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Research Culture Team

Introduction to the Dean of Research Culture

Our approach to Research Culture is led by our Dean of Research Culture, Professor Matt Baillie Smith. Matt is Professor of Global Development in the department of Geography and Environmental Sciences. He works closely with staff in Research and Innovation Services to implement our Research Culture Action Plan and Initiatives, chairs the Research Culture Committee and reports on Research Culture to the University’s Research and Knowledge Exchange Committee, Senior Research Leadership Team and REF Management Committee.

To find out more about Professor Baillie Smith, visit his university profile page here.

Research and Innovation Services Research Culture staff

The Professional Services Staff supporting Research Culture are based within Research and Innovation Services. They support, promote and enable Research Culture initiatives for all staff who contribute to research. The core Professional Services Research Culture staff are:

Laura Hutchinson, Head of Research Culture and Integrity

Laura is the Head of Research Culture and Integrity and leads the Research Policy team in Research and Innovation Services. This team includes Research Ethics and Integrity, Research Information and Systems, Researcher Development and Research Culture and Quality. Laura is Secretary to Research Culture Committee and Research Ethics Committee. She works across Faculties and Services to implement our Research Culture Action Plan and initiatives.

Sam King, Research Skills Development Manager

Sam leads the Researcher Development team and develops, and facilitates a range of learning and development activities and online resources related to researcher skills development. Supporting academics across all career stages, these activities and resources are designed to build collaborations, enrich skills, foster talents and to support people to reach their full potential here at Northumbria and wide in the wider world.

Kevin Richardson, Research Culture and Quality Manager

Kevin has wide experience in research system implementation and provided close support to the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 submission. In his current role, Kevin leads on the management of research quality processes and systems. Additionally, he supports initiatives aimed at enhancing research culture and is secretary to the Working Group for Responsible Research Assessment. Kevin continues to assist preparations for the upcoming REF 2029 exercise and serves as a member of the University Strategy Advisory Group.

Ellen Cole, Research Culture and Quality Manager

Ellen is responsible for implementing a programme of initiatives to enhance the University's research culture, and monitoring the implementation of the research culture action plan. She also supports the delivery of REF at the University, particularly the People, Culture and Environment element of the submission. She is a member of the Research Culture Committee chairing its working group on Recognition & Value, and contributing to the working group on Responsible Research Assessment. Additionally, she is a member of the University's Gender Equality Steering Group, chairing the working group on culture.

Ellen's ORCID profile contains a fuller record of her activities.

Lauren McDonald, Research Culture and Development Coordinator

Lauren is a Research Culture and Development Coordinator within the Research Policy Team. Lauren is involved in Research Culture workshops, such as Rejection and Resilience, and is also part of the UK Reproducibility Network of OpenResearch Coordinators and Administrators (ORCAs).

Edan Pickering, Research Culture and Development Coordinator

Edan supports the organisation and delivery of researcher development activities for academics across all career stages at Northumbria University. These opportunities provide academics with the skills and knowledge to enhance their careers. She has a focus on Early Career Researchers and supports the running of the ECR Forum via event organisation, networking and online resources. Edan is Minute Secretary to Research Culture Committee and supports with tracking HR Excellence activity.

To find out more about Research Professional Support staff, please visit the Research Professional Support staff page.


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Upcoming events

Northumbria University Business and Law School

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The Future of Evaluation in Health and Social Care Symposium
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The landscape of business ethics in the United Kingdom
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