April 24, 2025, by Rob Ounsworth
Our commitment to research at a challenging time
Update from Professor Tom Rodden, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange.
Future Nottingham
This is an unsettling time for all of us. As you know, a reduction in the size of the university workforce is proposed as part of the Future Nottingham programme.
Phase one relates to Professional Service activities and that is under way. Phase two will look at academic activities, including technical services, and will follow in September 2025, although phase two proposals have yet to be developed.
As ever, I encourage colleagues to be thoughtful of each other. Each of us will be affected by this proposal in different ways. Please be mindful that colleagues may have received difficult news, including communications about the VR scheme, and may need time and space to digest and consider this.
The Vice-Chancellor’s announcement overshadows my monthly research update. But I would like to unequivocally stress our commitment to the university’s mission as a research-led institution. We remain a strong, vibrant place to do research and I passionately believe that universities like Nottingham have a critical role as hubs of innovation and are key to securing economic growth and benefit to society.
These are challenging times and we remain committed to supporting our research and the dedicated people who make it happen.
Leverhulme Research Centre award
The Rights Lab, in partnership with the Department of War Studies at King’s College London, have each been awarded £5m as joint winners of the 2025 Leverhulme Research Centre competition.
The new Leverhulme Centre for Research on Slavery in War will be the first overarching and integrative attempt to understand the slavery–war nexus as it has evolved historically and up to the present.
A dual-site institution, the new centre combines the complementary strengths of both institutions: KCL is home to the world’s largest academic community dedicated to the study of war and security, and the Rights Lab is the global leader in modern slavery research.
The awards are highly prestigious and competition is fierce: this is a significant success and congratulations to all involved.
The Leverhulme Trust supports multidisciplinary, ambitious and high-risk research. In Nottingham, the centre, led by Director of the Rights Lab, Professor Zoe Trodd, is highly interdisciplinary and brings together colleagues from the schools of Politics and International Relations, Geography and Law.
As the Head of School for Politics and International Relations, Professor Caitlin Milazzo, stated: “This type of collaboration – both within and beyond disciplines – is critical to creating innovative and far-reaching solutions.”
REF2029
REF2029 may seem a distant distraction at this time. But, as I’ve stressed, research is at the core of who we are as a university and critical to this is our share of the £2bn per year the Research Excellence Framework allocates to universities’ research.
We are asking faculties for data and information on research outcomes and potential impact case studies. As we await information and guidelines from Research England on what to expect for REF2029, it’s important to be ready for the mapping and assessment process ahead. We will share REF guidance as it is released and discuss how best to work together to evidence the excellence of our research.
Over the coming months we’ll be consulting with colleagues across the university to help shape the development of the university’s Code of Practice for REF2029 – the framework that guides how we fairly and transparently identify staff and outputs for submission to REF2029.
Policy development for REF2029 will be shaped through ongoing engagement and consultation with the HE sector, ensuring a collaborative and inclusive approach. To facilitate this, policy for REF2029 will be published in modules, providing a new, more accessible framework to support sector planning and encourage engagement with the development process.
And finally, a reminder that the deadline for applications for membership of the REF2029 national assessment is midday on Monday 28 April 2025. The university will benefit reputationally by having staff participating in the REF and from the enhanced expertise and insights panel members will bring to REF preparations now and in the future.
Knowledge Exchange Day
Congratulations to all involved in the recent Knowledge Exchange Day. This was an opportunity to engage with teams specialising in KE and commercialisation. As George Rice, Director of Knowledge Exchange and Business Engagement, said: “KE is not easy” and can take years to come to fruition. We perform well in this area thanks to the support of many teams of colleagues. I am delighted that their work was put under the spotlight, together with an insight into how partnership and the sharing knowledge can really help our discoveries take flight and make a difference in the wider world.
Research and KE celebration event
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Jane Norman, and I welcomed colleagues to this event, the first in a series celebrating those working in RKE. The aim was to demonstrate our commitment to research excellence and to improving research culture. It also an opportunity to ensure that staff are aware about the impactful research taking place at Nottingham.
Such events build on interdisciplinary connections and provide opportunities to grow relationships. It also gave Jane and I insights into the experience of researchers and will feed into the strategic narrative project, which will highlight signature and emerging strengths at Nottingham.
Our thanks to all involved, and congratulations to the researchers nominated to take part by their faculties.
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships
The next call for the prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships (PF) opens on Tuesday 8 May 2025. Academics who are looking to engage with potential postdoctoral fellows should start to prepare now – competition is fierce!
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships are one of the most highly regarded and competitive funding opportunities for postdoctoral researchers globally.
Hosting a fellow offers the opportunity to enrich your research team, access innovative ideas, and elevate your research profile.
Opportunity to power place-based growth
We area partner, along with Nottingham Trent and Derby universities, of the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) and the Vice-Chancellor recently hosted a meeting of key stakeholders and industry leaders who share the region’s vision for sustainable economic growth. I am proud to serve as chair of EMCCA’s Innovation and Advisory Board and this role has reinforced my belief that universities can play a leading role in driving regional innovation.
Plans to restructure local councils in England – leading to fewer, larger authorities – coupled with moves to devolve more powers to the regions will give us further opportunity to form partnerships and help drive growth in the East Midlands. This was explored in a recent interview with Times Higher Education, which explored how initiatives like EMCCA reflect increasing recognition of the role university-driven science and technology can play as an “engine” for placed-based growth. Read more: Council changes tipped to help universities power up local growth (free registration required).
Postgraduate Research Experience Survey
PGRs are highly valued members of our research community and the Postgraduate Research Experience Survey is an opportunity to share vital feedback on what’s working well and where we can improve. PGRs are invited to confidentially share their views on essential aspects of their research journey, including supervision, resources, research community, progression and wellbeing.
The survey, run every two years by the Researcher Academy, closes on Friday 16 May 2025.
Have your say– complete the survey
Sustainability Action Week
Sustainability Action Week (12 – 16May) celebrates and raises awareness about the amazing sustainability work happening across our university’s operations, research, teaching and learning.
Colleagues have been asked to get involved by showcasing and celebrating some of the excellent research activity that supports sustainability – by hosting an onsite tour, demonstration or online session.
Find out more and get involved
Caitlin heads for FameLab final
Nottingham researchers have taken the top spots in the FameLab East Midlands Hub Competition. Competitions like FameLab play a vital role in encouraging researchers to share their work in innovative ways, fostering public engagement with science.
Caitlin Lewis, a PhD researcher in Chemistry, emerged as the winner, with her clear, enthusiastic and precise explanation of quantum mechanics. She will go on to represent Nottingham in the FameLab UK National Final, which is taking place at the Cheltenham Science Festival later this year.
Inswasti Cahyani, a teaching associate in Life Sciences, earned the runner-up spot with her engaging talk on nanopore technology.
Once again, with thanks for your kindness and commitment at this challenging time.
Professor Tom Rodden
Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange
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