Research Adjacent

Andy is a communications specialist who embraces using technology to help share research. Sarah and Andy talk about Making himself so useful that a job was created especially for him Using technology to solve problems and always trying to make things better How he evolved from bedroom radio host to pirate station DJ to podcaster Being a lifelong learner and why more CPD time would benefit everyone...

Stephen Britton, Health & Safety Officer (Episode 70) Sarah's guest for this episode is Stephen Britton. Stephen is currently a Biological Safety Officer at Durham University. Prior to that he spent over 20 years working for the UK Government's Health & Safety Executive. Sarah and Stephen talk about Our changing appetite for risk and what life might be like without health and safety regula...

Laura Evans-Hill, Visual Storyteller (Episode 69) Sarah's guest for this episode is Laura Evans-Hill. Laura is a visual storyteller and director of research communications agency Nifty-Fox Creative. Sarah and Laura talk about Why combining visuals and storytelling can be such a powerful communication tool How she works with researchers to turn illustrations into impact Her journey from accidental...

This is a special double episode. First up Sarah meets David Mendes, aka Papa PhD, medical writer/translator and host of the Beyond the Thesis podcast. Then the tables are turned and David interviews Sarah for the Beyond the Thesis podcast. Sarah and David talk about How networking led to both the career and podcast he has now The origin story of the Papa PhD podcast Why creating the podcast has h...

It's the Easter holidays in the UK so this is a behind the scenes update with just Sarah. Sarah talks about The recent Challenges miniseries Upcoming episodes and future guests, including a special collaboration with Papa PhD The Research Adjacent Community for freelancers and the Research Adjacent Directory What she does when she's not podcasting and her Gathering with Purpose research events new...

Rosalind Gill is Head of Policy and Engagement at the National Centre for Universities and Businesses (NCUB). Sarah and Rosalind talk about bringing people together to respond to big sector challenges the realities of working in the sometimes-volatile political realm the huge contribution universities make to the UK economy why changing how people think often has more impact than any individual po...

This episode is about influencing others at work with Joanna Royle and Orla Kelly. Joanna is a Researcher Development Manager at the University of Glasgow. Orla is Scotland's Knowledge Exchange and Innovation Collaboration Manager based at the University of the West of Scotland. Sarah, Joanna and Orla talk about What the term influence means to them How the need to influence others shows up for re...

This episode is all about finding and building your community with networking expert Jeni Smith. Sarah and Jeni talk about Why everyone is feeling isolated and craving human connection How self-awareness can help you figure out what kind of community you want Where to look for people like you Ideas for nurturing and growing relationships Find out more Read the show notes and transcript on the podc...

This episode is all about navigating change in the research and higher education world. Sarah's guest is Andrew Millar, Head of Web Services at the University of Dundee. Sarah and Andrew talk about Seeing change as an evolution not a revolution Why open communication is essential for anyone managing change The importance of finding a sense of control amid change What changes are coming for higher...

This episode is all about imposter syndrome and how it shows up for research-adjacent professionals. Sarah's guest Jenny Brady is a coach and facilitator who previously featured in episode 16. Sarah and Jenny talk about Why Imposter moments are part of being human When working with researchers can trigger confidence issues Techniques for managing imposter moments including evidence-based reflectio...

Holly helps PhD researchers navigate careers beyond academia. She is a PhD Careers Specialist at the University of Birmingham and creator of Post-Gradual: The PhD Careers Blog. Sarah and Holly talk about How a nudge from a friend kick-started her career The shortage of research-specialist careers advisers Navigating life and work with a disability Why we need better language to define roles in res...

Rachel is the author of Surviving and Thriving in Higher Education Professional Services, founder of The Bold Collective, and Senior Admissions Manager at Anglia Ruskin University. Sarah and Rachel talk about Being a positive disruptor in higher education Why HE professional roles are invisible by design The disparities between professional and academic contracts Her wish for HE professionals to s...

For the last episode of 2024, Sarah is looking ahead to 2025 and sharing a sneak peek into what lies ahead. Sarah talks about A preview of upcoming episodes and a special mini-series The new research-adjacent careers quiz and making the podcast back catalogue more accessible Her half-written book on research adjacent careers New workshops and support for research-adjacent professionals Launching t...

Sarah looks back on memorable podcast moments from 2024 Sarah talks about How the second year of the podcast has been different from the first How the podcast has grown and evolved in 2024 What she has learned from Spotify Wrapped (yacht rock anyone?) and other podcast stats Most listened to episodes and memorable moments Episodes and links mentioned Suggest a guest via this form Research Adjacent...

Helen Riding is a research manager for the North of England Commissioning Support Unit and coordinator for the Research and Development Forum. She helps make primary care research easier so that more patients can benefit Sarah and Helen talk about Being the glue that holds the primary care research world together How she went from graphic designer to research manager (via midwifery) Navigating red...

Jeni Smith is an academic networking expert and founder of NetKno. Sarah and Jeni talk about How she turned her natural ability for connecting people into a career Why businesses and academics network for different reasons What networking is really about – and it's not what most people think Finally finding the language to describe what she has been seeing in real life for 20 years Find out more R...

Deb Lancaster is 'kind of a head of department' and leads research-facing teams at Genomics England. Genomics England provides genome sequencing for the NHS and maintains DNA databases for research. Sarah and Deb talk about Why making a difference in the world has motivated her entire career The impact her teams and the data they manage is having That you never stop learning, or being scared somet...

David Wright is an Assistant Curator at Durham University where he creates research-based exhibitions for university-owned museums and galleries. Sarah and David talk about Finding the stories, objects and experiences to hook visitors Why endless hours of people-watching were perfect preparation for being a curator The challenges of building a steady career in the museums sector His vision for mor...

Kasia is project manager for the IgG4-TREAT Consortium at the Medical University of Vienna in Austria. She also created the podcast Science on Trial and Error . Sarah and Kasia talk about Her transition from researcher to research manager How her podcast grew out of disillusionment with academia Why stepping away from research has made her feel more hopeful The contribution research-adjacent roles...

Maria uses her literary skills to communicate medical research Maria Cohut is Feature Editor for the website Medical News Today and host of the In Conversation podcast . Sarah and Maria talk about: Finding good stories and why press releases are still important How she pivoted from English literature to medical journalism Transferable skills and redefining her identity Why we all need to be more o...

Ally Hughes is Project Manager for the Scottish Universities Life Sciences Alliance, also known as SULSA. SULSA fosters research collaborations between different organisations, different disciplines and even different countries. Sarah and Ally talk about: Her current role which keeps her connected to research with lots of variety and learning opportunities Brokering research collaborations between...

Sarah is on holiday so we are revisiting an episode from April 2023 all about boundaries and work-life balance. Sarah talks about Why setting and holding boundaries can be particularly challenging in the research-adjacent world Setting boundaries and taking leave as a form of quiet activism Managing expectations and managing our own behaviour Why we are all, always, a work in progress Find out mor...

Sarah looks back on the first 50 episodes of Research Adjacent. Sarah invites a number of past guests to reflect on what being part of the podcast has mean to them. This includes Connecting with new people Self-reflection Embracing the term research-adjacent Boosting confidence Feeling like part of a community Giving something back What has Research Adjacent meant to you? Please let Sarah know! Co...

Katrina is Head of Tutor Engagement at The Brilliant Club, a charity which places PhD students in schools to support less advantaged pupils. Sarah and Katrina talk about Why teaching research to school pupils is amazing for skills development How the instability of early career academia led her to a research-adjacent path The Brilliant Club's mission to tackle inequality through education Embracin...

Helen White and Danni Elster are both volunteers for the Peaches Womb Cancer Trust Patient Voices group and are using their own experiences to help improve womb cancer research. Sarah, Helen and Danni talk about How the group grew from one voice to Patient Voices The difference they have made to research especially around language and ethics Why contributing to research can help bring meaning and...