Research and Innovation Services (RIS) provides dedicated, specialist support to Northumbria’s research community throughout the research grant lifecycle to help sustain Northumbria’s position as a research-intensive modern university.
Support includes sourcing potential funding; aiding proposal development; providing guidance through the authorisation process; monitoring project spend; and assisting production of the final report.
RIS designs and administers research-related training programmes for staff, offers support for the commercialisation of research, co-ordinates the University’s ethical procedures and works with senior colleagues to ensure the delivery of coherent research-based policy and strategy.
The Service also supports the University’s Research Excellence Framework (REF) submission and co-ordinates ways in which the benefits and impact of Northumbria's research are shared with the wider public.
RIS provides professional support for strategy, policy and academic delivery of research and innovation; through a combination of central and Faculty-aligned provision, it supports academic colleagues and postgraduate researchers.
Explore our teams and find key contacts below.
The RIS Executive Team lead and manage the RIS Service. Together, they work with University and Faculty leadership teams to implement the research & knowledge exchange delivery plan, respond to external requirements, and provide support to academic colleagues and the broader RIS team. They also work across the University to support broader requirements such as Health & Safety, Sustainability and EDI.
Jenny Taylor
Executive Director of Research and Innovation Services
Director for Economic Development
jenny2.taylor@northumbria.ac.uk
As Executive Director of Research and Innovation Services, Jenny leads the RIS team, working closely with the Pro Vice Chancellor (Research & Knowledge Exchange) to shape and implement the Research & Knowledge Exchange Strategic Delivery Plans, and works with external organisations such as funders and government departments to understand and influence the research and knowledge exchange policy environment. Jenny also leads the development of strategic place based innovation and economic regeneration projects for the university identifying and accessing appropriate funding opportunities.
Michael Parker
Director for Impact, IP and Commercialisation
michael2.parker@northumbria.ac.uk
Michael leads the research impact and IP commercialisation teams and is responsible for the development and implementation of University-wide approaches to support the generation of impact. This encompasses engaged research, impact in research assessment, public and policy engagement, and the commercialisation of intellectual property. The Impact and IP commercialisation teams work with colleagues across the university to evidence their research impact and help identify, protect, and exploit any intellectual property from their research.
Andrew Poole
Head of Research Delivery and Compliance / RIS Lead for REF2029
Andrew is Head of the Research Delivery and Compliance team within RIS. The team works with Principal Investigators across the University to manage and deliver our externally funded research projects, providing expert advice, guidance and compliance support to our grant holders. He recently managed the implementation of new pre- and post-award research management systems on behalf of Research and Innovations Services and is now leading the RIS team in preparation for REF2029. Andrew’s previous roles include Head of Grants and Contracts and Head of Preparations for REF2021.
Jessica Holmes
Head of Research Development
jessica.holmes@northumbria.ac.uk
Jess is the Head of Research Development and leads a team of Research Development Managers and Coordinators who are responsible for supporting academics to develop high-quality research proposals and secure external funding. The team provides hands-on support to our academic colleagues, which includes supporting discussions regarding idea development, training delivery, funder engagement, strategic development of funding plans, critical feedback on applications, costings, navigating the approvals process and liaising with partners, as well as contributing to Funder Liaison Groups and Research Committees.
Rachel Williamson-Pears
Director of Research Operations
rachel.williamson-pears@northumbria.ac.uk
Rachel joined us as Director of Research Operations in May 2024.
Laura Hutchinson
Head of Research Culture and Integrity
laura.hutchinson2@northumbria.ac.uk
Laura is the Head of Research Culture and Integrity and currently heading up the Research Ethics and Integrity, Research Information and Systems, and Research Culture teams within the Research Policy team. Laura works with the team to support the delivery of our ethics policy, HRA and NHS Sponsorship process and compliance with the Concordat to Support Research Integrity; the development of the Research Culture Action plan and activity to support its delivery; and research information systems development and support. Laura's substantive post is Research Ethics and Integrity Manager.
Elizabeth Savage
Executive Assistant to Executive Director of RIS
elizabeth.savage@northumbria.ac.uk
Elizabeth provides executive support to Jenny Taylor and Michael Parker. Please contact Elizabeth for diary availability, matters relating to the RIS Directors and to inform of any upcoming deadlines that require sign off.
The Research Policy Team supports institutional alignment with best practice around research policy and culture, provides strategic reporting and ensures that our underpinning systems support our ambitions for growth and quality in research. The team works collaboratively and in partnership with colleagues across the institution on the related agendas of research integrity and ethics, research culture, open research, research evaluation, and researcher skills development and training. The team also ensures that Northumbria’s research has visibility through our research portal and corporate website and that achievements are recognised through the Research Excellence Framework.
This team develops and delivers learning and development activities and online resources for researchers across all career stages. Northumbria staff can access and register onto upcoming activities on the research development events calendar and research development intranet pages.
Samantha King
Researcher Skills Development Manager
samantha.king@northumbria.ac.uk
Working collaboratively with Professional Support Services and academic departments, Sam commissions, develops and delivers 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.
Edan Pickering
Research Culture & Development Coordinator
edan3.pickering@northumbria.ac.uk
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. Edan also supports the provision of online resources, including accessible training videos and self-learn modules and is responsible for updating and maintaining the University's Researcher Development events calendar.
Grainne O'Hare
Research Policy Administrator
grainne.ohare@northumbria.ac.uk
Grainne joined the Policy Team in April 2024 and supports researcher development activity.
This team supports and implements initiatives related to enhancing the research environment, culture and excellence across the University.
Kevin Richardson
Research Culture & Quality Manager
kevin2.richardson@northumbria.ac.uk
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 promoting 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 & Quality Manager
ellen.s.cole@northumbria.ac.uk
Ellen leads on initiatives that enhance the research environment across the University, and support our academic staff to deliver the highest quality research. This includes developing the University’s research culture action plan, and the systems and services that support internal and external research assessment processes. Ellen takes an active interest in open research and participates in both University and sector-wide initiatives to increase access to academic research publications and their underlying data, and implementation of principles of responsible research assessment.
Lauren McDonald
Research Culture & Development Coordinator
lauren2.mcdonald@northumbria.ac.uk
Lauren supports activity related to Research Culture & Quality.
This team offers support and guidance using the online research ethics application system, external ethical approvals and compliance, and can advise on best practice for the ethical conduct of research at Northumbria. For general ethics queries, you can also contact the team inbox at ethicssupport@northumbria.ac.uk or visit the Ethics and Integrity webpage. If you have a research integrity issue to report you can contact laura.hutchinson2@northumbria.ac.uk.
Laura Hutchinson
Research Ethics and Integrity Manager
laura.hutchinson2@northumbria.ac.uk
Laura supports the research ethics approvals processes, advising on best practice, external regulations and frameworks related to research ethics and integrity, including research requiring external ethical approval. Laura works in collaboration with academic and professional support colleagues to embed research integrity at Northumbria through the Ethics Steering Group, Faculty Research Ethics Committees and Research Ethics Committee (acting as secretary).
Gill Drinkald
Research Policy Coordinator
gill.drinkald@northumbria.ac.uk
Gill supports a wide range of activities linked to supporting research ethics systems and processes. These include: validating, extracting and analysing management information; supporting staff to use research systems effectively through guidance and training; providing ongoing support to Research Policy Team events and training; supporting the process of NHS REC and HRA approvals; liaising with colleagues in other Services to support ethics and governance processes; and secretarial support University and Faculty Research Ethics Committees, as well as Ethics Steering Group.
Gill supports Department Ethics Leads in their use of the online ethics system for ethical approval, triage of ethics applications in the new Ethics Online System (launch date October 2022), and coordination of a College of Reviewers to link with new ethics framework and policy.
Gill consults and provides support to Faculty Research Ethics Directors and Department Ethics Leads in relation to ethical approval and internal and external governance requirements related to research ethics and integrity.
Hala Othman
hala.othman@northumbria.ac.uk.
Hala assists users with the Ethics Online System, offering support and guidance on how best to use the system effectively whilst triaging applications. She has a developed understanding of frameworks and regulations pertaining to research integrity and development at Northumbria, sharing resources and information on this. She also offers administrative support surrounding establishing an ethical culture within the university, through the Ethics Steering Group and Faculty Research Ethics Committees.
Em Howes
Research Ethics and Integrity Coordinator
Em joined the Policy Team in April 2024 and supports research ethics activity.
This team provides help and advice on data integrations, research data management and reporting, or support for users of research systems including Pure. For general PureSupport enquiries, please contact puresupport@northumbria.ac.uk.
Peter Cammish
Research Information & Systems Manager
peter.cammish@northumbria.ac.uk
Peter manages data and information related to research systems. This includes our main research information system Pure as well as working with other research support systems such as Worktribe and Ethics Online. With a strong interest in data management and better utilising information for decision making, Peter is actively implementing ways to streamline integration and reporting of research data and metrics. Peter can offer help and advice on data integrations, research data management and reporting as well as support for users of research systems.
Paul Mitchell
Research Policy & Systems Coordinator
paul.mitchell@northumbria.ac.uk
Paul supports the maintenance and development of the University research information system and repository of scholarly publications, Pure. Paul offers advice and assistance to academics updating their research profiles via Pure and supports the production of institutional research data and reports.
Research Content and Communications Officer
researchsupport@northumbria.ac.uk
The Research Content and Communications Officer works closely with Northumbria’s Academic leads, predominantly the Interdisciplinary Research Themes (IDRTs) and Peaks of Research Excellence. They support with leading and identifying projects to communicate their research and outcomes to different audiences. Aligned to Research and Innovation Services, they oversee the production process for digital projects and publications, supporting the identification of target audiences and creating digital content for webpages, social media, event notifications and briefings to enhance Northumbria's growing research profile. Please contact the research support inbox in the first instance at the above email address.
The research development team, comprising Research Development Managers, Pre-Award Coordinators and Administrators, offers support for research grant applications from ideas right through to submission.This includes supporting discussions regarding idea development, training delivery, funder engagement, strategic development of funding plans, critical feedback on applications, costings, navigating the approvals process and liaising with partners.
Research Development Managers (RDMs) provide specialist expertise in relation to the domestic and international research funding, work closely with a variety of research funders, academics and their non-academic partners and provide professional project management skills to catalyse and coordinate activity to enable the development and submission of strategic and large value collaborative funding proposals. RDMs are primarily funder-aligned, supporting strategic/complex funding opportunities, specifically in relation to their designated funders across the university.
For Horizon Europe Pillar 1 & 2 calls, and larger UKRI-wide calls, please contact the faculty-aligned Research Development Manager in the first instance.
Selina Sutton
Research Development Manager
selina.sutton@northumbria.ac.uk
Funder alignment: ESRC
David Young
Research Development Manager
david.g.young@northumbria.ac.uk
Funder alignment: STFC, EPSRC, NERC
Strategic/Faculty leadership support: Engineering & Environment
Ian Shovlin
Research Development Manager
Funder-alignment: AHRC & Leverhulme Trust
Strategic/Faculty leadership support: Arts, Design & Social Sciences
Andrew Latimer
Research Development Manager (secondment)
andrew.latimer@northumbria.ac.uk
Funder-alignment: Research England, UKRI cross-council, Innovate UK, ARIA
Strategic/Faculty leadership support: Business and Law
Andrew's substantive role is Research Development Officer. Please direct funder queries regarding British Academy, Academy of Medical Sciences, or National Institutes of Health to carolyn2.taylor@northumbria.ac.uk until 31 May 2025.
Sarah Thomas
Research Development Manager
Sarah is currently on maternity leave.
Please direct queries to andrew.latimer@northumbria.ac.uk until 31 May 2025.
Scott McGee
Research Development Manager
Funder alignment: MRC, BBSRC, Wellcome Trust
Strategic/Faculty leadership support: Health & Life Sciences
Jack Palmer
Research Development Manager
Funder alignment: NIHR, Nuffield Foundation, ISRF
Victoria Boon
Research Development Officer
victoria.boon@northumbria.ac.uk
Funder alignment: Royal Society, UK Space Agency and European Space Agency
Victoria provides support to researchers to develop and secure external research grants via the provision of specialist support at every stage of the pre-award process, including guidance on preparing/checking the components, structure and content of the proposal.
Carolyn Taylor
Research Development Officer
carolyn2.taylor@northumbria.ac.uk
Carolyn provides support to researchers to develop and secure external research grants via the provision of specialist support at every stage of the pre-award process, including guidance on preparing/checking the components, structure and content of the proposal.
Funder alignments: British Academy, Academy of Medical Sciences, National Institutes of Health.
Steve Bremner
Research Development Officer
steve2.bremner@northumbria.ac.uk
Departmental Support: Sports, Education and Rehabilitation (SER)
Steve provides support to researchers to develop and secure external research grants via the provision of specialist support at every stage of the pre-award process, including guidance on preparing/checking the components, structure and content of the proposal, with a specific IDRT lens.
Daisy Winter
Research Development Officer
daisy3.winter@northumbria.ac.uk
Carolyn provides support to researchers to develop and secure external research grants via the provision of specialist support at every stage of the pre-award process, including guidance on preparing/checking the components, structure and content of the proposal.
James Turkington
Student Placement, Research Development Team
James has joined the Research Development Team for his 2024/25 placement year as part of his Criminology and Forensic Science degree at Northumbria University. James supports the Research Development Managers and the wider team in research-related activities.
Our Pre-Award team provides expert advice and guidance to researchers applying for externally funded research applications. Pre-Award support includes the coordination of project costings, approvals, compliance checks, due diligence, and lay review.
Susan Duffy
Pre Award Coordinator - Team Lead
Susan is Team Lead of the Pre Award Section and has worked at the university for over 20 years and within Research approx 10 years so has a good broad understanding of the Services supporting academics across the university
Departmental support: Law; Psychology; Marketing, Operations & Systems - please contact Susan in the first instance.
Sarah Agnew
Research Support Officer
Faculty Support: ADSS/HLS
Departmental support: Arts; Design; Humanities; Nursing, Midwifery & Health
Sarah provides support to academic staff across all 4 faculties.
Andrew Pearce
Research Support Officer
andrew.pearce@northumbria.ac.uk
Faculty Support: EE
Departmental support: Mechanical & Construction Engineering (MCE)
Andy has supported academic staff across all 4 faculties.
Maureen McCourt
Research Support Officer
maureen.mccourt@northumbria.ac.uk
Faculty Support: EE
Departmental support: Leadership & HRM; Accounting & Financial Management; Entrepreneurship & Innovation Strategy
Maureen has provided support to academic staff across all 4 faculties.
Alex Okike
Research Support Officer
Departmental support: Computer and Information Sciences (CIS); Maths, Physics & Electrical Engineering (MPEE).
Alex has provided support to academic staff across all 4 faculties.
Vira Levkivska
Research Support Officer
vira.levkivska@northumbria.ac.uk
Departmental support: Applied Sciences; Architecture & Built Environment
Simon Cochrane
Research Support Officer
simon.j.cochrane@northumbria.ac.uk
Departmental support: Social Sciences; Geography & Environmental Sciences; Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing (SWECW).
Tier 1 applications for external funding (typically under £25k)
The team members below provide support and guidance to Tier 1 (typically under £25k) applications for external funding. This support includes the coordination of project costings, approvals and compliance checks:
Carol Bennett
Research Support Administrator
carol.bennett@northumbria.ac.uk
Faculty support: Business & Law; Engineering & Environment
Carol provides support to academic staff with external funding applications, specifically Business and Law (BL) and Engineering and Environment (EE) with Tier 1 funding. Carol can provide support with costing in line with funder guidelines, institutional approval processes, Worktribe queries and submitting via external submission systems. In addition, Carol assists with Departmental financial support via SAP and Coupa. Carol has over twenty years' experience in Higher Education and has been part of Research and Innovation Services since 2013.
Jessica O'Donnell
Research Support Administrator
jessica2.odonnell@northumbria.ac.uk
Faculty support: Arts, Design & Social Sciences; Health & Life Sciences
Jessica provides support to academic staff for external funding applications and is the primary contact for Tier 1 funding for Arts, Design and Social Sciences (ADSS), and Health and Life Sciences (HLS). Jessica can provide support with costing in-line with funder guidelines; institutional approval processes; Worktribe queries; and submitting via external submission systems.
The RIS Worktribe and Oracle Implementation Team is working with colleagues in IT, Finance and HR to introduce new pre- and post-award research management systems to Northumbria. Worktribe is a cloud-based software platform designed specifically for UK Higher Education and is currently used by 46 HEIs, including Edinburgh, Durham, Imperial, Nottingham, UCL, York and Birmingham. The pre-award module provides a platform for developing complex grants involving multiple parties and costing and pricing scenarios. Oracle Projects forms part of the Oracle Fusion ERP system which will, when fully implemented, manage all of Northumbria’s HR, procurement, finance and externally funded projects.
Kelly Wilkinson
Research Delivery Coordinator
kelly.wilkinson@northumbria.ac.uk
Kelly is currently seconded to the Oracle Implementation team, working with colleagues from IT, Finance and Oracle Consulting, designing and testing the project management functionality of the ERP system. She is also manging the migration of project data from our current finance system SAP to ensure a seamless transfer when the new system goes live. She has created multiple central sources for collating important project information such as claim deadlines, forecasts, documentation and more. Kelly also continues to look at ways of improving the management of information, until new systems are in place. Kelly is also an experienced research delivery coordinator and provides additional support to colleagues in the faculties during busy periods as well as provide training to new team members.
The Research Delivery Team provides financial management, guidance and support for externally funded research, consultancy and CPD projects. The team are responsible for providing support for the PI throughout the project lifetime. This includes creating project accounts (internal orders) for each grant; managing the finances of projects within funder and University guidelines; providing updates on expenditure, forecasted future spending and income received; compiling claims and supporting internal and external audits. The team also liaises with Legal Services to assist with collaboration agreements and contracts for projects.
Research Delivery Managers
Our Research Delivery Managers provide expert advice and guidance on all aspects of post award and lead on the continued improvement of procedures across the Team to ensure they are efficient, effective, meet changing needs and reflect best practice. They also provide high quality reports and financial returns as required.
Karen Finley
Research Delivery Officer
karen.finley@northumbria.ac.uk
Karen provides support to PIs on complex research grants, including financial management, budget monitoring, claims and audits, forecasting and reporting. Karen supports Academic colleagues in managing their budgets, offering advice and guidance on internal policies and procedures, and funder regulations. Karen works closely with partners to ensure successful delivery of the grant.
Rachel Sibley
Research Delivery Officer
rachel.sibley@northumbria.ac.uk
Rachel joined the team in July 2023 after previously working in both pre & post award at Newcastle University. Rachel will work closely with PI’s and academic colleagues to project manage externally funded research and knowledge exchange with a diverse range of funders and partners. Rachel will maintain an oversight of project budgets and expenditure which will include budget monitoring, forecasting and reporting. Rachel will also provide guidance and support to ensure research milestone and deliverables are met whilst adhering to funder terms and conditions and internal procedures and policies
Kelly Wilkinson
Research Delivery Coordinator
kelly.wilkinson@northumbria.ac.uk
Kelly provides central support across the team. She has created and now maintains central sources for collating important project information such as claim deadlines, forecasts, documentation and more. Kelly also continues to look at ways of improving the management of information, until new systems are in place. Kelly is also an experienced research delivery coordinator and provides additional support to colleagues in the faculties during busy periods as well as provide training to new team members.
Maya Duncanson
BL Research Delivery Coordinator
maya.duncanson@northumbria.ac.uk
Maya provides Post Award support to the Business and Law Faculty, working closely with PIs on various externally funded projects including those funded by European Commission, British Academy, Leverhulme Trust, Innovate UK and other collaborative partners. Maya provides expenditure reports and statements to funders and liaises with PIs on post award matters such as budget and spend, quarterly forecast on live projects and audit preparation.
Andrea Reynolds
EE Research Delivery Coordinator
andrea.reynolds@northumbria.ac.uk
Andrea provides post award support to project teams in the Engineering & Environment Faculty from award through to closure. Andrea provides support with tasks such as budget updates, claim preparation, invoicing, compliance with funder guidelines, coordination of audits, budget forecasting and reprofiling. Andrea has experience of European Funding and is keen to support colleagues to optimise their grants and deliver successful projects.
Lynn Retallick
EE Research Delivery Coordinator
lynn.retallick@northumbria.ac.uk
Lynn offers project and financial management skills and expertise to assist in the successful delivery of Research Grants awarded by external funding bodies. Lynn has experience in grant management of revenue and capital projects, forecasting & budgetary control, funding claims/ reporting, compliance and audit and assists PIs to ensure research grants are utilised to their full potential. Lynn works closely with research partners and colleagues within all support areas, to keep research projects on track and successful.
Bukunola Adekolu
HLS Research Delivery Coordinator
bukunola.adekolu@northumbria.ac.uk
Bukunola supports research projects, managing all aspects of budget and spend monitoring, compliance, claims and invoicing, financial reporting, contracts and procurement. Bukunola’s experience before Northumbria covered programme operational management of donor-funded international development programmes across Africa and the Middle East.
Michael Baty
HLS Research Delivery Coordinator
michael.baty@northumbria.ac.uk
Michael provides post award support, financial management and administration of research projects, within the Health & Life Sciences Faculty, mainly overseeing the departments of Applied Sciences and Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing. Michael prepares financial statements for both internal and external stakeholders, and monitors project accounts to ensure we comply with both funding and financial regulations, including audit preparation as required, and assists in the preparation of quarterly forecast reports for faculty.
Paul Beal
Research Delivery Coordinator (HtG
)
Paul Beal is the research delivery coordinator for the Help to Grow management programme, a course delivered with the Chartered Association of Business Schools to support small and medium businesses. Paul works closely with the programme PI to deliver budget monitoring and project forecasting, financial reports on spending, claim preparation, invoicing, audit preparation and ensuring expenditure compliance.
Andrea Palfreeman
EE Research Delivery Coordinator
andrea.palfreeman@northumbria.ac.uk
Andrea provides post award support for externally funded awards which includes monitoring spend against budgets, claims and invoicing, financial reporting, and audit preparation. Andrea works with PI’s to offer advice and guidance on funder and University rules and regulations.
Kirsty Hoey
ADSS / BL / EE / HLS Research Delivery Coordinator
Kirsty currently provides support for the CPD and Consultancies across all four faculties. Kirsty is responsible for the claims, invoicing, reporting and forecasting. Prior to working in RIS, Kirsty was part of the HLS faculty resource team and coordinated the IAPT project, providing project support and management.
Emma Crowley
HLS Research Delivery Coordinator
emma.crowley@northumbria.ac.uk
Emma supports research projects, managing all aspects of budget and spend monitoring, compliance, claims and invoicing, financial reporting, contracts and procurement. Emma was previously an ERDF Coordinator for the NEBS2 Project, working with the Placements and Internships Team within Graduate Futures, and the Grants and Contracts Team within Research and Innovation Services. Emma has managed several large-scale, multi-party projects, including a multi-million-pound, 5-year Innovate UK, DASA and an ERDF project through BIC, in addition to managing the SME’s financial accounts.
Adam Dixon
ADSS Research Delivery Coordinator
Adam is the Research Delivery Coordinator for projects in the Faculty of Arts, Design and Social Sciences. Adam assists PIs with the financial management of their projects, providing expenditure updates, submitting claims, invoicing, and producing reports. Adam's role involves providing expert knowledge of UNN's financial regulations and external funder guidance.
Alona Baranchenko
Research Delivery Coordinator
alona.baranchenko@northumbria.ac.uk
Alona joined the Research Delivery Team in 2024.
Lourdes Bradley 
Research Contracts Coordinator
lourdes.bradley@northumbria.ac.uk
Lourdes joined us in August 2023 and is the Research Contracts Coordinator in the Research Delivery team, providing support to the research contract review process and working closely with the Legal Services Team to ensure agreements are put in place in a timely manner. Lourdes provides dedicated support to all researchers offering advice and guidance on contract management issues related to externally funded research. Lourdes is responsible for the completion of research agreements and provides a professional interface between faculties and external funders.
Ashley Coates
Projects Delivery Assistant
ashley.coates@northumbria.ac.uk
Ashley supports the research delivery coordinators with project support for externally funded projects, including claim submissions, reconciliations, journals, invoicing, and forecasting, as well as audit assistance and Tier 1 project portfolio project management including Financial Management.
Helen Hodgson
Projects Delivery Assistant
helen.hodgson@northumbria.ac.uk
Helen currently provides support for the CPD and Consultancies across HLS and EE faculties. Helen is responsible for the claims, invoicing, reporting and forecasting. Prior to working in RIS, Helen was a Coordinator for the NEBS2 Project, in the P and I Team within Graduate Futures and previously part of the HLS faculty Resource Team at Northumbria University.
Paul Smith
Research Due Diligence and Compliance Manager
Paul can advise on issues relating to regulatory compliance and due diligence at all stages of the research lifecycle. Please contact rm.trustedresearch@northumbria.ac.uk or visit our due diligence intranet pages (internal access only).
Jamie McWilliams
Research Due Diligence and Compliance Coordinator
jamie.mcwilliams@northumbria.ac.uk
Jamie works with the Research Due Diligence and Compliance Manager to support colleagues to ensure regulatory compliance and that all research projects are subject to proportionate due diligence.
The Research Impact Team supports researchers to make a difference from their research in the world beyond the University. The KTP Managers support Northumbria’s KTP engagement, providing programme information, enquiry guidance, input to applications and support during project delivery. The IP Commercialisation Team supports with exploitation of research outputs (Intellectual Property) typically where there is a commercial opportunity. You can read more and reach out to individual team members below.
The Research Impact Team can give help and advice on:
Alisha Peart
Research Impact Manager
alisha.peart@northumbria.ac.uk
Alisha is an experienced programme manager, grant development manager, and now a research impact specialist. Alisha jointly led the transformative change in the research impact culture at Northumbria University, culminating in the outstanding success for Northumbria in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework Assessment. Alisha leads the Research Impact, Policy and Public Engagement and KTP Teams, developing and implementing strategies to support Knowledge Exchange, grow Public and Policy Engagement and increase the impact of Northumbria’s Research. Alisha has a national and international profile for sector-leading expertise in Research Impact. She is the Impact Special Interest Group Co-Lead for the Association of Impact Managers and Administrators (ARMA), she has presented at several national/international conferences and delivered training on behalf of ARMA and is also an ESRC panel reviewer. Alisha has co-authored a research publication on writing REF Impact Case Studies and Writing impact for grants book chapter in The Impactful Academic book published September 2022 (ebook link).
Lucy Moorcraft
Impact and Engagement Officer
lucy.moorcraft@northumbria.ac.uk
Lucy has a scientific background and 20 years’ experience of teaching and communicating science and impact to a wide variety of audiences and in many different formats. She offers an impact perspective on research work and provides support and advice on: planning impact into your research; explaining specialist topics to non-specialist audiences; and communicating to different internal and external stakeholders.
Departmental alignments: Computing and Information Sciences; Psychology; Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation; UoA Education
Verna Armstrong
Impact and Engagement Officer
verna.armstrong@northumbria.ac.uk
Verna is committed to assisting staff in developing and evidencing societal impact from their potential impactful research through consistent engagement and collaboration.
Departmental alignments: Mechanical and Construction Engineering; Maths, Physics and Electrical Engineering; Applied Sciences; Geography and Environmental Sciences
Gabriella Arrigoni
Impact and Engagement Officer
gabriella.arrigoni@northumbria.ac.uk
Gabi provides strategic advice on how to best plan, evaluate and evidence research impact, as well as supporting impact within bid proposals and developing impact literacy. She is passionate about building capacity for an impact culture that is inherent to the research process.
Departmental alignments: Art and Design; Social Sciences; Nursing, Midwifery and Health; Architecture and the Built Environment; Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing
Emma Watson
Impact and Engagement Officer
emma11.watson@northumbria.ac.uk
With a background in the teaching side of Higher Education, Emma has recently moved into the research field at Northumbria University. Emma has experience in providing training on and communicating about educationally focused projects and demonstrating the impact they have on students through work at both Northumbria University and Durham Students’ Union. Emma is passionate about finding new and exciting ways to demonstrate especially the social impact of academic research and how this can make tangible change at all levels.
Departmental alignments: Humanities; Accounting and Financial Management; Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Strategy; Leadership and Human Resource Management; Marketing, Operations and System; The Business Clinic; and The Law School.
The Policy and Engagement Team is led by Lucy Jowett. It provides specialisms in policy, public and community engagement, aiming to facilitate Northumbria’s contribution to research-informed policymaking and high-quality public and community engagement. The team works in partnership with colleagues from the universities of UCL, Cambridge, Manchester, and Nottingham as part of the Capabilities in Academic Policy Engagement (CAPE) project, as well as colleagues across Northumbria and on key institutional projects.
Jenny Hasenfuss
Project Officer
jenny.hasenfuss@northumbria.ac.uk
Jenny is responsible for coordinating the Capabilities in Academic Policy Engagement (CAPE) project related activity across the University of Northumbria and works closely with the other CAPE coordinators at University College London, University of Cambridge, University of Manchester and University of Nottingham, the CAPE consortium and policy partners. Prior to joining Northumbria University in June 2021, Jenny worked for ten years in a range of a research engagement roles within higher education including public engagement, community engagement, patient engagement and policy engagement.
Claire Hutchinson
Policy Project Officer
claire.s.hutchinson@northumbria.ac.uk
Claire is a Policy Project Officer in the Research Impact team. She supports on the Capabilities in Academic Policy Engagement (CAPE) project and related activity across the University of Northumbria.
Claire joined Northumbria in April 2023 and comes from a background in the third sector and communication. Working in environmental regeneration for over ten years, Claire project managed a wide variety of programmes including a Primary Care Trust funded exercise on referral ‘Green Activity’ project, established a network of self-sustaining community allotments, as well as leading on Heritage schemes and urban land regeneration projects. Claire has also worked for HRH King Charles’ Corporate Social Responsibility Charity, Business in the Community, helping businesses improve their impact on society.
KTPs are a UKRI/Innovate UK collaborative research programme. Northumbria has a structured approach to handling KTP enquiries, funding applications, and project management which is aligned to funder requirements.
Lindsay Connolly
KTP Manager
lindsay.connolly@northumbria.ac.uk
Lindsay supports Northumbria’s KTP engagement, providing programme information, enquiry guidance, input to applications and support during project delivery. Pre- and Post-Award expertise is available from the RIS team and Business Development Managers in GMB.
Karl Ward
KTP Manager
Karl supports Northumbria’s KTP engagement, providing programme information, enquiry guidance, input to applications and support during project delivery. Pre- and Post-Award expertise is available from the RIS team and Business Development Managers in GMB.
The IP Commercialisation Team can:
Chelsea Brain
IP Commercialisation Manager
chelsea.brain@northumbria.ac.uk
Chelsea is an engineer with business experience and over 7 years of experience in commercialising University technology. For Northumbria academics, Chelsea can: advise on protecting new inventions or ideas (Intellectual Property); support with exploitation of research and the commercialisation process; advise on anything related to IP or commercialisation. For companies, Chelsea can introduce licencing opportunities or academic expertise fitting to solving company challenges.
Shanjoy Mairembam
IP Commercialisation Manager
shanjoy.mairembam@northumbria.ac.uk
Shan is an Innovation & Growth professional with a background in engineering, management and law and 19 years of experience across IT/Telecom industry, growth consultancy and Higher Education. Shan supports protection and exploitation of research outputs and new venture creation of disruptive innovations. He helps in contract negotiation of ‘licensing, collaboration, joint venture’ deals. Prior to Northumbria, Shan worked at University of Leicester (specialising in IP commercialisation and spinout formation) and University of Westminster (focusing on knowledge exchange and knowledge transfer activities).
Usain AlKadri
IP Commercialisation Manager
usain.alkadri@northumbria.ac.uk
Usain has a Ph.D. in Energy Engineering and extensive experience in business development, IP commercialization, and start-ups. Usain's career focuses on mentoring and consulting individuals and organizations to transform their innovative ideas into successful ventures. He has launched multiple start-ups himself and has a vast international network, with various consultants, companies, firms, and investors. Usain works closely with Northumbria academics and spinout companies and offers a comprehensive range of services, including guidance on protecting new inventions, supporting the exploitation of research outputs, facilitating collaborations between industry and academia, and forming spinouts. Additionally, Usain offers help in crafting compelling visions, missions, and business plans in the spinout's respective pursuits to commercialize university IP and contributes to fostering a culture of innovation, entrepreneurship, and knowledge exchange at Northumbria University.
IP Commercialisation Coordinator
The IP Commercialisation Coordinator supports the IP Commercialisation Managers and focuses on managing the University's patent portfolio.
Apinan (Kenny) Kumar
apinan2.kumar@northumbria.ac.uk
Student Placement, IP Commercialisation Team
Kenny has joined the IP Commercialisation team for his 2023/24 placement year as part of his Business Management degree at Northumbria University. His main role is research and creation of marketing materials for University IP. He is also responsible for coordinating the Team’s IP commercialisation training activities. Kenny is using his time with the IP Commercialisation team to gain understanding of how research generates societal impact.
The Economic Development team work with academics across the university to maximise the potential impact our research and innovation can have in the region. The team develop and deliver funding strategies for strategic regional projects and offer advise across the university on regional funding sources.
Jenny Taylor
Executive Director of Research and Innovation Services | Director of Economic Development
Jenny2.taylor@northumbria.ac.uk
Jenny is Executive Director of Research and Innovation Services. She leads the development of strategic place based innovation and economic regeneration projects for the university identifying and accessing appropriate funding opportunities. She also works closely with local policymakers supporting ambitions for innovation, knowledge exchange and embedding the role of the university.
Michelle Kay
Economic Development Manager
michelle.kay@northumbria.ac.uk
Michelle joined the Economic Development Team in 2024.
Graduate School Overview
The Graduate School, based within Research and Innovation Services, has oversight of postgraduate research degrees, and in collaboration with Faculties and other service departments, supports postgraduate research students from admission to award.
The team support around 1000 PGR students and their supervisors, in addition to managing studentships from UKRI, industry and internal RDF funding as well as self funding students. We also oversee regulations, training, circumstances affecting progress, complaints and appeals and many other daily activities which enhance the student journey and contribute to key research targets.
Team Members
Tim Baxter
Graduate School Manager
Tim is responsible for oversight of postgraduate research student and related academic support, through support for Dean of the Graduate School and Graduate School Committee, PGR Academic Managers, and management of the Graduate School Team.
Paul Agnew
PGR Coordinator (Graduate School)
Paul is responsible for the Professional Support aspect of PGR students (PhD and Professional Doctorate), aligned to the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences – around 315 students currently. As part of the Graduate School, we look after the students from first enrolment to award, including systems which manage milestone review points, regulations and examinations. He also co-ordinates projects such as improving the examinations processes and the Collaborative Doctoral Scheme
Michelle Austin
Graduate School Coordinator
michelle.austin@northumbria.ac.uk
Michelle looks after the Professional Support aspect of PGR students (PhD and Professional Doctorate), aligned to the Departments of Social Sciences & Humanities, within the Faculty of Arts, Design & Social Sciences. As part of the Graduate School, we look after the students from first enrolment to award, including systems which manage milestone review points, regulations, and examinations. Michelle also co-leads PGR Training and the Conference Bursary Scheme.
Jack Grummitt
PGR Coordinator (Graduate School)
Jack looks after the Professional Support aspect of PGR students aligned to the Faculty of Engineering and Environment and coordinates 75% of the cohort. As part of the Graduate School, we look after the students from first enrolment to award, including systems which manage milestone review points, regulations and examinations. Jack also co-ordinates projects such as the PGR Training Programme, Recruitment and Marketing, Conference Bursaries, and leads on communications.
Chris Jackson
Graduate School Coordinator
christopher2.Jackson@northumbria.ac.uk
The Graduate School manage and support PGR students from enrolment to award. Chris manages central processes in the Graduate School such as Attendance Monitoring, the PRES Survey, data and reporting requests and others. Chris also coordinate projects to improve processes and systems for PGR Students and Academic Staff associated with PGR.
Sarah Jukes
PGR Coordinator (Graduate School)
Sarah looks after the Professional Support aspect of PGR students (PhD and Professional Doctorate), aligned to the Faculty of Business and Law. As part of the Graduate School, we look after the students from first enrolment to award, including systems which manage milestone review points, regulations and examinations. Sarah is also the lead for our Professional Doctorate and PhD by Publication programmes and provide advice and guidance within these areas.
Li Chin Khor
PGR Coordinator (Graduate school)
Li provides professional support to the Engineering and Environment based UKRI CDT/DTPs, such as EPSRC ReNU, STFC NUdata, NERC ONE Planet & STFC (and aligned students) and works more widely to support Graduate School related activities for the CDT/DTP and aligned students.
Andrea Percival
PGR Coordinator (Graduate School)
andrea.percival@northumbria.ac.uk
Andrea looks after the Professional Support aspect of PGR students (PhD and Professional Doctorate), aligned to the Departments of Arts & Design within the Faculty of Arts, Design & Social Sciences. As part of the Graduate School, we look after the students from first enrolment to award, including systems which manage milestone review points, regulations, and examinations. I am also the lead admin support for the Northern Bridge Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership students funded by the Arts & Humanities Research Council and the NINE Doctoral Training Partnership students funded by the Economic and Social Research Council ensuring alignment of Northumbria’s processes with UKRI guidance.
James Clay
Graduate School Administrator
Alongside the other administrators in the Graduate School, James oversees the PGR examination process, including the organisation of viva voce exams and any related activities. James also assists with organising and running the University’s annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition.
David Duckworth
Graduate School Administrator
david.duckworth@northumbria.ac.uk
As a research administrator in the Graduate School David looks after our PGR students on their research journeys, from their enrolment as new students to arranging the viva exams at the end of their studies. David also works with the coordinators in the Graduate School to help to answer any PGR related queries, to arrange any extension requests or breaks in studies and help with the Conference Bursary applications and with the monthly Research Degree Committee which approves all PGR exam outcomes and awards.
Tanjina Rahman
Graduate School Administrator
tanjina.rahman@northumbria.ac.uk
Tanjina oversees the administration of PGR student records (PhD and Professional Doctorate). This includes new starter enrolments, processing examination teams and thesis submissions, organising viva-voce exams and processing student awards. Tanjina is also involved in the administration of PGR Training, which includes the maintenance of the Blackboard with up-to-date relevant PGR content. Tanjina also manages the Graduate School mailbox, CRM, SiteCore and other ad-hoc administration duties.
Research and Innovation Services
Pandon Building
University of Northumbria
Camden Street
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
NE2 1XE
For general enquiries, please contact researchsupport@northumbria.ac.uk
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