For the duration of the Collaborative Research Cultures programme (May 2024-May 2026), we have a dedicated programme team to support this work at Strathclyde. The programme is hosted in the Organisational & Staff Development Unit (OSDU) with the support of the Department of Humanities.
Researcher Development Officer, Organisational and Staff Development Unit
Teaching Associate, School of Journalism, Media and Communication
Research Policy Officer, Research and Knowledge Exchange Services
The Principal Investigator (PI) for the programme is the Principal of the University of Strathclyde, Professor Stephen McArthur. The delegated PI is Professor Churnjeet Mahn (Deputy Associate Principal, Research and Knowledge Exchange) and Co-Investigator Dr Emma Compton-Daw (Researcher Development Manager, Organisational and Staff Development Unit). Churnjeet and Emma are supported by a broader team of Co-Investigators, who are on the programme's Leadership Group: Professor Tim Bedford (Associate Principal, Research and Innovation), Professor Patricia Connolly (Deputy Associate Principal, Biomedical Engineering), Professor Madeleine Grealy (Deputy Associate Principal, Psychology), and Professor Paul McKenna (Deputy Associate Principal, Physics).
Deputy Associate Principal, Research and Knowledge Exchange
Researcher Development Manager, Organisational and Staff Development Unit
Further strategic direction for the programme is provided through a team of Strathclyde's Senior Academic and Professional Services Staff: Professor Tim Bedford (Associate Principal, Research and Innovation), Professor Patricia Connolly (Deputy Associate Principal, Biomedical Engineering), Professor Madeleine Grealy (Deputy Associate Principal, Psychology), Professor Roma Maguire (Deputy Associate Principal, Computer & Information Sciences), Professor Paul McKenna (Deputy Associate Principal, Physics), Dr Emer McDougall (Assistant Director, Innovation & Industry Engagement), and Mari-Louise Hemming (Assistant Director, Human Resources).
Much of this programme has been enabled, informed and undertaken by colleagues across Strathclyde's wider research and innovation community.
Friends of the project include our colleagues from the Creative Writing team in Humanities and Social Sciences (who have designed creative writing sessions focused on writing diaries as part of our work to understand what it’s like working in a university in 2025), colleagues in Social Policy and Humanities (who are involved in our qualitative research work), the Research Development & Culture Sub-Committee (RDCSC), the Strategic Themes Team and Doctoral School (who we are designing activities with) and many other individuals and groups in our institution. In addition, we’ve funded 17 diverse teams (and 61 individuals) across the University as part of our internal seed funding calls.
Our Community of Practice is a space where 80+ people with similar interests (but different skills and perspectives) come together to share ideas, experiences, and good ways of working. We’ve tried to make sure it’s open to everyone in the research and innovation community: academic and research staff (all career stages, all disciplines), administrative and professional services staff, doctoral students, knowledge exchange and practice-based colleagues, as well as teaching and technical staff.
We’ve also set aside £40,000 to kick off the new Strathclyde Research, KE & Innovation Culture Network. This gives staff and postgraduate researchers (PGRs) the chance to shape the future of research and innovation culture, by deciding on priorities and delivering initiatives that really matter to members of the university community. The network will initially run as a pilot until April 2026.