University appoints Director of Research

Published: 28 March 2022

Dr Bryony Wakefield appointed as Director of Research Services

Dr Bryony Wakefield has been appointed as Director of Research Services at the University.

She will jointly lead, with the Director of Innovation, Dr Declan Weldon, the newly restructured Research and Innovation Services. As Director of Research Services, Bryony joins to deliver the provision of easily accessible research services and the implementation of the University Research Strategy. 

Professor Chris Pearce, Vice Principal (Research and Knowledge Exchange) said: “I’m delighted to welcome Bryony Wakefield to the University as Director of Research Services. This is an exciting time as we implement the University’s Research Strategy 2020-2025 and I know that Bryony's significant experience and expertise will be invaluable as we continuously strive to improve both the quality of our research and our research environment.”

Dr David Duncan, Chief Operating Officer said “Bryony is joining UofG’s professional services team at a very important stage as we take forward an ambitious and forward-looking University Strategy. Her impressive skills and experience will greatly strengthen our capability and place us in an excellent position to support research activity across all four Colleges.”

Bryony Wakefield commented: “I am very excited to be joining the University to lead our central professional services support on research and to work in partnership with Professor Chris Pearce on the implementation of the Research Strategy.  Glasgow is internationally recognised for its breadth of impactful research, collaborative focus and advancing a positive research culture. I look forward to working with colleagues across the institution to support our ambitions going forward.”

“Within the Research Services directorate, we will work closely with colleagues across University Services and Colleges in the areas of research culture & people, research governance and responsible research, research impact, engagement and communication, and strategic research development. We will also work closely with our colleagues in the Innovation directorate to ensure that the full spectrum of research is supported and enabled in Research and Innovations Services.”

Dr Wakefield has a proven track record of leading in research management and administration, with twenty years of experience working in the Higher Education sector in Australia. She has held a number of senior management positions most recently as Director of Research Support & Evaluation, Medicine, Dentistry and Heath Sciences at the University of Melbourne.  

In 2017, Bryony became an inaugural fellow of the Australasian Research Management Society for her substantial contribution to research management as a practitioner, mentor, trainer and advocate of the profession. More recently in 2021, she became the first international member to be elected as Vice-President/President Elect of the U.S based National Council of University Research Administrators. Bryony is also a Lecturer/Adjunct Faculty with Johns Hopkins University, teaching into the Masters in Research Administration. 


First published: 28 March 2022