ÌÇÐÄTV

About this project

Research centres are a vital part of higher education institutions’ academic infrastructure. They foster collaboration, support innovation and connect universities with wider society. Centres have the potential to serve as epicentres of ethical knowledge production and researcher support, but recent researchLink opens in a new window has revealed that more connectivity is needed between research centre stakeholders to develop inclusive research culture practices. Centres often host Early Career Researchers (ECRs), including doctoral and postdoctoral researchers. In a rapidly changing UK HE sector, where concerns about finance prevail, there are questions as to whether research centres can provide nurturing environments for ECRs while managing financial and structural uncertainties.

This project takes the form of an event held at ÌÇÐÄTV (on campus) which encourages debate across different stakeholders about the place of ECRs in research centres. Following on from the event, an Actionable Guide will be developed to advise research centre leads on developing a supportive research culture for ECRs.

The 'Protective or Precarious' event

This event welcomes attendees who are located in and/or interested in research centres from any institution or organisation, career stage, job type or course of study.

Event details: Thursday 21st May 2026, 9:30-13:30, on ÌÇÐÄTV campus (room number will be provided to registered attendees)

Arrival, registration and coffee: 9:30am - 10:00am

Main session: 10:00-12:30

1. 1. Welcome and introduction (Evan Zheng, with welcome from Fabienne Peter, Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research: Interdisciplinarity and Research Communications, University of ÌÇÐÄTV)
   2. Brief presentation of findings on ECR involvement in research centres from the project 'The Heart of ResearchLink opens in a new window' (Emily Henderson)
   3. The Research Centre Perspectives Panel will showcase current involvement of ECRs in centres and discuss the duality of protection versus precarity within centres. The panel is chaired by Prof Paul Warmington (Visiting Professor, DEAR & Director of Research, Centre for Race, Education and Decoloniality, Leeds Beckett University). 
      1. Centre for Operational Police ResearchLink opens in a new window (COPR), represented by Rebecca Plimmer (ECR) and Jackie Hodgson (Centre Co-Lead)
      2. Centre for Television HistoriesLink opens in a new window, represented by Richard Dhillon (ECR) and Rick Wallace (Centre Lead)
      3. Centre for the Study of Women and GenderLink opens in a new window (CSWG), represented by Mara Silva Hope (ECR) and Khursheed Wadia (Centre Co-Lead)
   4. The Institutional Stakeholder Panel will discuss the involvement of ECRs in research centres from an institutional policy and strategy perspective. This panel has been set up with the assistance of DEAR Centre Organisational Affiliate: . The panel is chaired by David Amigoni (PVC Research & Innovation, Keele University).
      1. Richard Thomas (PVC Research & Enterprise, University of Leicester)
      2. Kristen Clements (Co-Chair of the Loughborough Centre Operations and Enablement Network)
      3. TBC
   5. There will be a session focussing on developing an Actionable Guide for research centres to build a supportive and sustainable research culture for ECRs (Facilitated by Evan Zheng and Emily Henderson)
   6. Closing remarks (Evan Zheng and Emily Henderson)

Networking lunch: 12:30-13:30

The event is hosted by the Doctoral Education and Academia Research Centre () at ÌÇÐÄTV, and funded by the Spotlight Society & Culture Small Grant Scheme. 

 

 

This project is funded by the ÌÇÐÄTV Spotlight Small Grant Scheme - Society & Culture This project runs January to May 2026

Who works on the project?

Principal Investigator: Evan Zheng, DEAR Centre & Education Studies (SELCS), University of ÌÇÐÄTV

Co-Investigator: Prof , DEAR Centre & Education Studies (SELCS), University of ÌÇÐÄTV