Research Staff Committees
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 and University Advocate for Research Staff |
| Professor Martin Conway | Humanities Academic Lead for Research Environment |
| Professor Leanne Hodson | MSD Advocate for Research Staff |
| Professor Tommaso Pizzari | MPLS Advocate for Research Staff (starting September 2025) |
| Professor Christiaan Monden | Social Sciences Advocate for Research Staff |
| Dr Christopher Morton | GLAM Advocate for Research Staff |
| Vacancy | Representative of Conference of Colleges |
| Dr Jonathan Black | Director, Careers Service |
| Renu Gupta | Director, Talent, People Department |
| Dr Tanita Casci | Director, Research Services |
| Marilyn Verghis | Interim Head of Equality & Diversity Unit |
| Julie Rees | Interim Head of People & Organisational Development |
| Dr Claudio Cortes Rodriguez | Chair of RSCG |
| Dr Steve Joy | Head of the Postdoc Academy, University of Cambridge |
Upcoming RSSC meetings
- Monday 10 November 2025, 14:00 - 16:00 (MT week 5)
- Monday 16 February 2026, 14:00 - 16:00 (HT week 5)
- Monday 18 May 2026, 14:00 - 16:00 (TT week 4)
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.
| Name | Title | |
| Dr Claudio Cortes Rodriguez | Chair of RSCG and OxRSS Co-Chair | [email protected] |
| Dr Jennifer Allen | OxRSS Co-Chair | [email protected] |
| Dr Dimitrios Doultsinos | MSD Representative | [email protected] |
| Dr Mahreen Khan | Social Sciences Division Representative | [email protected] |
| Dr Janina Jochim | Social Sciences Division Representative | [email protected] |
| Dr Courtney Nimura | GLAM Divisional Representative | [email protected] |
Upcoming RSCG meetings
- Wednesday 8 October 2025, 10:00 to 12:00 (MT week 0)
- Wednesday 3 December 2025, 10:00 to 12:00 (MT week 8)
- Wednesday 14 January 2026, 10:00 to 12:00 (HT week 0)
- Wednesday 11 March 2026, 10:00 to 12:00 (HT week 8)
- Wednesday 22 April 2026, 10:00 to 12:00 (TT week 0)
- Wednesday 17 June 2026, 10:00 to 12:00 (TT week 8)
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.
| Name | Title | |
| Dr Rachel Bray | Co-Chair of RSWG | [email protected] |
| Dr Tanita Casci | Co-Chair of RSWG, Director, Research Services | [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] |
| Lindsey Spriggs | Research Culture Facilitator | [email protected] |
| Holly Cooper | UCU Representative | [email protected] |
| Dr Ellen Dyer | UCU Representative | [email protected] |
| Emanuela Vai | Researcher Representative | [email protected] |
| Dr Susan Black | Careers Adviser (Research Staff), Careers Service | [email protected] |
| Jennifer Chapin | Gender Equality Advisor, Equality and Diversity Unit | [email protected] |
Upcoming RSWG meetings
- Monday 6 October 2025, 10:00-12:00 (MT week 0)
- Monday 12 January 2026, 10:00-12:00 (HT week 0)
- Monday 20 April 2026, 10:00-12:00 (TT week 0)
- Monday 29 June 2026, 10:00-12:00 (TT week 10)