Research Staff Committees

Representatives Structure diagram

There are three formal groups that feed into University governance decisions about research staff:

·   The Research Staff Steering Committee

·   The Research Staff Consultation Group

·   The Research Staff Working Group

The role of each group, how they work together and their current membership are outlined below.

Researchers also join key University committees, including Council, People Committee, Research & Innovation Committee. 

For further information and the contact details of your representatives on these groups, please see - Researcher Representatives on other University Committees

If you are interested in joining a committee or working group, please see - Current Opportunities to join Committees and Working Groups as a Researcher Representative.

Research Staff Steering Committee

The Research Staff Steering Committee provides strategic direction with respect to enhancing the opportunities and support for research staff, in accordance with Priority 8 of the University's Strategic Plan 2018-23 and the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers. It is a decision-making group reporting to the University Research and Innovation Committee and informally to Personnel Committee. Members include key governance roles such as the University Advocate for Research Staff and Research Staff Advocates in each of the four divisions.   

Name Title 
Professor David Gavaghan Chair of RSSC
University Advocate for Research Staff
Professor Stephen TuckHumanities Advocate for Research Staff
Professor Leanne HodsonMSD Advocate for Research Staff
Professor Matt JarvisMPLS Advocate for Research Staff
Professor Christiaan MondenSocial Sciences Advocate for Research Staff
Dr Christopher MortonGLAM Advocate for Research Staff
Sir Tim HitchensRepresentative of Conference of Colleges
Dr Jonathan BlackDirector, Careers Service
Renu GuptaDirector, Talent, HR
Dr Tanita CasciDirector, Research Strategy & Policy Unit, Research Services & Co-Chair of RSWG
Vernal ScottHead of Equality & Diversity Unit
Julie ReesInterim Head of People & Organisational Development
Dr Irina ChelyshevaCo-Chair of RSCG
Dr Hilary WynneCo-Chair of RSCG
Dr Rachel BrayResearch Staff Hub Lead, Co-Chair of RSWG
Dr Steve JoyHead of the Postdoc Academy, University of Cambridge

Research Staff Consultation Group

Comprising research staff only, the Research Staff Consultation Group actively contributes to an overall strategy to underpin the professional and career development of research staff at the University.   Working under the auspices of the Research and Innovation Committee, the Consultation Group works with the Research Staff Working Group to inform the Research Staff Steering Committee on initiatives, progress and major issues relating to research staff development, including views, suggestions and concerns articulated through the Research Staff Representative structure.

NameTitleEmail
Dr Irina Chelysheva
Co-Chair of RSCG[email protected]
Dr Hilary WynneCo-Chair of RSCG[email protected]
VacancyHumanities Division Representative 
Dr Emanuela Vai
Humanities Division Representative[email protected]
Dr Ignacio TorrecillaMSD Representative[email protected]
Dr Ed DarnbroughMPLS Division Representative[email protected]
Dr Adina PusokMPLS Division Representative[email protected]
Dr William AllenSocial Sciences Division Representative[email protected]
Dr Miranda MourbySocial Sciences Division Representative[email protected] 
Dr Janet BanfieldColleges Representative[email protected]
Dr Suzan Meryem KalayciColleges Representative[email protected]
Dr Jennifer AllenOxRSS Co-Chair[email protected]
Dr Claudio Cortes RodriguezOxRSS Co-Chair[email protected]

Research Staff Working Group

The Research Staff Working Group is operational; it contributes to University strategy for the professional and career development of research staff by preparing information to inform decision-making, discussing and recommending approaches, and acting on decisions made through this governance structure. It works under the auspices of the Research and Innovation Committee and alongside the Research Staff Consultation Group to inform the Research Staff Steering Committee on initiatives, progress and major issues relating to research staff development.

NameTitleEmail
Dr Rachel Bray Co-Chair of RSWG, Researcher Hub Lead[email protected]
Dr Tanita CasciCo-Chair of RSWG, Director, Research Strategy & Policy Unit[email protected]
Dr Caroline Thurston Researcher Training and Development Manager, Humanities Division[email protected]
Dr Mary Muers Research Culture Facilitator, Medical Sciences Division[email protected] 
Dr Justin Hutchence Researcher Training and Development Manager, MPLS Division[email protected]
Dr Eleanor Pritchard Researcher Development Coordinator, Social Sciences Division[email protected]
Dr Frances MedaneyResearcher Hub Deputy Lead[email protected]
Kate Butler Policy Officer, Human Resources[email protected]
Mikal MastUCU Representative[email protected] 
Kathryn DallyResearch Integrity & Policy Lead, Research Services[email protected]
Dr Irina ChelyshevaResearcher Representative[email protected] 
Dr Susan BlackCareers Adviser (Research Staff), Careers Service[email protected]
Jennifer ChapinGender Equality Advisor, Equality and Diversity Unit[email protected]
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