Vitae Impact, Culture and Engagement (ICE) Awards 2026

Rebekah Smith McGloin – Nottingham Trent University

Nominated by: Rachel Handforth, Nottingham Trent University

Rebekah Smith McGloin is shortlisted for her sector-leading work in doctoral education, widening participation and inclusive researcher development. Her nomination describes her longstanding leadership within the national researcher development community, including her election as Chair of the UK Council for Graduate Education and contributions to major sector initiatives including the Concordat for Researchers and REF People, Culture and Environment developments. The nomination highlights her leadership of the £7.7m Collaboratory Research Hub, which has reimagined doctoral education through civic engagement and community-led doctoral training, and her work on Equity in Doctoral Education through Partnership and Innovation (EDEPI), which has driven change in doctoral recruitment and admissions through a more inclusive competency-based approach.

Sara Shinton – University of Bath

Nominated by: Kirsty Collinge, University of Edinburgh

Sara Shinton is recognised for a career-long contribution to researcher development and research culture spanning more than 25 years. Her nomination highlights her role in shaping sector-level leadership and development infrastructure, including directing the UKRI Future Leaders Fellows Development Network and creating open-access resources, networks and conferences that have benefited researcher developers across the UK. The nomination also recognises her institutional leadership at the University of Edinburgh, her work on Wellcome-funded research culture initiatives, and her influence on national policy and practice through advisory and governance roles focused on research culture, inclusion and leadership development.

The WISER Team – University of Westminster

Nominated by: Miriam Dwek, University of Westminster

The WISER Team is shortlisted for embedding public engagement throughout the researcher journey and creating innovative opportunities for doctoral and early career researchers to develop confidence, creativity and communication skills. Through initiatives including FameLab, Pint of Science, Schrödinger’s Chats and the long-running Science4U Conference, the team has enabled researchers to engage wider audiences while developing leadership, public engagement and communication capabilities. The nomination highlights the team’s collaborative approach and its success in creating a vibrant environment where researchers can explore new forms of engagement and knowledge exchange.

Lilian Odaro – King’s College London

Nominated by: Alex Pavey, King’s College London

Lilian Odaro is shortlisted for the significant impact she has made within a remarkably short period in researcher development. Her nomination highlights her contributions to research culture and inclusion, including work on support for PGRs with caring responsibilities, development of the King’s Doctoral College LinkedIn Community, wellbeing initiatives, induction resources and skills development provision. The nomination also recognises her commitment to building supportive communities and creating practical, inclusive solutions that improve the experience of doctoral researchers.

Maddie Mitchell – Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford

Nominated by: Justin Hutchence, MPLS Division, University of Oxford

Maddie Mitchell is shortlisted for her contribution to inclusive research culture and leadership development. Her nomination highlights the creation and dissemination of the Lab Handbook approach, which helps research groups articulate shared values, expectations and support structures. The nomination also recognises her leadership of Oxford’s Inclusive Leadership Programme and her growing influence through leadership development initiatives that support positive and sustainable research cultures across the sector.

Academic and Researcher Experience Team, Organisational Development – UCL

Nominated by: Nelly Ali, UCL

The Academic and Researcher Experience Team is shortlisted for the Early Career Researcher Career Aspiration Programme (CAP). Co-created with researchers and external partners, CAP combines digital learning, workshops and coaching to address challenges relating to career development, progression and confidence. The nomination highlights the programme’s inclusive design, strong participant feedback and its success in supporting researchers to navigate uncertainty, make career decisions and achieve tangible professional outcomes.

Laura Johnson – King’s College London

Nominated by: Anna Favalessa, King’s College London

Laura Johnson is shortlisted for her innovative and inclusive approach to supporting researchers exploring careers beyond academia. Her nomination highlights the development of a researcher careers LinkedIn platform, growth of the Careers in Your Ears podcast and creation of the Doctoral Futures coaching programme. Together these initiatives have broadened access to careers support, built confidence and fostered community among researchers considering diverse career pathways.

Stephanie Zihms and Karen Coyle – Glasgow Caledonian University

Nominated by: Amy Cartwright, Glasgow Caledonian University

Stephanie Zihms and Karen Coyle are shortlisted for the development of Write-Away! On the Move, an innovative writing retreat delivered through Scotland’s rail network. The initiative provides an accessible and affordable alternative to traditional residential retreats and has grown into a successful cross-institutional collaboration. The nomination highlights the initiative’s impact on productivity, wellbeing, confidence, community-building, and inclusivity.

Future Leaders Fellows Development Network – UKRI / University of Edinburgh

Nominated by: Katie Nicoll Baines, University of Edinburgh

The Future Leaders Fellows Development Network is shortlisted for demonstrating how researcher development can drive meaningful and lasting research culture change. The nomination highlights leadership development, mentoring, coaching and flexible funding programmes that have empowered researchers to tackle systemic challenges, build inclusive research environments and share effective practice across the wider sector.

Greater Manchester Researcher Development Partnership – University of Salford, University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University

Nominated by: Luke Postlethwaite, University of Salford

The Greater Manchester Researcher Development Partnership is shortlisted for its innovative cross-institutional approach to researcher development. Led collaboratively across three institutions, the partnership has created development opportunities, mentoring programmes, conferences, buddy schemes and networking activities that strengthen community, collaboration and researcher support across the Greater Manchester region.

Doctoral Development Team – University of Bath

Nominated by: Shyeni Paul, University of Bath

The University of Bath Doctoral Development Team is shortlisted for demonstrating how researcher development can act as a catalyst for positive research culture change. Through initiatives ranging from community-building events and coaching networks to creative public engagement activities and innovative approaches to research integrity and open research, the team has created a more connected, supportive and inclusive doctoral environment.

Amy Shaw – University of Sheffield

Nominated by: Candice Majewski, University of Sheffield

Amy Shaw was nominated for her extensive support of researchers across multiple career stages, including her leadership in developing researcher development opportunities for doctoral, early-career and established researchers. Her nomination particularly highlights her work championing support for mid-career researchers through Sheffield’s Established Researcher Forum and wider sector collaborations.

Andrew Morton – Leeds Trinity University

Nominated by: Karen Sayer, Leeds Trinity University

Andrew Morton was nominated for his work supporting researcher development across a small and specialist institution. His nomination highlights his inclusive approach, work on sustainable research practices, and leadership in developing guidance and training relating to the opportunities and challenges presented by AI in research.

Future Leaders Fellows Development Network – UKRI / University of Edinburgh

Nominated by: Sara Shinton, University of Edinburgh

The Future Leaders Fellows Development Network was nominated for its contribution to research culture, leadership development and sector-wide engagement, creating open resources, communities of practice and national forums that support sustainable impact across the UK research ecosystem.

Oli Schofield – University of Bath

Nominated by: Joe Devine, University of Bath

Oli Schofield was nominated for transforming researcher development provision at the University of Bath through innovative programming, new investment, collaborative partnerships and a sustained commitment to creating engaging and impactful opportunities for researchers at every stage of their development.

Future Leaders Fellows Development Network – UKRI / University of Edinburgh

Nominated by: Bridget Mellifont, University of Edinburgh

The Network was nominated for embedding inclusion and innovation into leadership development through initiatives including a sector-leading family-friendly policy, flexible funding opportunities and resources that have been widely shared across institutions and research organisations.

Scottish Research Leaders Network Delivery and Planning Team – University of Edinburgh, University of Dundee, Edinburgh Napier University, Robert Gordon University, University of the Highlands and Islands, University of Glasgow and Heriot-Watt University

Nominated by: Sophie Morris, Mhairi Towler, Alex Peden, Michelle Swain and Marsha Marletta

The Scottish Research Leaders Network Delivery and Planning Team was nominated for creating Scotland’s first collaborative national leadership development programme for researchers. Bringing together researcher development professionals from seven Scottish institutions, the initiative has widened access to leadership development, reduced duplication of effort and created a growing community of research leaders through collaborative, inclusive and accessible delivery.

David Harradine – Royal Central School of Speech and Drama

Nominated by: Bryce Lease, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London

David Harradine was nominated for strengthening practice research culture through innovative approaches to REF preparation, researcher support, mentoring and professional development for practice-based researchers.

Elizabeth Rendon-Morales, Erika Mancini, Katy Stoddard and Vicki Love – University of Sussex

Nominated by: Susanna Broom, University of Sussex

This team was nominated for creating the University of Sussex Women’s Leadership Academy, an initiative designed to support women and minority-gender early career researchers through coaching, peer support, confidence-building and leadership development.

Mentors supporting Pathways to Progression: Mentoring for Academic Promotion Initiative – University of Huddersfield

Nominated by: Alison Monkhouse, University of Huddersfield

This group of mentors was nominated for supporting women academics aspiring to promotion through a mentoring initiative that has increased confidence, improved understanding of promotion pathways and contributed to positive cultural change.

Rachel Delman – University of Oxford, Humanities Division

Nominated by: Steven Gunn, University of Oxford

Rachel Delman was nominated for her contribution to heritage engagement, collaborative research partnerships and researcher development, including extensive support for students and early career researchers through placements, training and cross-sector collaborations.

Research Culture Team – University of Wolverhampton

Nominated by: Kiranpreet Kaur, University of Wolverhampton

The Research Culture Team was nominated for creating a community-led approach to research culture development, establishing new researcher networks and embedding researcher voice at the heart of institutional culture change.

Sandra Adu – Black Girls In Design

Nominated by: Sharon Duffour, Black Girls In Design

Sandra Adu was nominated for her work creating inclusive opportunities through education, leadership development and community engagement, empowering underrepresented groups through innovative programmes and partnerships.