Leading in Academic Research Environments

This innovative programme, funded by Wellcome, offers experienced leaders in research across all academic divisions the opportunity to further develop their leadership influence and impact, and to contribute towards the advancement of our research culture in a tailored, peer environment.

Co-designed by Oxford academics and leadership experts, this pilot programme will welcome participants throughout 2025.

Programme vision

Investing in Oxford’s people leadership to foster positive, effective, and collaborative research environments in which individuals, partnerships, and research can flourish.

This new programme is targeted to help academics at the forefront of their research field to deepen their leadership practice and to amplify and accelerate their wider contributions to the evolution of our research culture. Patrick Grant, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research)

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Programme rationale and focus

Oxford’s world-renowned research is founded on its inspiring innovative research environments.

Our researcher leaders work across complex, interdisciplinary environments managing people, partnerships and delivering impact, often against a context of high change and uncertainty.

Co-created with and for academics, this tailored and context-specific programme provides participants with the space and resources to:

Increase their leadership influence and impact and lead by example
Create highly collaborative work relationships and environments
Effectively navigate complex and interdisciplinary contexts
Reflect on current leadership challenges and opportunities and identify practical and individually tailored solutions

Co-create thriving, inclusive research environments and contribute to the evolution of Oxford’s research culture(s) Leading in Academic Research Environments is delivered in two strands running throughout 2025.

Modular series	Advanced programme
On the modular series, academics will be able to choose from a range of standalone thematic modules delivered either in-person or online in peer participant groups. A booking form will be added to this page and divisions will be notified when the links are live.	On the advanced programme, a select pilot group of academics from across the academic divisions will be invited to participate in scheduled group development and individual coaching sessions over 3 months as a peer cohort.

How is the programme designed?

To October 2024	November 2024 – January 2025	February 2025	March 2025 onwards
Consultation & planning with stakeholders	Co-creation of programme content and delivery approaches with academics from across the divisions	Programme Pilot with first participant cohort	Programme iterations (modular series and cohorts)

The overall programme shape and principles were informed by consultations with over 80 stakeholders working across Oxford’s research environments and with input from leadership development experts.

During November 2024 a co-design phase will take place with participant representatives from across the University. This will ensure that programme content and delivery is tailored to the research leadership needs of participants, is highly relevant, and context specific.

The programme focuses on practical and context-relevant applications, providing a space for deepening leadership thinking alongside peers from across the divisions. It is designed to be highly applied, emphasising real-world challenges and solutions to enhance participants' leadership impact and influence in a collaborative setting.

Who is the programme for?

Who is involved?

Programme & Delivery Team

Jenny Conrads, Programme Director, People and Organisational Development
Susan Mousley, Programme Manager, People and Organisational Development
Maddie Welland, Programme Specialist, Medical Sciences Division

Divisional Contacts

Mary Muers, Research Culture Facilitator for Medical Sciences Division
Lindsey Spriggs, Research Culture Facilitator for Social Sciences Division
Natia Sopromadze, Research Culture Facilitator for Mathematical, Physical & Life Sciences
Jenny Winsland, Research Culture Facilitator for Humanities Division
Emma Webster, Research Culture Facilitator for Gardens, Libraries & Museum

Advisory Group

Chair: Tim Soutphommasane, Chief Diversity Officer
Jenny Conrads, Programme Director
Justin Hutchence, Researcher Training and Development Manager for Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Division
Karla Miller, Professor of Biomedical Engineering; Associate Head for EDI for Medical Sciences Division
Sue Dopson, Professor of Organisational Behaviour, Social Sciences Division
Katherine Collins, Research Fellow, Faculty of English Language and Literature
Rachel Bray, Researcher Hub Lead, People and Organisational Development

Governance Group

Chair and Principal Investigator: Patrick Grant, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research
Associate Heads of Division: Harish Bhaskaran, Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences; Heather Viles, Social Sciences; Heidi Johansen-Berg, Medical Sciences; Abigail Williams, Humanities

How can I find out more or express interest in participating?

Modular Series Booking (coming in 2025)

Leading Across Boundaries Qualitative Study

Alongside the co-created Leading in Academic Research Environments programme there will be a qualitative study of the broader context. This study will explore those aspects of academic leadership that relate to new insights and ways of working, the institutional and interpersonal boundaries that might intersect with these ideas, values, and practices, and how change might be possible. This is an area of research leadership about which we know much less, and therefore a worthwhile contribution to knowledge to offer alongside, and as a compliment to, the programme as it evolves.

The study will prioritise the experiences of influential mid-career researchers, across all four divisions, who are likely soon to become senior. In other words, those researchers not currently eligible for the programme, but who have potential to be included in future iterations. As with the programme, the study will adopt a co-creation of knowledge approach and will be enacted over three interactions: an exploratory interview; a second meeting to reflect on the initial analysis using a graphic elicitation technique; and lastly, an optional public-facing podcast.

Combined with the programme team’s evaluation, the outcome of this study will add important insights for the programme’s future development, as well as offering its own contribution to knowledge on research leadership and culture. To find out more about this study, please contact Katherine Collins, at katherine.collins@ell.ox.ac.uk.

Central University Research Ethics Committee Approval Reference: R95782/RE001