About the Researcher Hub

The Researcher Hub was established in 2021 to improve the experience of researchers by making it easier to access support, navigate the University and connect with opportunities for professional and career development.  

The Researcher Hub coordinates Oxford’s implementation of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers. Through the Concordat Action Plan 2025-2030, we work with colleagues across the University to strengthen the researcher experience by focusing on three interconnected priorities:  

1. Creating a supportive, inclusive and equitable research environment.  
2. Recognising and valuing the diverse contributions of researchers.
3. Supporting researchers to achieve a range of career goals.  

Since 2026, most of the Researcher Hub functions are coordinated and co-delivered by the Research Environment Programmes team in Research Services.  

We engage with researchers to understand their experiences and changing needs, and work with practitioners and leaders across the University to improve the research environment. We also help researchers navigate Oxford by connecting them with relevant information, support and opportunities, so they can make the most of their time at the University. This approach informs our work and contributes to Oxford's wider research culture ambitions. 

We bring together expertise from across Oxford to:  

• Coordinate strategic initiatives that support researchers, both on fixed-term and open-ended contracts  
• Connect researchers with development opportunities, networks and resources  
• Promote collaboration between teams supporting researchers
• Champion continuous improvement in the researcher experience  

Working with colleagues across the University, the Researcher Hub has:  

• Coordinated the co-creation of Oxford’s first Action Plan to fulfil the national Concordat to support the Career Development of Researchers 2022-2025 and subsequent current Concordat Action Plan 2025-2030, involving researchers, academics and professional service colleagues from across the University
• Tracked and reported annually on the University’s delivery to the above national Concordat Action Plans, producing an infographic of milestones achieved by 2025.
• Enabled and continued to support the researcher representation framework and researcher representatives
• Collaborated to develop and deliver termly training for managers and researchers, including The Confident Manager ‘Essentials of People Management in Research’, and ‘Developing Teams’ modules
• Collaboratively hosted regular welcoming events for new researchers and created a Welcome to Oxford page for researchers with helpful videos and information
• Collaborated with Careers, University of Oxford on their suite of support for research staff resources and events
• Created resources like the Researcher’s Trailmap and Career Development Review Guides
• Supported researchers in planning and using 10 days of professional development pro rata per year 

If you are a member of staff, you can find additional content on the Support for fixed-term researchers OxIntranet page. Please note you will need a Single Sign On (SSO) credentials to access OxIntranet.  

For further information about this page or the support available for fixed-term researchers at Oxford, please email Mary Muers (Lead, Researcher Hub and Research Environment Programmes) at [email protected] or the Researcher Hub at [email protected].