Research Culture Uncovered

In this episode, Nick talks to Monica Westin, Director of Open Policy Development at Cambridge University Press, about her wide-ranging work across the open knowledge movement - including roles with DORA, NISO, COUNTER Metrics, and Wikimedia UK. We discuss some of the challenges facing research communication, and explore knowledge equity, responsible research assessment, and the future of open access publishing. We talk about the role of Wikimedia and Wikipedia in supporting open knowledge, and why making research outputs more visible and reusable matters. We consider the impact of generative AI on the information ecosystem. From attribution and provenance to Creative Commons licensing and the future of openness, and discuss how researchers, publishers and information professionals can respond to rapid technological change while remaining committed to the principles of open knowledge. Links: Cambridge University Press Open Access policies Knowledge Equity Network Knowledge Equity & Open Scholarship Week CUP…

In this episode, we’re joined by Professor Catherine Noakes to explore the Civic Exchange — an initiative at the University of Leeds that's rethinking how universities and communities work together. We cover: 🔸 What the Civic Exchange is (and isn't) — it's not about doing new things, but about connecting what's already happening across research, education, and engagement 🔸 Moving from "doing things for communities" to co-creating with them — and why that shift matters 🔸 The persistence of "town and gown" and what it takes to break it down 🔸 What Cath's career — from engineering to the SAGE Committee during the pandemic — taught her about working in partnership, understanding different motivations, and not assuming you have all the answers 🔸 The assumptions we make across disciplines about impact — and how arts, humanities, and sciences have more in common than we think 🔸 What a civic university of the future might look like, and why devolution could be both a carrot and a stick A few favourite moments from…

Who deserves to be named as an author? It sounds like a straightforward question, yet authorship remains one of the most contested issues in research. Decisions about who receives credit are often influenced by disciplinary norms, power dynamics, unwritten rules and of course, research culture. In this episode, Dr Emily Goodall explores four authorship dilemmas drawn from workshops with researchers and research professionals. As each scenario unfolds, you're invited to make your own judgement. Should they be an author? More importantly, what do the answers reveal about how we value different contributions to research? Join the Conversation We've turned the four dilemmas featured in the episode into a listener poll and are interested in your thoughts on authorship. This results will be revealed here, a week after the episode launches. 👉 Click here to submit your vote. The results are in: Perhaps unsurprisingly, our listeners took a notably inclusive approach to authorship, with strong consensus around three…

Is the job market really as bad as the headlines say? How can researchers better understand and communicate their skillsets? And how can they manage the anxiety and uncertainty that comes with the current employment climate? In this episode, host Taryn Bell talks with co-host Ruth Winden, as well as King’s College London's Laura Johnson and Anna Favalessa, hosts of the Careers in Your Ears podcast. Together, they unpack: How misleading data and clickbait can amplify researcher anxiety, while the data might not actually be as bad as we think Researchers' misconceptions about the non-academic job market, including the common refrain that "I'm not qualified for anything other than research" The emotional work of career change, and the challenges and benefits of supporting researchers through tricky career transitions If you're a researcher developer or careers consultant interested in how you can better support your researchers' career transitions, this is the episode for you! Find out more: Listen to the…

Episode overview Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming part of the research landscape—from finding and making sense of literature to supporting academic writing and feedback. But how can researchers use AI productively without losing ownership of their ideas or compromising the critical thinking at the heart of research? In this episode, Heledd speaks with Dr Marc-Oliver Gewaltig, co-founder and CEO of Thesify, about what a responsible relationship between researchers and AI might look like. They discuss how AI can support different stages of academic writing, the importance of transparency about its contributions, and how it may change the skills researchers need. Marc-Oliver also explains why human judgement, intellectual ownership and subject expertise must remain central to good research. In this episode Marc-Oliver’s journey from physics and computational neuroscience to robotics, AI and entrepreneurship The challenges researchers and supervisors face when reviewing and developing academic writing…

Episode overview Exploring a career beyond academia can bring excitement and possibility, but also uncertainty, questions about identity and a sense that moving on means leaving something behind. In this episode, Heledd speaks with Dr Holly Prescott about the practical and emotional realities of career transition. They explore why researchers may struggle to recognise their skills, why leaving academia can feel like “giving up”, and how careers beyond academia can offer new ways to use your researcher experience. Holly also challenges the idea that career development is about finding one perfect destination. Instead, it can begin with taking a next step, gathering information and learning more about what matters to you. Featured contributor Dr Holly Prescott — Careers Adviser for Postgraduate Researchers at the University of Birmingham, freelance trainer and consultant, and founder of the PostGradual careers blog. Holly is the author of Navigating Careers Beyond Academia: A Practical Handbook for Doctoral…

In an environment of low success rates, rising research costs, and shrinking opportunities, the research funding system appears to be at a crisis point. This isn't just a funding crisis but a culture crisis, intensifying workloads, stress, and precarity, especially for early career researchers seeking funding to stay employed. A complete overhaul of the funding system is needed - but seems unlikely at present. In lieu of this, what can funders, institutions and researchers actually do to face up to these pressures? In this episode, host Taryn Bell considers some doable - yet still meaningful - changes that we could make at varying points within the system, including: Increasing transparency from funders when communicating calls and outcomes More intentional career conversations - including making space for difficult conversations Preparing our researchers to get ready to apply much earlier than they think We'd love to hear your suggestions for what needs to change in the funding landscape. Get in touch - and…

🎙️In our latest episode, host Dr Ged Hall interviewed another of his #ResearchImpactHeroes Dr David Phipps, Assistant Vice President of Research Strategy and Impact at York University in Toronto and co-founder of Research Impact Canada! Discover how a 40-year journey from HIV research to knowledge mobilisation helped build one of the world's most influential impact networks. 🔹 Hear David's winding path from immunology research during the HIV/AIDS crisis to becoming a pioneer of "knowledge mobilisation" - years before the term even existed. 🔹 Learn why Canada thinks about impact as a "how", not a "what" - and why not having a REF has been a blessing, not a barrier. 🔹 Discover the origin story of Research Impact Canada, which began in 2006 with two universities and "no small amount of hubris." 🔹 Explore how a global community of impact networks - from the UK's UPEN to Chile's Vincula to New Zealand's IPEN - is learning from each other across borders. 🔹 Understand the toughest question David still grapples…

The #ResearchCultureUncovered podcast team is delighted to share a special episode featuring Dr. Jim Baxter, Academic Development Consultant at the University of Leeds, recorded ahead of his retirement after 36 remarkable years studying and employed at the institution. Join host Ged Hall as he sits down with his long-time colleague and former manager to reflect on Jim's extraordinary career spanning mechanical engineering research, postdoctoral work, a role as a lecturer, and over two decades shaping researcher and academic development — all at the University of Leeds. • Hear Jim reflect on changes in higher education since the early 1990s and what these have meant for how universities support their researchers. • Discover Jim's proudest career moments, including influencing the university's strategic recognition of researchers as people, not just producers of outputs, and designing development programmes that put researcher needs at their centre. • Learn what Jim believes still needs to change — from…

In this episode Nick speaks with Dr Eike Rinke, Lecturer in Politics and Media, Co-Director of the Social Research Methods Centre, and Local Network Lead for the UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN). Eike discusses his academic journey, and reflects on how his experiences as a social scientist led him to become involved in the open research movement. The conversation explores why transparency, rigour and inclusivity matter across all disciplines, and why open research should be considered a universal concern rather than something confined to particular fields. Eike discusses a research paper he contributed to that examines what happens when multiple research teams choose their own methodology to analyse the same dataset. The findings reveal striking variation in results depending on the analytical decisions made by researchers, highlighting the importance of transparency and the need to better understand researcher decision-making. Nick and Eike also discuss Eike's role as local network lead for the UK…

🎙️ Technicians at the heart of research culture: insights from Tech Exchange at Leeds In this special episode of Research Culture Uncovered, Dr Emily Ennis hands over the mic to Lily Caprioli, a student ambassador at the University of Leeds, who interviews colleagues across the annual Tech Exchange Fair — a showcase of the people and skills powering research behind the scenes. What you’ll hear: Research is a team sport. From senior leadership to lab specialists, contributors emphasise that technicians are fundamental — the people who keep systems running, solve problems, and help teams think differently. Visibility matters. Events like Tech Exchange create space to showcase expertise, connect across departments, and ensure technical contributions are recognised beyond individual labs or teams. From “hidden roles” to recognised expertise. Conversations highlight ongoing work around fair attribution, technician profiles, and recognition — with real progress, but more still to do. Collaboration within and…

🎙️ The #ResearchCultureUncovered podcast team is excited to share our latest episode featuring Dr. Rob ter Horst — postdoctoral researcher and the creator behind the popular YouTube channel The Quantified Scientist! Join host Ged Hall as he chats with Rob about his fascinating dual life as a researcher and YouTuber, exploring what it means to treat yourself as an experimental subject, running a YouTube channel at the same time as a demanding postdoc and the benefits and challenges of both. 🔹 Discover how Rob's self-tracking journey with weekly brain MRIs, EEG sleep recordings and testing wearables grew from his scientific curiosity and how that has benefitted both his research and his YouTube identities. 🔹 Learn how Rob used wearable technology data and rigorous testing methods to communicate complex data analysis concepts to a broad public audience, and in his university teaching. 🔹 Hear reflections on the realities of balancing a demanding postdoctoral position with running a growing YouTube channel and…

In this thought‑provoking episode, host Dr Emily Goodall speaks with Dr Jack Wilkinson, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Trial Statistics at the University of Manchester. Together, they explore the growing challenge of problematic and fraudulent research polluting the published literature, what it means for trust in evidence, and how the research community can respond. From “paper mills” to AI‑generated publications, this episode shines a light on how research integrity is being challenged—and what researchers, reviewers, and institutions can do to protect it. Key themes The scale of problematic research is growing: Fraudulent and low‑quality studies, driven by paper mills, AI and pressured research environments, are increasingly entering the literature. Quality checks don’t guarantee authenticity: Peer review and standard appraisals focus on quality, but often miss whether research is authentic. Structured tools can help spot issues: Tools like INSPECT‑SR guide peer reviewers to identify inconsistencies,…

The #ResearchCultureUncovered podcast team is excited to share our latest episode featuring a fascinating conversation with Professor Adel Ahmed. Adel worked in the UK higher education for over 20 years before moving to the United Arab Emirates in 2015. Join host, Ged Hall, as he reconnects with his former colleague to explore research culture in the UAE and the wider Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. 🔹 Discover how higher education in the UAE is strategically designed rather than historically inherited — built around national development priorities, societal impact, and economic diversification, not just rankings and publications. 🔹 Learn about the UAE's ecosystem of federal, semi-government, private, and international branch campus universities, and how this model is spreading across the MENA region. 🔹 Hear how outcome-based evaluation frameworks are reshaping what research success looks like — moving beyond citation counts to measure real-world impact, industry collaboration, and student…

What does it mean to do research on research — and what role do professional staff play in it? In this episode, Alix Brodie-Wray is joined by Dr. Chris Daley (LSE) and Dr. Amy Milligan (Saïd Business School, University of Oxford) to explore the world of meta-research and why research managers, administrators, and enablers have a vital part to play. We cover: 🔬 What meta-research actually is (and why it matters) 💡 How professional staff bring unique, ground-level expertise to the field 📊 The growing investment in meta-science — including the UK Meta-Science Unit's funding tripling to £49 million 🎓 Whether you need a PhD to get involved (spoiler: you don't) ⚖️ The very real time pressures and how to navigate them 🌍 What the future holds for research enablers in this space If you work in research support, management, or administration and have ever wondered whether your skills could contribute to something bigger — this one's for you. 🎧 Listen now: [link] Contributors Alix Brodie-Wray (follow on LinkedIn) Dr…

In this episode Nick talks to Dr Louise Saul, Network+ coordinator for CaSDaR (Careers and Skills for Data Driven Research), a UKRI-funded initiative aiming to professionalise and build community around data stewardship in the UK. They discuss shared work through the Open Research Competencies Coalition (ORCC) and Louise’s previous UKRN role as an ORCA (Open Research Coordinator and Administrator) at the University of Southampton, supporting open research training and implementation. Louise discusses using stand-up comedy to communicate research and open research ideas, and outlines her career path from biotechnology and a PhD in protein crystallography through multiple postdocs, teaching, and into open research and data. She explains meta-research as “research on research,” including a study on what authors include in methods sections and implications for reproducibility. Louise shares some of her data-management "horror stories," and highlights sector-wide challenges: unclear career pathways and…

Episode title: How to Turn Your PhD Into a Book Podcast: Research Culture Uncovered Host: Heledd Jarosz-Griffiths (Researcher Development Advisor, University of Leeds) Episode overview Turning a PhD into a book is rarely a straightforward process. It’s not simply about rewriting or revising a thesis — it involves rethinking purpose, audience, and identity as a researcher. In this episode, Heledd speaks with Dr Hilary Potter about the challenges and opportunities involved in transforming doctoral research into a book. From the emotional weight of returning to high-stakes work, to developing confidence and recognising your own expertise, the conversation explores what it really means to “turn” a PhD into something new. Hilary also shares insights into her activity-based approach, the role of creativity and writing by hand, and how her portfolio career — including teaching, translation, and periods of precarity — has shaped both her thinking and her book. Together, this episode highlights how developing…

If you asked an academic to describe the culture in which they work, 'gentle' is not a word that most would use. But what if academia could be gentler? What would this look like, and how can we get there? In today's episode, host Taryn Bell is joined by Christine Grove, co-editor of the recent volume 'The Gentle Academic'. They discuss what gentle academia is, what it's not, and how both individuals and academics can become 'gentler' in their ways of working. Far from offering 'lip service' to the idea of culture change, The Gentle Academic offers actionable insights for both individuals and the institutions they work within. Want to learn more? Read The Gentle Academic: Reimagining the Contemporary University Culture with Principles of Community, Leadership, and Care Get in touch with Christine via LinkedIn or her RMIT and Monash webpages, or with her co-editor, Kelly-Ann Allen If you have enjoyed listening to this episode, please consider leaving a review on your favourite podcast app, via Podchaser, or by…

In this week’s episode, host Emily Goodall speaks with Karen Glerum‑Brooks and Lucy Cheseldine about the Valuing Voices project — a Wellcome-funded initiative co‑created by the University of York and Mahidol University in Thailand that’s helping researchers rethink what equitable, collaborative and responsible research can look like in practice. Episode highlights: A practical toolkit for culture change: How the Valuing Voices online tool supports researchers worldwide to design and deliver equitable and responsible research — grounded in the principles of Engagement and impact, Equity and diversity in teams, Strategic risk mapping, Environmental sustainability, Reflection and learning. Equity, diversity & working together: Why diverse teams and inclusive practices matter, and how simple approaches such as fair attribution and inclusive meetings help dismantle hierarchies and strengthen collaboration in research environments. The Living Lab in action: Karen and Lucy share how experimenting within their own…

🎙️ In our latest episode of Research Culture Uncovered, host Heledd Jarosz-Griffiths explores a deceptively simple question: what actually shapes a researcher? Drawing on reflections from a Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) series, this episode brings together voices from across global research development sessions — exploring research vision, impact, careers, culture, and identity. 🔹 Why research vision matters — and why it’s so hard to articulate Hear insights from Dr Jim Baxter on developing long-term direction, and why the pressures of funding, publishing, and short-term goals can pull researchers away from the bigger picture. 🔹 What counts as “impact” — and who decides Explore reflections from Ged Hall on how impact is shaped by discipline, national context, and institutional priorities — and whether researchers follow or challenge those systems. 🔹 Research culture beyond the buzzwords Dr Marjorie Boissinot unpacks the complexity of research culture across global contexts, and why much of what shapes…

“What if all we have is the now? […] the now is generative and worthwhile.” — Dr Élaina Gauthier‑Mamaril Host Dr Emily Ennis sits down with Dr Élaina Gauthier‑Mamaril – a disabled philosopher of disability and Research Associate on the Wellcome‑funded Anti‑Ableist Research Culture project at the University of Sheffield – to explore podcasting as method, community, and counter‑archive. In this conversation: Podcasting as a research method. From Massively Disabled to Cripping Research Culture, Élaina experiments with sound, affect, and “epistemic brokering” to amplify disabled knowledges and blur the subject/object divide, especially around COVID and long COVID. Rigour with care. Podcasting isn’t “less scholarly”, it’s differently-rigorous. Élaina talks positionality, disclosure, and even choosing to leave audible pain in‑track to honour labour and embodiment, while pushing for broader vocal inclusion (accents, speech impairments) in HE audio. Access by design. Why transcripts are non‑negotiable, when BSL…

In today's final episode of Research Culture Uncovered, hosts Taryn Bell and Emily Ennis discuss how they solved research culture. With no more issues left to fix, and everything running smoothly, they take one last opportunity to sit back, rest, and reflect on how everything went so right... Just kidding. Happy April Fools! In this episode, Taryn and Emily look back at what’s been achieved over the last 12 months, discuss some of the ‘classic’ research culture challenges facing higher education, and confront the notion that research culture is a problem that can be solved for good. Key takeaways: Research culture isn't something that can ever be solved - it's an ongoing, evolving process Real, genuine change can't come from research culture teams alone - meaningful change requires widespread involvement and collective responsibility More than ever, research culture needs to become a matter of 'business as usual', rather than an added extra In case you'd like to know more... Learn more about Research Culture…

In this episode of #ResearchCultureUncovered, host Dr Emily Ennis talks with Dr Amy Mayfield (Lancaster University) and Dr Nicola Simcock (Newcastle University) about how maturity frameworks are helping departments move from good intentions to practical change. What you’ll hear: Why a “maturity framework” (name still up for debate!) helps complex organisations reflect honestly on where they are now and where they want to get to, without turning evaluation into yet another top‑down exercise. Local first, institution-wide impact. Newcastle’s pilot runs the tool with units of different sizes to surface priorities, share what already works, and target support. Different disciplines, different ways of engaging. Some users preferred quantitative responses, others qualitative – and yes, a stereotypical disciplinary split has happened! – but both routes generated useful, actionable insight. Lancaster’s MERCI project (Maturity and Evaluation of Research Culture Initiatives) uses away day workshops and a simple “Why?”…

🎙️ The #ResearchCultureUncovered podcast team is excited to share our latest episode featuring reflections from the groundbreaking Impact Ignite Conference! Join host Ged Hall, discuss the conference with fellow University of Leeds #impactprofessionals Andy Cameron, Anu Ekanayake, Ali Quaile, Alexa Ruppertsberg, and Ruth Lawford-Rolfe as they discuss their experiences from this first-of-its-kind global gathering of research impact professionals. 🔹 Discover how Impact Ignite brought together impact professionals from the UK, Europe, Canada, the Middle East, and Australia—creating a true sense of community and solidarity for those working to bridge research and real-world change. 🔹 Learn about practical tools and strategies shared at the conference, including collaborative mapping techniques, impact strategy toolkits, and innovative coaching approaches that can transform how we work with researchers. 🔹 Hear reflections on the unique skillset impact professionals bring—from partnership development and…

🎙️In our latest episode, host Dr Ged Hall interviewed another of his #ResearchImpactHeroes Dr Tamika Heiden, founder of the Research Impact Academy and creator of the Research Impact Summit! Discover how one person's passion is beginning the process of creating a global community for research impact. 🔹 Hear Tamika's inspiring journey from PhD student to research impact entrepreneur, driven by a simple question: "Who makes sure my work gets to where it's needed?" 🔹 Learn the origin story of the Research Impact Summit - born from a sunny Melbourne day, a coffee in hand, and a borrowed idea that became a decade-long global initiative. 🔹 Explore the evolution of knowledge translation in Canada and how it shaped modern research impact practice worldwide. 🔹 Discover insights from the first Research Impact Ignite conference in Southampton and what it takes to build a thriving professional community. 🔹 Understand the challenges and opportunities for research impact culture in Australia and beyond. If you're…

🎧The latest new episode of the #ResearchCultureUncovered podcast Ged Hall introduces our New Host, Alix Brodie-Wray. Alix is Faculty Impact Development Manager for the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures at the University of Leeds. Alix discusses her role, which includes supporting impact case study development and working on impact literacy across nine schools. Find out more about Alix and what she will be bringing in her episodes. Topics include: 🔸 Alix's background, including her journey from the University of Brighton through various research support roles to her current position at Leeds. 🔸 Her role and responsibilities supporting arts and humanities impact. 🔸 Alix’s and Ged’s shared passion outside of work, Mod culture and soul music. 🔸 The biggest challenges facing researchers today, including disciplinary silos and public perception of higher education. 🔸 Her work on impact strategy, ethical approaches to impact, and making research more visible. ❓ What will Alix be covering in her upcoming…

In this episode, our host Emily Goodall speaks with James Parry, an independent consultant specialising in research integrity and research culture, and former Chief Executive of the UK Research Integrity Office. With years of experience supporting organisations and the research community, James shares insights on how research misconduct extends far beyond instances of fabrication or plagiarism — and how everyday pressures, small compromises, and unchallenged bad behaviour can erode trust, wellbeing, and research quality. Integrity in research isn’t just about following rules — it’s about building a culture where doing the right thing is supported, encouraged, and possible. Episode highlights include: 1️⃣ How systemic pressures like publish-or-perish cultures, job precarity, and time strain make good practice harder to maintain. 2️⃣ Why seeking advice and support early is essential: “You don't have to go full Scooby-Doo!” It’s not your job to investigate or challenge poor practice on your own. 3️⃣ The…

🎧 Show notes Episode title: Who Gets to Belong? LGBT+ History Month Podcast: Research Culture Uncovered Host: Heledd Jarosz-Griffiths (Researcher Development Advisor, University of Leeds) Episode overview LGBT+ History Month takes place every February, and the 2026 theme is Science & Innovation. In this episode, Heledd is joined by Morgan Buswell and Dr Robin Hayward to explore what LGBT+ History Month means in a research context — including how science and innovation spaces are experienced by LGBT+ colleagues, why some stories and contributions remain overlooked, and what helps create cultures where people genuinely feel able to belong and thrive. The conversation reflects on the balance between celebration and realism, the emotional labour involved in community and visibility work, and the importance of curiosity, psychological safety, and practical inclusion within research cultures. Featured contributors Morgan Buswell (he/him) - Morgan works across internal and external communications at the University…

In today's episode, Taryn Bell talks to Dr Mat Tata, Research Programme Manager (EDI in Research) at Cancer Research UK. Mat leads CRUK's work on equality, diversity and inclusion in research, and offers us an insight into research culture from the funder's perspective. Key highlights: 1️⃣Understanding the grant review process - Mat discusses how decisions are made across CRUK's funding calls, and the steps CRUK has taken to ensure their funding process is transparent, proportional and equitable. 2️⃣Funders as a mechanism for healthier research cultures - Taryn and Mat discuss the role of funders like CRUK in encouraging good behaviour while managing more serious issues of research misconduct. 3️⃣Cancer Research UK's role in supporting researchers and the public - Mat discusses how CRUK is different from other funders, and shares some of their recent work improving science literacy across the UK. Want to know more about Cancer Research UK, or about the resources mentioned in this episode? CRUK's EDI in…

This episode focuses on changing career from postdoctoral research to project management. Ruth Winden talks to Leeds alumni Dr Shirley-Anne Paul, Project Manager at Drax plc. With a background in Psychology, Shirley made the switch to project management after nine years as a postdoc at the University of Edinburgh, the University of Leeds and the University of York. She has had an illustrious project management career ever since, starting out in the Workers' Educational Association (WEA), then moving to Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber, the University of Leeds, the fintech sector at My Money Matters, and most recently to Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire. Key highlights from the podcast conversation: - Postdocs possess many transferable skills that are ideal for project management roles, such as organisational, time management, stakeholder engagement, and strong written and data analysis skills. - Making the move from academia to project management can feel like a significant leap of faith, even…

In our Research Culture Uncovered conversations we are asking what is Research Culture and why does it matter? In this episode we welcome new host, Dr Emily Ennis, to the team. We get to hear more about Emily before she hosts episodes on her specialist topics. Emily shares her background in research culture and her role as the Research Culture Manager at the University of Leeds, which includes leading the research culture team and overseeing evaluation and strategy. She elaborates on her background, shares her interests outside of work, and talks about her plans for future podcast episodes. Topics include: Emily's role and responsibilities at the University of Leeds Getting to know Emily with more on her hobbies and interests Emily's passion for Research Culture The challenges Emily identifies in research and academia What Emily is working on and what she will be doing How Emily views collaboration and competition in Research Culture What will Emily be covering in her upcoming episodes: Thought-provoking…

Episode overview Saying no is rarely just about confidence or time management. In research and higher education, it’s shaped by career stage, job security, power dynamics, working patterns, caring responsibilities, and the cultures we work within. In this episode, Heledd slows the conversation down and listens to reflections from a postgraduate researcher, academic colleagues at different career stages, and professional services colleagues working in learning and development and digital practice. Together, these voices show that “no” isn’t equally available to everyone — and that healthier research cultures depend on more than individual resilience. They depend on clear expectations, healthy role modelling, psychological safety, and respect for boundaries. Featured contributors Eima Karim — Postgraduate Researcher Final-year PhD student based in the Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine (LICAMM). 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eima-karim-a69276172/ Keith Livingstone — Academic /…

In our first episode of 2026 Nick talks to Josh Sendall about his career in academic libraries, culminating in his recent appointment as Acting Librarian and Keeper of the Brotherton Collection at the University of Leeds. In a wide ranging conversation Josh discusses the importance of research libraries and how 'openness' is deeply aligned with both his own and university values, the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how libraries have always adapted to new information technology. Josh reflects on his rapid career trajectory that has benefitted from "planned happenstance" and shares some of what he has learned along the way. His advice to others? Understand your values, know your value, and seek roles that align with personal purpose. Episode highlights: Josh sees leadership as service — to students, researchers, and the wider civic and cultural mission of the university He emphasises vulnerability, humanity, and continuous learning as essential leadership traits Josh’s career demonstrates planned…

This special holiday episode is all about celebration, laughter, and a little friendly competition! The Research Culture Uncovered podcast team wraps up the year with a cheerful mix of knowledge and festive fun, proving that research culture can sparkle with joy. Join your quizmaster Dr Emma Spary as she attempts to keep control of proceedings. Before the quiz begins we have an early gift for our listeners. We’re pleased to welcome Dr Emily Ennis as a new host. Her passion for shaping research environments promises exciting conversations in the year ahead—you’ll get more in January when she stars in her own Meet the Host episode, but for now, consider this your festive sneak peek! Today, forget business as usual and join us in a festive quiz! All our fabulous hosts are gathered in one virtual room, ready to test their knowledge, buzzers, creativity, and competitive spirit. With three rounds of questions covering research culture, holiday trivia, and host special topics, expect plenty of laughs and maybe a…

In this episode of the Research Culture Uncovered podcast, host Dr Taryn Bell talks with Dr Sara Shinton and Dr Katie Nicoll Baines from the Future Leaders Fellows Development Network. Together, they discuss how the FLFDN enables future research leaders, supports institutions across the UK and helps shape a more collaborative and collegiate research culture. Key highlights: 1️⃣ Enabling, rather than training, researchers - Sara and Katie share examples of the support the Network offers to Future Leaders Fellows, and discuss the importance of helping researchers to develop their own resources and support 2️⃣ Researcher support as an iterative process - in other words, learning from Fellows what works, and proactively responding to their needs 3️⃣ Advocating for open-access support for institutions - Sara and Katie discuss how they provide freely available support for a wide variety of institutions, particularly those who don't currently have a Future Leaders Fellow. Want to know more? FLF Development Network…

🎙️ The Research Culture Uncovered podcast team is thrilled to present our latest episode featuring Vicky Williams, Chief Executive Officer of Emerald Publishing. Join hosts Ged Hall, Head of Researcher Development at the University of Leeds, and Nick Sheppard, Open Research Advisor in the University’s Library, as they delve into the insights and experiences of Vicky in shaping research culture. 🔹 Vicky shares her 25-year journey at Emerald Publishing and how the organisation’s founding values have driven its mission to make research usable in the world outside academia. 🔹 Discover how Emerald Publishing supports equitable access and impact, including their longstanding zero-embargo green open access policy and initiatives like the 'Are you in?' commitments and their free impact services. 🔹 Learn about the challenges faced by the scholarly publishing industry in promoting sustainable open access and meaningful change, and how Emerald Publishing is navigating these complexities to remain true to its values. 🔹…

In this episode, Ruth Winden, Careers with Research Consultant at the University of Leeds, speaks to Dr Elizabeth Faulkner and Dr Cathal Rogers about the UK's Higher Education sector and its systemic inequalities for researchers who return to their research careers after maternity leave. Following a nation-wide Freedom of Information request to 130 Higher Education institutions in the UK, Elizabeth and Cathal undertook painstaking analysis of universities' maternity leave policies for researchers. They published their findings in this Open Access article: Faulkner, E.A and Rogers, C (2025) Confronting the lack of support for academics returning to research from maternity leave in UK higher education; Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, pp. 1–23. Elizabeth and Cathal are now researching the topic further - watch the space. Key highlights: 1️⃣ There are many inconsistencies across UK HE in support for returning researchers 2️⃣ Disparity isn’t directly linked to the size or research-intensity of…

In this insightful episode, Dr. Emily Goodall speaks with Dr. James Greenwood-Reeves about how research can be radically reimagined when it’s creative, collaborative, and community-led. Together, they explore how working with drag artists through the “Laws a Drag” network is challenging traditional academic norms and reshaping what research culture can look like. Key highlights: 1️⃣ Co-production is powerful: Collaboration goes beyond treating participants as research subjects, when drag artists guided the research, it became more ethical and impactful. 2️⃣ Creative methods matter: Arts-based approaches like forum theatre amplify marginalised voices and encourage researchers to reflect on their own roles. 3️⃣ Responsible research: Research that genuinely serves and empowers communities. "Laws a Drag" combines ethical rigor with practical support, producing outcomes that truly matter to the people involved. 4️⃣ Building trust & networks takes work: Lasting change requires time and care. Strong partnerships…

Show Notes Episode Summary: In Beyond the Pain Scale: Embodied Research, host Dr Heledd Jarosz-Griffiths speaks with Dr Neko Mellor about how chronic pain, disability, and neurodiversity shape both research and writing. Drawing on her PhD in English at the University of Leeds, Neko explores how twenty-first-century women authors represent pain, reflecting on the limits of medical pain scales, the challenges of articulating ongoing pain, and what it means to research through the body. Blending literary analysis with lived experience, she examines how pain is expressed, understood, and misunderstood—both medically and culturally—and what this means for disabled and neurodivergent researchers navigating academia. Content note: This episode discusses chronic pain, disability, neurodiversity, and lived experience in research. These themes include personal reflections on illness, embodiment, and medical care. While the conversation is supportive and aims to promote understanding and inclusion, some listeners may…

In this episode of the 'Research Culture Uncovered' podcast, Emma Spary, Associate Director for Researcher Development and Research Culture at the University of Leeds, is joined by guests Nik Ogryzko, from UKRI's Central Talent Team, and Kelly Vere, Director of Technical Strategy at the University of Nottingham. The discussion explores the need for a shift from a culture that's merely nice to one that's collaborative and structurally supportive. They include the importance of recognising contributions from all team members, including technicians, research administrators, and digital experts, to foster better research outcomes. Key highlights: The shortcomings of the current PI-centric model in research, suggesting a more integrated and systemic approach that values diverse roles and reduces bureaucratic burdens. Examples from institutions like Warwick, Bath, Exeter, and UCL, which have restructured their research operations to enhance efficiency and support. A team-centred approach from the outset, valuing…

Research Culture Uncovered: Navigating Career and Parenthood as a Scientist Host Ruth Winden (Careers with Research Consultant) and guest Dr. Hema Viswambharan (Senior Scientist, LICAMM, University of Leeds) “Building a career after a break is like a marathon and not a sprint.” (Dr. Hema Viswambharan) Episode Overview: In this highly personal episode, Ruth Winden speaks with Dr. Hema Viswambharan about the realities of juggling a research career with parenthood. Drawing on her 20 years of experience as both a scientist and a mother, Hema shares her lived experiences, highlighting personal and professional challenges, effective coping strategies, and the value of support networks. Key Discussion Points: Inspiration and Early Career: Hema describes her journey into science, inspired by her parents, especially her mother, “a female scientist in her own respect.” The Impact of Parenthood on Career: Hema chose to “stay as a research fellow,” bringing up three children while maintaining her career, supported by…

University of Leeds Libraries is proud to partner with Wikimedia UK to promote open knowledge across campus and beyond. Wikimedia UK is the national chapter of the global Wikimedia movement and in this episode Nick is joined by Dr. Lucy Hinnie and Dr. Richard Nevell to explore the role of Wikimedians in Residence, particularly at universities. Lucy and Richard discuss the importance of Wikipedia in promoting knowledge transparency and share their experiences working with Wikimedia UK, highlighting different projects aimed at leveraging Wikipedia for educational and research purposes. Key topics include the integration of Wikimedia into academic settings, the impact of open knowledge on public engagement, and the challenges posed by AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT. Key takeaways include: 🔹 The role of a Wikimedian in Residence 🔹 The benefits of engaging with the Wikimedia platforms in Higher Education 🔹 The importance of human curated knowledge in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI)…

In this episode ‘Sparking Impact: The People, Values, and Vibe of the UK Knowledge Mobilisation Forum with Dr Vicky Ward’ Ged Hall talks to Dr. Vicky Ward (Reader in Management at the University of St. Andrews) about the UK Knowledge Mobilisation Forum and her period as its Chair. They discuss the unique world of knowledge mobilisation and what makes the UK Knowledge Mobilisation Forum so special, including its aims and format. The key takeaways from the discussion are: 🔹 Discover Vicky’s fascinating journey from music PhD to leading knowledge mobilisation in the UK. 🔹 Learn the origins and evolution of the UK Knowledge Mobilisation Forum, and how it’s built a vibrant, supportive community. 🔹 Explore what makes the Forum different from traditional conferences: interactive workshops, knowledge fayres, and a focus on collaboration over presentations. 🔹 Hear about the Forum’s core values—sustainability, inclusivity, and creating a safe, energising space for practitioners and researchers. If you’re passionate…

It's time to talk about failure again! In this episode, Taryn Bell chats with Ireen Litvak-Zur, Senior Consultant at Advance HE. Ireen discusses her experiences of failure both in and out of academia, and shares her thoughts on how to fail well. Key takeaways: "Failure now is a step in a process, rather than an outcome": there's still an ingrained stigma against failure in academia, but Ireen's own views on failure changed dramatically after she left academia How we deal with failure can make those failures worse: The easy fix for failure is to put more pressure on yourself - but this has hugely negative impacts on academics in the long run The importance of both self-compassion and a growth mindset: When we stop punishing ourselves for our failures, we're more able to learn from them To listen back to our previous episodes on failure, check out the links below: Navigating Failure in Academia How to Handle Professional Failure From setback to success: supporting researchers after unsuccessful funding…

What started as a bold idea has made a real, lasting impact on supporting Early Career Researchers (ECRs) at the University of Leeds. A team of exceptional postdocs, Jessica Swanson, Laurin McDowall and James Warren led a collaborative project that tackled some of the biggest challenges ECRs face: fragmented information on professional development, the need for greater awareness of opportunities, a route to gain formal project management qualifications and/or become chartered. With professional services staff Taryn Bell, Anisha (Parsotam) O'Hagan, Nazia Nasir and Ruth Winden supporting (not leading!) and generous Research England funding, they 📌 created a central digital ECR Hub, 📌 ran a packed fellowship fair, 📌 enabled over 35 postdocs to go through the Prince2 project management certification, 📌 and helped a sizeable group of researchers on their way to become Chartered Scientists. Key learnings of this 9-month project: 1⃣ When postdocs are empowered to lead, innovation follows. “Listen to the…

This week Nick speaks with his Library colleague Kikachukwu Oluonye about the UKRN Train the Trainer programme. Like Nick, Kikachukwu is an Open Research Adviser based in the Library and also has a role with the UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN) as Open Research Coordinators and Administrator (ORCA). As a member institution of UKRN, Kikachukwu would like to invite University of Leeds colleagues to apply to be part of the second cohort of the UKRN Train the Trainer programme. You'll need to be quick though as the deadline is next week, 17th September. We also hear from Dr Scott Mclaughlin, Associate Professor in Composition and Music Technology based in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures. Scott was a member of the first cohort last year and talks about open research from the perspective of Arts and Humanities, and as a practice researcher. Episode highlights: UKRN Train the Trainer Programme Overview: The University of Leeds joined the UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN) consortium in February 2024,…

🎙️ 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…

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…

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…

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…