Meet the Staff Research Culture Team, Karen Bingham (left) and Lisa Rhodes (right)
For each edition of Research Connect, we shine a spotlight on a team or member of the Department of Research and Innovation. This month, we’re featuring the Staff Research Culture team. Read on to learn who they are and how they can support you.
Can you tell us a little about your role, and what it involves?
Lisa Rhodes: The last two years in post as Training and Research Culture Manager have seen me work across three main areas. Firstly, with the establishment of a small team working within the Doctoral college (part of the Department of Research and Innovation), I work alongside the institutional Research Culture Lead to develop initiatives to enhance research culture across the university for our researchers, academics and wider research support community. I have been key in the establishment of our 8 Research Culture Pillars, that are working with stakeholders to support research culture and preparations for REF SPRE. My second ‘hat’ is leading on the institutional approach to the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, working to deliver on actions that will specifically support staff who are on research-only contracts. This work includes delivery of training and networking events, as well as producing resources to aid these staff in their current and future careers. Finally, I also lead on the Research and Innovation Staff Development Programme, developing training programmes, facilitating mentoring and coaching opportunities and collating and sharing useful resources via our webpages and intranet site.
Karen Bingham: I’m the Training and Research Culture Officer and for the last 2 years, I have been working in the Doctoral College team within the Department of Research and Innovation, working with and supporting Lisa in all areas of Training and Research Culture. This has included organising the Research Culture Connect-Fest last June, attending & minuting the Research Culture Development Group (RCDG) meetings, which are held 3 times a year, collating training data for the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers, facilitating the wide range of workshops for the Research and Innovation Staff Development Programme and ensuring these are created in Docebo. Alongside this, I support researchers and academics with queries, events and training requirements. In addition, I facilitate meetings and events for the four R&I Staff Networks spanning all academic career stages.
What do you enjoy most about working in research and innovation and what challenges do you face?
Lisa Rhodes: The most enjoyable part of working in R&I is the opportunity it provides to engage with such a breadth of colleagues from across the institution. Having been part of the department for over 10 years, in three different roles, I never tire of hearing about the research that is being carried out here and seeing the real impact it brings. The biggest challenge is making sure we get our initiatives, training and updates communicated to the right people, at the right time and we are continually seeking ways to make this more effective.
Karen Bingham: I have worked at the university for 4 years and really enjoy the variety the role brings and the opportunity to meet colleagues at different career stages, and hear them enthusiastically present and share their research with ‘real-world’ impact. My biggest challenge is ensuring all training and events are promoted effectively and via the channels that colleagues engage with, plus the appropriate workshops are arranged for the right audience at a time most convenient for them.
What are your priorities/hopes for research and innovation at the University in the coming year?
Lisa Rhodes: Research culture is influenced by many different factors, and a priority will be to ensure that our plans and initiatives, linked to the Research Culture Pillars, really do provide valuable and measurable impact for all staff engaged in delivering R & I. Key to this will be supporting the preparation towards REF 2029, and specifically the SPRE submission. Also, bringing to life the plans for the new R&I training pathways that we are really excited to launch - we are in the process of engaging with staff who may be able to support the delivery of modules and workshops.
Karen Bingham: The establishment of the R&I pathways in Docebo is a priority. The aim of this is to guide academics and researchers to those workshops designed to aid their development, specific to their career stage. I’m excited about the events linked to the Research Culture Pillars to raise the profile of our work around Research Culture and to highlight the amazing work being carried out across the University.
You can contact Karen and Lisa at researchculture@port.ac.uk.