Research Committee

The Research Committee will:

1. have oversight of research strategy at University and department levels
2. on behalf of Senate, monitor and review progress and development of the University’s research performance with a view to sustainability and improvement
3. on behalf of Senate, prepare the University’s submission to the Research Excellence Framework
4. establish and promote models of good practice for the management of research at departmental level, and to ensure that all departments have suitable structures in place
5. advise departments on the strategic use of the centrally-provided research funds available to them, and receive annual reports from departments on their strategic research investments and the outcomes
6. have due regard for the implementation of the Strategic Plan, its Strategies, Sub-Strategies and Supporting Strategies, and the delivery of key institutional priorities and their associated action plans (as agreed from time-to-time), as relevant to the work of the Committee
7. have due regard of issues of equality and diversity in its work and report to each meeting of Senate on relevant aspects of the Committee’s areas of responsibilities

Research committee members as of AY 2025/26

Ex officio members

Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research): Professor Chris Greer (Chair)

Director of the Research and Enterprise Office: Dr Rob Singh

Dean of Partnerships (Research): Professor Stavroula Karapapa

Faculty Dean Research (Arts and Humanities): Professor Dorina-Maria

Faculty Dean Research (Science and Health): Professor Edward Codling

Faculty Dean Research (Social Sciences): Professor Thankom Arun

Dean of Postgraduate Research and Education: Professor Shane Martin (until 31 December 2025, TBC from 1 January 2026)

Chief Information Officer: Ian Arbuthnot

Director of Library and Cultural Services and University Librarian: Jonathan White

Director of People and Culture (or nominee): Paul Smart

Vice-President (Education), Students’ Union: Chloe Jeffery

Appointed members from the Academic Staff

Professor Alex Dumbrell

Dr Julie Walsh

Dr Emily Murray

Professor Noam Lubell

Professor Melissa Tyler

Dr Michael Tymkiw

Meeting secretary

Head of Research Governance and Planning: Phineas Wenlock

Meeting observers

The research committee extends an invitation to department Directors of Research and Directors of Impact to attend the meeting as an observer.

A number of conditions govern observer status at Research Committee as a sub-committee of Senate. Observers should:

• Use their attendance at Research Committee to support their understanding and leadership of, and/or professional contribution to, the business being discussed, and to support the effective implementation of decisions, as appropriate to their role.
• Attend to observe meetings. Observers are not members of Research Committee and have no right to speak at Research Committee but may contribute to deliberations if invited by the Chair.
• Ensure that they do not participate in final decision-making including any formal voting arrangements.
• Attend only for the unreserved section of the Research Committee business. Observers must adhere to the paper classification statement on the paper coversheet which sets out how and whether the paper can be shared. Some papers will be restricted to Research Committee members and will be considered as reserved business for Research Committee member only. Further information on the University’s Information Security and Paper Classification Approach.
• Play a role in raising the visibility of the work of Research Committee within the University community.

If you would like to attend the research committee as an observer, please contact the REO Research Planning Team.