🎧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 episodes?

💡 Thought-provoking conversations on arts and humanities impact and the role of professional services in research. 📊 Meta-research and the participation of research administrators in shaping research culture. 🤝 Co-production, ethics, and practical approaches to impact case study development.

Listeners can connect with Alix on LinkedIn

Items mentioned in the episode:

1. ‘Clean Living Under Difficult Circumstances: A Life In Mod – From the Revival to Acid Jazz’ by Eddie Piller
2. LinkedIn post about the results of the 2025 Australian University Census.
3. Association of Research Managers and Administrators (ARMA) Meta Research Special Interest Group
4. International Medieval Congress 2025 – Medieval Studies in Action

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

1. Research Impact with Ged Hall (follow Ged on Bluesky and LinkedIn) and Alix Brodie-Wray (follow Alix on LinkedIn)
2. Research Impact Heroes with Ged Hall
3. Open Research with Nick Sheppard (follow Nick on

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 importance of a “setbacks, not failures” mindset to reduce pressure, discourage corner-cutting, and support wellbeing.

4️⃣ Creating environments where people feel safe to raise concerns and leaders role in supporting good practice.

5️⃣ How unchallenged misconduct and poor culture can damage relationships, trust, and collaboration.

Links and resources from this episode:

1. How to contact James: https://parryconsulting.org/contact-me/
2. James Parry LinkedIN profile and James Parry Consulting website.
3. The Concordat to Support Research Integrity (2025).
4. UK Committee on Research Integrity/ Research Consulting, Review of annual statements on research integrity (2025).
5. UK Committee on Research Integrity, Indicators of Research Integrity (2024).
6. All European Academies (ALLEA), European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity (2023).

🎧 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 of Leeds and has been Co-Chair of the University’s LGBT+ Staff Network for the past two years. In this role, he supports community building, visibility, and inclusive engagement across the institution, helping to create spaces where LGBT+ colleagues feel able to connect, be heard, and access support.

Connect with Morgan: LinkedIn: Morgan Buswell

Dr Robin Hayward (they/them)

Dr Robin Hayward is the Communications and Engagement Officer for the Leeds Ecosystem, Atmosphere and Forest Centre (LEAF) at the University of Leeds, sharing research into trees and woodlands across the institution. Robin was also part of the team that developed the University’s Inclusive Fieldwork Hub, supporting safety, equity and inclusion for LGBTQ+ fieldworkers.

Outside the University, Robin is a freelance science communicator, communication trainer, LGBTQ+ educator and designer, specialising in the intersection between nature and LGBTQ+ identities. They were recently commissioned to create the official badge design for LGBT+ History Month 2026.

Connect with Robin

1. LinkedIn: Robin Hayward
2. Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/canopyrobin.com
3. Bluesky (LEAF): https://bsky.app/profile/leedsleaf.bsky.social
4. Website: https://canopyrobin.com/
5. LEAF: https://leaf.leeds.ac.uk/
6. Inclusive Fieldwork Hub: https://inclusivefieldwork.leeds.ac.uk/
7. Instagram:

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?

1. CRUK's EDI in Research Strategic Approach
2. CRUK's Policy on dignity at work in research
3. CRUK's Research integrity guidelines
4. CRUK's Research in Cancers of Unmet Need
5. CRUK's Narrative CV guidance
6. 'Research careers – changing the narrative for CVs' (written by Mat)
7. PEP-CV - the narrative CV mentorship platform

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

1. Research Impact with Ged Hall (follow Ged on Bluesky and LinkedIn)
2. Research Impact Heroes with Ged Hall

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 involving a period of grieving over leaving one's research behind. But PM offers fulfilment and a rewarding new career path.

- Experience in different sectors and organisations can give project managers a distinct advantage, allowing them to manage diverse projects, work with different stakeholders, and adapt to multiple project management methodologies like Waterfall and Agile.

- To be successful in project management, Shirley-Anne Paul recommends that researchers who consider project management roles connect with other project managers 9also via LinkedIn groups), pursue formal project management qualifications, and strategically transition first into roles that align closely with their previous postdoctoral experience, to ease the move. After securing that first project management role, it is common to move into different sectors and roles, as PM is such a flexible and varied career option.

Technical Terms used:

SME = Subject Matter Expertise | Project Management Methodologies: Prince2, Waterfall and Agile.

If you'd like to find out more about Shirley's or Ruth's career path, please go to their LinkedIn profiles: Dr Shirley-Anne Paul | Ruth Winden

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

1. Research Impact with Ged Hall (follow Ged on Bluesky and LinkedIn)
2. Research Impact Heroes with Ged Hall
3. Open Research with Nick Sheppard (follow Nick on Bluesky and LinkedIn)
4. Research Careers with Ruth Winden...

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:

1. Emily's role and responsibilities at the University of Leeds
2. Getting to know Emily with more on her hobbies and interests
3. Emily's passion for Research Culture
4. The challenges Emily identifies in research and academia
5. What Emily is working on and what she will be doing
6. How Emily views collaboration and competition in Research Culture

What will Emily be covering in her upcoming episodes:

1. Thought-provoking conversations on the evaluation of Research Culture
2. Measuring the impact of research culture improvements while emphasising the importance of collaboration within the higher education sector

Links for this episode:

1. Emily's previous episode
2. Research Excellence Framework
3. SPRE: Strategy, People and Research Environment

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

1. Research Impact with Ged Hall (follow Ged on Bluesky and LinkedIn)
2. Research Impact Heroes with Ged Hall
3. Open Research with Nick Sheppard (follow Nick on Bluesky and LinkedIn)

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 / Fixed-term contract perspective

Organic chemistry researcher whose career has taken him from Glasgow to Hertfordshire, Germany, and Leeds. Former Teaching and Research Fellow in Chemistry; now Assistant Learning Technologist in Digital Education Enhancement.

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-livingstone/

James Poulter — Academic leadership perspective

Associate Professor of Genomic Medicine, combining genomics and organoid models to understand brain development. UKRI Future Leaders Fellow (2020).

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-poulter-118093a8/

🦋 Bluesky: @japoulter.bsky.social

Kate Noll — Learning Development Advisor

Lead on G2–G5 Development at the University of Leeds. Specialist in personal development and career progression, passionate about empowering individuals to recognise their strengths and potential.

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-noll-a95314213/

Sarah Budello — Digital Practice Advisor

Coach, facilitator, and creative communicator working across staff development, community building, and personal support. Host of Developing People!

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sbudello

🎧 Podcast: https://uoldevelopingpeople.podbean.com/

Key themes explored

1. Power and permission: why saying no can feel risky — particularly for PGRs and early career staff
2. Fixed-term contracts and shifting motivations across a contract lifecycle
3. Leadership responsibility and the impact of over-commitment on teams
4. Working patterns and caring responsibilities
5. Culture and role modelling in psychologically safe environments
6. Practising “no”...

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:

1. Josh sees leadership as service — to students, researchers, and the wider civic and cultural mission of the university
2. He emphasises vulnerability, humanity, and continuous learning as essential leadership traits
3. Josh’s career demonstrates planned happenstance — being curious, taking opportunities, embracing non‑linear progression
4. Josh’s lived experience informs his strong leadership in equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) to address systemic challenges - underrepresentation in academia and attainment gaps
5. He advocates for equity, not just equality, to ensure fairer participation in HE and knowledge creation.
6. While AI can perpetuate existing underrepresentation in the knowledge base, open research can contribute to the democratisation of knowledge creation

Links:

1. Library Homepage | Library | University of Leeds
2. the Brotherton Collection of Manuscript Verse
3. Digital Libraries Infrastructure Project (DLIP) posts on the Library blog
4. Mitchell, K.E., Al Levin, S. and Krumboltz, J.D. (1999), Planned Happenstance: Constructing Unexpected Career Opportunities. Journal of Counseling & Development, 77: 115-124. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6676.1999.tb02431.x
5. Dare to Lead Hub - Brené Brown