🎙️ Dive into the world of research technical professionals, or RTPs, in our latest episode on the Research Culture Uncovered podcast. Join Ged Hall as he welcomes Marie Daniels, Programme Manager of the UK Robotics and Autonomous Systems Strategic Technical Platform or UK RAS STEPS, to discuss how they are working with Research Technical Professionals to cultivate a thriving, dynamic and vibrant community.

Here’s what you’ll discover:

🔍 Empowering Careers: Explore how UK RAS STEPS and 10 other programmes (all funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) in different technical areas are cultivating thriving, supportive communities with Research Technical Professionals across the UK.

👥 A Collaborative Force: Learn about UK RAS STEPS special interest groups and international connections enhancing technician development and collaboration and how RTPs are benefitting from being work package leads and co-investigators.

🥇 Celebrating Success: From innovative teamwork to transformative robotics impact, find out how the Technical Excellence Awards, that were one part of the Technical Showcase, recognise outstanding contributions from the RTP community.

To find out more and to connect with UK RAS STEPS:

• EPSRC’s press release from March 2024 about the funding and all 11 projects.
• UK RAS STEPS website: https://www.ukras-steps.org/
• UK RAS STEPS email address: [email protected]
• Subscribe to the UK RAS STEPS newsletter: https://www.ukras-steps.org/contact-us/newsletter/
• Sign up for upcoming online training here: https://www.ukras-steps.org/personal-development/training/

All of our episodes can be accessed via the following playlists: 

• Research Impact with Ged Hall (follow Ged on Bluesky and LinkedIn)
• Research Impact Heroes with Ged Hall
• Open Research with Nick Sheppard (follow Nick on Bluesky and LinkedIn)
• Research Careers with Ruth Winden (follow Ruth on Bluesky and LinkedIn)
• Research talent management
• Meet the Research Culturositists with Emma Spary (follow Emma on Bluesky and LinkedIn)
• Research co-production
• Research evaluation
• Research leadership
• Research professionals

Follow us on Bluesky: @researcherdevleeds.bsky.social (new episodes are announced here), @openresleeds.bsky.social, @researchcultureuol.bsky.social 

Connect to us on LinkedIn: @ResearchUncoveredPodcast (new episodes are announced here) 

Leeds Research Culture links: 

• Researcher Development and Culture Website
• Our Concordat Implemention plans and progress
• University of Leeds Research Culture Statement
• University of Leeds Responsible Metrics Statement 
• University of Leeds Open Research Statement 
• University of Leeds Research Culture Strategy - launched September 2023

If you would like to contribute to a podcast episode get in touch: [email protected]

In this episode, Taryn Bell speaks to Dr Ireen Litvak-Zur about her reflections on the June 2025 AdvanceHE symposium, 'Barriers and Enablers to Thriving Research Cultures'.

Ireen discusses her role at Advance HE, their programs aimed at fostering a sustainable research ecosystem, and the impact of limited resources on research culture.

Key takeaways:

• The incentive to shift from focusing on barriers, to identifying enablers
• The value of the symposium in providing practical toolkits and advice, to help others take actionable steps
• The need to reach a 'critical mass', to ensure events like these have an impact beyond those already invested in thriving research cultures.

You can learn more about Ireen, the symposium and AdvanceHE using the links below:

• Ireen Litvak-Zur
• AdvanceHE
• The 2025 AdvanceHE symposium programme

All of our episodes can be accessed via the following playlists: 

• Research Impact with Ged Hall (follow Ged on Bluesky and LinkedIn)
• Research Impact Heroes with Ged Hall
• Open Research with Nick Sheppard (follow Nick on Bluesky and LinkedIn)
• Research Careers with Ruth Winden (follow Ruth on Bluesky and LinkedIn)
• Research talent management
• Meet the Research Culturositists with Emma Spary (follow Emma on Bluesky and LinkedIn)
• Research co-production
• Research evaluation
• Research leadership
• Research professionals

Follow us on Bluesky: @researcherdevleeds.bsky.social (new episodes are announced here), @openresleeds.bsky.social, @researchcultureuol.bsky.social

Connect to us on LinkedIn: @ResearchUncoveredPodcast (new episodes are announced here)

Leeds Research Culture links: 

• Researcher Development and Culture Website
• Our Concordat Implemention plans and progress
• University of Leeds Research Culture Statement
• University of Leeds Responsible Metrics Statement
• University of Leeds Open Research Statement
• University of Leeds Research Culture Strategy - launched September 2023

If you would like to contribute to a podcast episode get in touch: [email protected]

In this solo episode, Ruth Winden, the Careers with Research Consultant at the University of Leeds, shares her insights of designing, facilitating and expanding the range of group-based career development programmes for the university's researcher community.

Over the last decade, Leeds has built a strong track record of creating impactful cohort-based career courses, from "Career Architect", "Career Accelerator", to "Career Catalyst", and now the "Fellowship Accelerator" and the "Career Navigator" programmes. The latest venture into providing peer-to-peer based development is for Research Adjacents, via our new "Research Adjacent Career Conversations" programme.

Here are some benefits of group-based career development programmes that don't get enough attention:

1. Enhanced Support and Connection:

- Group-based programmes foster a strong sense of community and belonging, reducing isolation and making career challenges more enjoyable and less daunting. One participant observed, already after the first session, "I feel less lonely now!" 

2. Momentum and Optimism:

- Group members inspire and energise each other, with shared progress boosting everyone's motivation. Witnessing a peer's breakthrough can rejuvenate your belief in the possibility of positive change. 

3. Broader Perspectives and Networks:

- Diverse groups bring a wealth of ideas, experiences, and networks. This collaborative environment enriches learning, encourages sharing, and strengthens career management skills beyond traditional one-to-one coaching. 

For more information on some of the programmes, head to our website:

• https://researchersupport.leeds.ac.uk/

Here is the link to the promised handout on HOW to design group-based programmes, based on Ruth's workshop at the Career Thought Leaders Symposium in Lisbon in April 2024.

If you want to share comments, thoughts, challenges about this episode, please connect with me. I'm always eager to talk to colleagues about the fascinating world of group-based development! LinkedIn ruthwinden and @ruthwinden on X/Twitter

All of our episodes can be accessed via the following playlists:

• Research Impact with Ged Hall (follow Ged on LinkedIn)
• Open Research with Nick Sheppard (follow Nick on LinkedIn)
• Research Careers with Ruth Winden (follow Ruth on LinkedIn)
• Meet the Research Culturositists with Emma Spary (follow Emma on LinkedIn)
• Research co-production
• Research Leadership
• Research Evaluation

Connect to us or leave us a review on LinkedIn: @ResearchUncoveredPodcast (new episodes are announced here)

Research Culture Uncovered are excited to share the second in a new series of podcast episodes called Research Impact Heroes. In this series Ged Hall will be talking to people who have inspired him and helped him in his research impact journey.

In this episode Ged gets to sit down with the brilliant Dr. Julie Bayley—Director of Research Impact and Culture and Associate Professor at Northeastern University, London.

Julie brings a unique blend of experience as an academic, impact professional, and patient representative. In this candid conversation, we dive into:

🔹 Bridging Research and Real-World Change

Julie shares her journey from health psychology to impact leadership, highlighting the ongoing challenge of ensuring research truly benefits the wider world—rather than stopping at the publication stage. She shares a range of insights about supporting people to close the gap between research and societal change

🔹 Being an 'impact nerd': the opportunity to help people make a difference

Julie discusses what it’s like to straddle roles as both a researcher and an impact professional, alongside her activities as a patient representative. She discusses the privilege and complexity of hybrid academic careers, and how much she values the continued opportunity to help colleagues make a difference they care about.

🔹 Redefining Success: Evidence, Culture & Community

From navigating the pressures of the Research Excellence Framework (REF) to the importance of approachable metaphors (think: sausages and unicorns!), Julie champions building cultures that value learning, inclusion, and practical support.

Julie also reveals several of her Research Impact Heroes:

• Derek Stewart, [ju1] Honorary Professor for the University of Galway and Patient Advocate
• Professor Ele Belfiore Coventry University
• Aileen Marshall-Brown and Professor Alis Oancea University of Oxford especially for their work on Responsible Knowledge Exchange (https://www.socsci.ox.ac.uk/rkeei)
• Vicky Williams CEO of Emerald
• Esther de Smet Ghent University
• Anabel Sanchez CREAF Barcelona
• Giovanna Lima DORA
• Dr Kellyn Lee and her work with Dementia Care Hub. To find out more about Kellyn visit her website: www.drkellyn.co.uk
• Dr Lizzie Gadd Loughborough University
• Dr David Phipps York University and Research Impact Canada
• Professor Gemma Derrick University of Bristol. The final name she arrived at and her one answer (if she can only pick one).

Episodes including some of Julie's research impact heroes:

• Esther de Smet and Giovanna Lima with Áine Mhic Thaidhg in (Episode 93) The Power of Community: Navigating Research Impact with the Impact Clinic
• Professor Gemma Derrick in a bonus episode Exploring Grimpact: The Other Side of Research Impact with Gemma Derrick
• Professor Gemma Derrick in another bonus episode Celebrating Research Diversity: The Hidden REF's Bid to Recognise Non-traditional Outputs

Links to conferences and resources mentioned in the episode:

• 29th International Conference on Science and Technology Indicators (STI ENID) 3-5th September 2025 in Bristol  https://www.stienid2025.org/
• Julie’s session at STI ENID ‘Peacocks Gonna Peacock: towards a true barometer of research culture’ https://virtual.oxfordabstracts.com/event/74626/submission/134
• International Medieval Congress 2025 https://www.imc.leeds.ac.uk/ (the Congress is annual and usually in early July)
• Dr Tamika Heiden’s Research Impact Summit https://researchimpactsummit.com/ The 10th anniversary is 1st/2nd September 2025
• The first Research Impact Ignite Conference 25/26th November 2025 https://impactignite2025.com/

All of our episodes can be accessed via the following playlists: 

• Research Impact with Ged Hall (follow Ged on Bluesky and LinkedIn)
• Research Impact Heroes with Ged Hall
• Open Research with Nick Sheppard (follow Nick on Bluesky and LinkedIn)
• Research Careers with Ruth Winden (follow Ruth on Bluesky and LinkedIn)
• Research talent management
• Meet the Research Culturositists with Emma Spary (follow Emma on Bluesky and LinkedIn)
• Research co-production
• Research evaluation
• Research leadership
• Research professionals

Follow us on Bluesky: @researcherdevleeds.bsky.social (new episodes are announced here), @openresleeds.bsky.social, @researchcultureuol.bsky.social

Connect to us on LinkedIn: @ResearchUncoveredPodcast (new episodes are announced here)

Leeds Research Culture links: 

• Researcher Development and Culture Website
• Our Concordat Implemention plans and progress
• University of Leeds Research Culture Statement
• University of Leeds Responsible Metrics Statement
• University of Leeds Open Research Statement
• University of Leeds Research Culture Strategy - launched September 2023

If you would like to contribute to a podcast episode get in touch: [email protected]

In this episode, host Dr Emily Goodall welcomes Professor Judith Hanks, Professor of Applied Linguistics in the School of Education at the University of Leeds and Chair of the cross-faculty research ethics committee. They delved into the essential, yet often overlooked, role of research ethics review in shaping positive culture.

🔑 Key Takeaways: 

🧱 Ethics as integral to research Culture, not just a hurdle: Many researchers approach the ethics review process with the expectation of quick approvals, often perceiving reviewers’ queries as obstacles. However, ethics should not be seen as a bureaucratic hurdle, but rather as a foundational and constructive part of research—something to be embedded from the very beginning.

⚖️ Benefits and challenges of ethical review: Engaging in ethical review can be intellectually rewarding. It invites critical reflection on research design and impact. At the same time, it presents challenges, such as time constraints and the need to navigate complex, sometimes ambiguous, ethical dilemmas.

🤝 Building a positive research culture through conversation, recognition, and community: A positive research culture is strengthened through open, ongoing conversations about ethics, supported by interdisciplinary communities and formal recognition of ethical engagement. Framing ethics training as an inclusive dialogue—rather than a compliance exercise—encourages meaningful participation from researchers at all career stages.

Judith encourages listeners to explore the websites of their research institutions and relevant learned societies, which offer valuable resources such as ethical guidelines, codes of practice, and principles to support ethical research. She also recommends reaching out to local ethics committee members for advice and to ask about opportunities to get involved in the ethics review process yourself, as it can be a rewarding and enriching experience.

🔍 Resources mentioned in this episode: 

• British Educational Research Association (BERA) – The organization offers materials and guidelines focused on research ethics within educational research. 
• British Association of Applied Linguists (BAAL) – Provides resources and principles related to ethical considerations in applied linguistics research. 
• British Psychological Association (BPS) – Their website includes codes of practice and resources directly addressing research ethics. 

If you enjoy the episode, please consider leaving a review on your podcast app, via Podchaser, or through our online form: 

✍ Podchaser 

✍ Online Review Form 

Follow us on Bluesky: @researcherdevleeds.bsky.social (new episodes are announced here), @openresleeds.bsky.social, @researchcultureuol.bsky.social 

Connect to us on LinkedIn: @ResearchUncoveredPodcast (new episodes are announced here) 

In this episode of the 'Research Culture Uncovered' podcast, Emma Spary, now the Associate Director for Researcher Development and Research Culture at the University of Leeds, hosts a reflective conversation with Professor Cat Davies. As Cat steps down from her groundbreaking role as Dean for Research Culture at Leeds, they discuss her achievements, challenges and contributions over the past four years.

They explore the challenges in shaping research culture, the inception of the role, the strategic initiatives launched, and what makes for excellent research culture. This episode provides insights into the practical changes implemented at Leeds, the importance of grassroots involvement, and the future of research culture. Cat reflects on her strategies, the importance of community-driven efforts, and the ongoing challenges in defining research culture. She also shares her future plans in the field of research culture at a sector-wide level.

Key messages:

• The Beginning: What attracted Cat to this role, the first time it was offered at Leeds
• Challenges and achievements in Research Culture
• The Middle: The easiest and hardest parts encountered by Cat, including her proudest moments and key initiatives
• Transition and Future Plans: Why is now the right time to step away?
• What Cat hopes to do next

In this episode Cat references several initiatives and outputs:

• University of Leeds Research Culture Strategy - launched September 2023
• The Technician Commitment at Leeds
• Our resources, case-studies, projects and practice

All of our episodes can be accessed via the following playlists: 

• Research Impact with Ged Hall (follow Ged on Bluesky and LinkedIn)
• Research Impact Heroes with Ged Hall
• Open Research with Nick Sheppard (follow Nick on Bluesky and LinkedIn)
• Research Careers with Ruth Winden (follow Ruth on Bluesky and LinkedIn)
• Research talent management
• Meet the Research Culturositists with Emma Spary (follow Emma on Bluesky and LinkedIn)
• Research co-production
• Research evaluation
• Research leadership
• Research professionals

Follow us on Bluesky: @researcherdevleeds.bsky.social (new episodes are announced here), @openresleeds.bsky.social, @researchcultureuol.bsky.social

Connect to us on LinkedIn: @ResearchUncoveredPodcast (new episodes are announced here)

Leeds Research Culture links: 

• Researcher Development and Culture Website
• Our Concordat Implemention plans and progress
• University of Leeds Research Culture Statement
• University of Leeds Responsible Metrics Statement
• University of Leeds Open Research Statement
• University of Leeds Research Culture Strategy - launched September 2023

If you would like to contribute to a podcast episode get in touch: [email protected]

This week Nick talks to Simon Hettrick about the importance of recognising research outputs beyond the traditional academic publications of journal articles and books. These include software, data, exhibitions, compositions, performances...the diverse range of research materials across different disciplines.

Simon is Director of Strategy at the Software Sustainability Institute. He led a campaign to gain recognition for Research Software Engineers – a new role in research – and is now the Chair of the Hidden REF: a national campaign that looks to recognise all research outputs and every role that makes research possible. 

Simon and colleagues have recently launched their own podcast on YouTube called What the REF.

Key takeaways:

Hidden REF and the 5% Manifesto: Simon explains the motivation behind the Hidden REF campaign, which aims to make research assessment more inclusive of a wider array of outputs. The 5% Manifesto challenges universities to ensure that at least 5% of their future REF submissions are from non-traditionally submitted categories.

The Role of the Software Sustainability Institute (SSI): Simon shares the background of the SSI, established in 2010 to help researchers improve the use of software in research. The Institute played a key role in founding the Research Software Engineer (RSE) movement, which has grown rapidly and internationally.

Recognition for All Research Roles: The episode discusses the importance of recognising all contributors to research - not just researchers themselves, but also RSEs, data stewards, librarians, and technicians. With recent changes to REF guidelines allowing all staff to submit outputs, there’s momentum to value the diverse people who make research possible.

Non-Traditionally Submitted Outputs (NTOs): We discuss the ongoing debate around terminology with Simon favouring “not traditionally submitted outputs” rather than Non-Traditional Outputs while retaining the same abbreviation.

Infrastructure and Preservation Challenges: Nick and Simon discuss the fragmented infrastructure for storing and preserving different research outputs, from institutional repositories to GitHub and Zenodo. Sustainable storage and preservation are highlighted as significant challenges for the sector.

Practical Advice and Policy Initiatives: The discussion covers practicalities like software licensing and persistent identifiers (e.g., DOIs for code via GitHub and Zenodo). There is a need to develop institutional policy in these areas in addition to sector-wide efforts under UKRI.

Episode links:

• The Hidden REF - 5% manifesto
• Software Sustainability Institute (SSI)
• What the REF podcast
• Research Software Engineers (RSEs) at Leeds
• Research Excellence Frameworrk (REF2029)
• 2014 REF results and submissions
• 2021 REF results and submissions
• UKRI developing new research data policy framework
• GitHub Citation File Format
• White Rose Research Online (WRRO)
• Research Data Leeds
• University of Leeds Research Outputs Policy

All our episodes can be accessed via the following playlists:

• Researcher Development    
• Research Professional    
• Research Talent Management  
• Research Impact with Ged Hall (follow Ged on Twitter and LinkedIn)
• Open Research with Nick Sheppard (follow Nick on Twitter and LinkedIn) 
• Research Careers with Ruth Winden (follow Ruth
• on Twitter and LinkedIn)

Follow us on Bluesky: @researcherdevleeds.bsky.social (new episodes are announced here), @openresleeds.bsky.social, @researchcultureuol.bsky.social 

Connect to us on LinkedIn: @ResearchUncoveredPodcast (new episodes are announced here)

If you would like to contribute to a podcast episode get in touch: [email protected]

Career mobility in academia has traditionally been seen as a one-way street. You're either in academia, or you leave - never to return! But is this true?

In this episode of the Research Culture Uncovered podcast, hosts Taryn Bell and Ruth Winden discuss career mobility with Danni Croucher, Policy Lead at the National Centre for Universities and Businesses (NCUB). We also hear from researchers at Leeds with experience moving between academia and other sectors.

Key takeaways:

✅ Career mobility has huge potential benefits for both researchers and organisations, whether moving into industry permanently, or for a short-term secondment.

❗However, there are organisational and structural barriers to mobility which need to be tackled to make it easier to move between sectors.

📣 Thankfully, there are a huge number of initiatives out there to support researchers as they gain experience in a variety of organisations.

Resources and initiatives mentioned in the show:

• National Centre for Universities and Business (NCUB) career mobility webpage
• NCUB reports: Marking one year on: Researcher Mobility Taskforce; Pathways to Success; Building a data-driven picture of researcher intersectoral mobility in the UK; International characterisation of researcher mobility schemes; A qualitative deep dive into experiences and attitudes towards the cross-sector mobility of researchers
• Prosper
• Developing Business Aware Academics
• UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships (FLF)
• Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs)
• Centre for Postdoctoral Development in Infrastructure, Cities and Energy (C-DICE)

🧑‍💼Connect with our guests:

• Danni Croucher
• Gokcay Balci
• Ally Shepherd
• Scott McLaughlin
• Eric Atwell

🎧 All our episodes can be accessed via the following playlists:

• Researcher Development    
• Research Professional    
• Research Talent Management  
• Research Impact with Ged Hall (follow Ged on Twitter and LinkedIn)
• Open Research with Nick Sheppard (follow Nick on Twitter and LinkedIn) 
• Research Careers with Ruth Winden (follow Ruth
• on Twitter and LinkedIn)

Follow us on Bluesky: @researcherdevleeds.bsky.social (new episodes are announced here), @openresleeds.bsky.social, @researchcultureuol.bsky.social 

Connect to us on LinkedIn: @ResearchUncoveredPodcast (new episodes are announced here)

If you would like to contribute to a podcast episode get in touch: [email protected]

📋 Content Note

In this episode, we explore the practice of coaching in academia, including how it can support leadership, career development, and wellbeing. The conversation touches on emotionally sensitive topics such as personal and professional transitions, experiences of low confidence, navigating vulnerability, neurodiversity, and challenges related to academic culture and job security. While these topics are discussed in a supportive and professional context, we acknowledge that some listeners may find aspects of the discussion personally resonant or emotionally impactful. If any issues raised concern you, please look after yourself and seek support if you need it. Resources and support links are available in the show notes.

In this episode of Research Culture Uncovered, host Dr. Heledd Jarosz-Griffiths is joined by three brilliant guests for Part 2 of our two-part special exploring coaching in academia. Heledd is joined by:

Harriet Boatwright — Organisational Learning Partner and Co-lead of the University of Leeds internal coaching pool

Dr. Caterina Presi — Associate Professor of Marketing Practice at Leeds, University Business School

Dr. Andreea Bordianu — Lecturer in Accounting at Leeds University Business School

Together, they share powerful personal stories and reflections on how coaching works in practice, the challenges it helps address, and how it’s contributing to positive changes in research culture, leadership, and personal growth.

Key Takeaways

🌟 Why They Chose Coaching Harriet, Caterina, and Andreea share their diverse journeys into coaching, from transformative personal experiences to professional development opportunities.

🎯 Real Challenges in Academia Common coaching topics include career transitions, confidence, communication skills, navigating uncertainty, and managing change.

🧠 Supporting Neurodiversity The guests discuss how coaching can support neurodivergent colleagues by adapting approaches and creating safe, individualised spaces for reflection.

🔄 Growth for Coaches Being coaches has transformed how the guests listen, ask questions, and build meaningful relationships — impacting their teaching, leadership, and personal interactions.

✨ Transforming Research Culture Coaching is highlighted as a tool for shifting power dynamics, fostering empathy, and nurturing a healthier, more connected academic culture.

💡 Client Impact The episode includes anonymised feedback showing how coaching helps people gain clarity, build resilience, and discover new paths forward.

🧘‍♀️ Looking After Coaches The discussion also covers coach wellbeing, boundaries, and the critical role of supervision in maintaining ethical, sustainable coaching practice.

🎧 Want to understand the fundamentals of coaching before diving into real stories? Check

out Part 1:🎙️ Coaching in Academia — Part 1: What is Coaching and Why Does it Matter?

Resources and Support

Neurodiversity Explained — Oxford CBT

Coaching at the University of Leeds

Mind UK — Mental Health Support

NHS Every Mind Matters

Samaritans — 24/7 Helpline or call 116 123 free from any phone

🧑‍💼Connect with Our Guests

Harriet Boatwright🔗LinkedIn

Dr. Caterina Presi🔗LinkedIn

Dr. Andreea Bordianu🔗LinkedIn

🎧 Access all our episodes via our themed playlists:

·     Researcher Development

·      Research Professional

·      Research Talent Management

·      Research Impact with Ged Hall (follow Ged on Twitter and LinkedIn)

·      Open Research with Nick Sheppard (follow Nick on Twitter and LinkedIn)

·      Research Careers with Ruth Winden (follow Ruth on Twitter and LinkedIn)

📲 Follow us on Bluesky: @researcherdevleeds.bsky.social (new episodes are

announced here), @openresleeds.bsky.social, @researchcultureuol.bsky.social 

💼 Connect with us on LinkedIn:

@ResearchUncoveredPodcast

(new episodes announced here)

📧 Want to contribute to a future episode?

Email: [email protected]

Shownotes: Further Together (as mentioned by Nick Plant)

Further Together

Ged Hall: LinkedIn link Ged Hall

Ruth Winden: LinkedIn link Ruth Winden