortunate to work alongside her.

Joanna Inchley

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:35:28 UTC

Jo is a kind, generous, and dedicated supervisor, whose attention to detail and expert advice, as well as pastoral support, have made a huge difference to my PGR experience. Her thoughtful feedback has been immensely helpful not only for my topic, but for my overall academic development, and I feel more confident going forward thanks to her guidance.

Deborah Sym

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:35:38 UTC

Debs has been our floor technician for around two years. She has been a breath of fresh air! As well as the day to day running of the general lab areas, she is a champion of recycling. She is a friendly face for our newbies as she takes them through their H/S inductions and has trained many of the new floor techs too. She is always delighted to help out with research projects and expand her expertise and knowledge. She is also a keen STEM ambassador making contact with schools and community programmes in economically disadvantaged areas of the city. Every lab should have a Debs!

Millie Bompard

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:35:59 UTC

Millie has transformed the University's approach to educating and supporting female-identifying students and researchers in the field, and passionately advocates for an inclusive research environment. She is supportive, and generous with her time and her experience, and always seems to know just what to do. Millie is an inspiring pioneer of people, and her calm, frank honesty is truly deserving of recognition.

Kristinn Hermannsson

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:36:20 UTC

Words cannot fully express my gratitude to my supervisors for their unwavering support. Our relationship feels more like family than a typical student-supervisor bond. Kristinn’s leadership, motivation, and belief in my abilities have been truly inspiring. As the head of the School of Education, his humility and exceptional time management skills are remarkable. He consistently makes time for me and provides guidance beyond our scheduled meetings. I’m especially grateful for his recommendation to a prestigious Global Partnership for Education project, which has enhanced my research skills.

Dickon Copsey

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:36:34 UTC

Dickon is dedicated to fostering the talents and developing the skills of postgraduate researchers in the College of Social Sciences. He's an excellent colleague to collaborate with, bringing enthusiasm, ideas and inspiration to the design of workshops and events that support PGRs in their development. Dickon is the first person to volunteer his time to colleagues to support their work and bring it to be the best it can be. He's a wonderful person to work with and appreciated by colleagues across the university for his ability to bring people together to build collaborative projects that are of benefit to researcher to researchers in and beyond the College of Social Sciences.

Lee Parker

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:36:48 UTC

I nominate Professor Lee Parker for his exceptional approach to fostering good research leadership and building a positive research culture within our department. Despite being a visiting professor, Lee brings remarkable energy and a strong presence during his visits, creating a collegial and inspiring environment. He is unwaveringly supportive of colleagues at all career stages, generously offering his expertise and thoughtful advice to guide and uplift us. Personally, I have gained invaluable insights from him on managing time effectively and making strategic decisions about prioritization. His mentorship has profoundly influenced my professional growth and enhanced our collective research culture.

Jean Quinn

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:38:37 UTC

Dr Jean Quinn is the epitome of support. There is nothing that can be asked of Jean that she will not try her best to help with or resolve. She is always there to lend an ear, whether it be for bouncing off ideas or for personal support. Her fascinating career has equipped her with a vast knowledge of techniques and tools, making her an excellent source of advice. Jean manages a lab in a way that allows multiple projects to run as smoothly as possible. Everyone who has worked with Jean Quinn knows exactly how fortunate they are.

Bernadette O'Rourke

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:38:46 UTC

Drawing on her extensive insights into EU research funding, Bernie has energised the ArtsLab workshops programme with a hugely welcome suite of EU funding workshops. With perfect timing and dedication Bernie is supporting academics and research professionals to make research more European. Thank you, Bernie!

Stephen Brewster

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:39:25 UTC

Steve Brewster is a role model of an outstanding researcher leader. I feel I can learn a lot just by having him around and observing his interactions with students, colleagues and dealing with various situations. Although he himself has been well established, he is still very approachable, making himself readily available to help and support more junior colleagues. He is always positive and encouraging, and sharing valuable advice and experiences. He knows how to make new members feel warm, comfortable, and welcomed, and has always been inclusive.

Joanna Birch

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:40:59 UTC

Jo is an absolute inspiration, from pioneering exciting scientific discoveries within her research group, to being a champion for inclusion, diversity and equity within the School of Cancer Sciences. Jo's commitment to shaping actionable strategies to support women in science is unparalleled, and her support in this area will make a real difference to closing the gender gap that females are continuing to experience.

Stefan Luca

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:41:24 UTC

I have been lucky to encounter Stefan a couple of times over the last year. First as part of the 2024 cohort of the Glasgow Crucible where he was part of a hugely collaborative and collegiate group of Glasgow researchers. Second as an enthusiastic contributor to 'this Postdoc Life'. His approach to sharing his insights was striking. It was very honest and resonated with me and a lot of the participants. It made me reflect on my own transitions recent and past.

Collette Britton

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:42:14 UTC

I am deeply grateful to Prof Collette Britton for her exceptional leadership and unwavering support, which have profoundly impacted my career. Her dedication to mentorship, encouragement of scientific curiosity, and ability to foster a collaborative and inclusive research environment have been genuinely inspiring. Under her guidance, I have grown both as a researcher and a professional, gaining confidence, valuable skills, and a broader perspective on scientific inquiry. Her support has been instrumental in my development, and I appreciate her influence in helping me navigate and thrive in my research journey.

Lee Cronin

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:42:53 UTC

He has provided opportunities and support to many early-career researchers over the years, fostering an environment where they can develop their skills, gain confidence, and contribute meaningfully to their fields. By creating a strong infrastructure and assembling a collaborative team, he has enabled groundbreaking research to flourish—published in highly regarded journals such as Science, Nature, PNAS, Angewandte Chemie (ANIE), and JACS—which has opened career opportunities for many. His mentoring style is rooted in trust, always giving the benefit of the doubt and assuming good intent. He encourages open communication, thoughtful guidance, and a culture of mutual respect, ensuring that those he mentors feel valued, supported, and empowered to take on new challenges in their academic and professional journeys.

Bridgette Wessels

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:43:22 UTC

Prof Bridgette Wessels, as my second-in-line mentor, was assigned by the university to mentor me while my first responsible mentor, Kelly Jonson, was on maternity leave. I would like to thank her for her selfless guidance and generous teaching. She provided constructive comments on my research topic and gave me much encouragement at the beginning of my academic career.

Euan Freeman

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-02 14:53:19 UTC

Euan is one of the friendliest and most supportive people in our whole School. My colleagues and I have come to him over the years with all kinds of questions and he patiently and generously shares his knowledge and experience equally with anyone who asks. He is one of the genuinely good people who makes our department a better place and lift others up. Every school needs a Euan.

Sargam Mulay

researcherdevelopment — 2025-07-25 15:15:25 UTC

Sargam is a dedicated mentor for postgraduate and undergraduate researchers; the many students who work with her, on the inventive and ambitious undergraduate research and summer projects that she enthusiastically runs and leads, do so with a real sense of discovery and achievement. She has also been instrumental in maintaining a vibrant and collaborative research environment in the Astronomy and Astrophysics group, by organising seminars, journal clubs and group research discussions. In our small research and teaching team she makes an outsized contribution.

Alison Wiggins

researcherdevelopment — 2025-08-12 10:12:47 UTC

Alison has developed the ArtsLab Workshop Programme beyond all expectations. The programme attracts growing attendance, including from other Colleges, and positive feedback is evidence of how Alison's work makes research possible, better, enjoyable for her colleagues.

Ruchika Gajwani

researcherdevelopment — 2025-08-12 10:19:06 UTC

Ruchika is dedicated and passionate about her research and encourages you to also have that passion and dedication in your own research area. She is extremely knowledgeable and happy to share her knowledge and any resources. There is a genuineness and authenticity about her and her working style. This can be seen in her supervision style and the way she works with and interacts with colleagues. It’s lovely to have someone as, if not more, excited about her students and colleagues work and achievements than they are.

Michelle Carmichael

researcherdevelopment — 2025-08-14 08:48:32 UTC

Michelle has been successfully running the lifETIME CDT since 2019. She has worked closely with a cohort of 80 students, maintaining strong relationships with partnered institutions across Birmingham, Aston and Galway. She works tirelessly to create a calendar of really impactful training and events to develop the students transferable skills. The students will testify that she is the heart of the CDT and they have had a positive student experience because of her. She shows kindness, empathy and is a role model to me!

Carmen Elliott

researcherdevelopment — 2025-09-01 20:31:59 UTC

Thank you for being such a great coworker. You are a star! Your unique help brought me so much and helped me a lot in my job. My job is made easier knowing that I can rely on you. Thank you for always being so reliable and always being able to count on you. You always take the time to help your coworkers and I am so grateful for that. You always go out of your way to encourage your coworkers. I want to thank you for that and for being such a positive force in my job.