The Lab for Academic Culture
About the Lab
The Lab’s focus is the maintenance, development and enhancement of positive academic cultures in which everyone can thrive.
- The Lab is a space for creativity, collaboration, and the testing and piloting of new ideas and initiatives.
- The Lab houses recognisable and trusted expertise drawn from a number of specialisms and areas of the university.
- The Lab has an advisory role in the establishment of the university’s Research Culture Priorities, and Action Plan.
- The Lab provides a connecting structure for relevant internal projects across University Services and strategies.
- The Lab provides ongoing reflective critique of University of Glasgow Research/Academic Cultures, through a range of evaluation mechanisms.
The Lab works in tandem with the Research Culture Commons – a university wide network for everyone connected to research at the University of Glasgow.
Membership of the Lab for Academic Culture
As a space for creativity, collaboration and the generation and testing of new ideas, the Lab convenes a team of experts from across the university to support ongoing reflective analysis, and to ensure connectivity and alignment across university strategies and strategic projects.
The Lab is led by Co-Directors Professor Chris Pearce (VP for Research and Knowledge Exchange) and Dr Kay Guccione (Head of Research Culture and Researcher Development) and comprises the following cross university membership:
- VP Research and Knowledge Exchange
- Head of Research Culture and Researcher Development
- Executive Director of Research Services
- Academic Lead for Inclusive Research Practice
- Academic Lead for Good Research Practice
- A (Deputy) Dean of Research (1-year term)
- A Dean of Graduate Studies (1-year term)
- Challenge Programmes Director
- Research Culture Manager (Lead for Collegiality, Recognition and Careers)
- Fellowships Development Manager
- Head of Research Policy Governance and Integrity
- Research Enhancement Manager
- Research Integrity Manager (Lead for Research Integrity)
- Research Information Manager (Lead for Open Research)
- Wellcome Institutional Research Culture Project Manager
- VP Learning and Teaching
- Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
- People & Organisational Development Business Partner (Promotion, and PDR)
- Chair of the Research Professional Staff Network
- Two Research Staff Representatives (1-year term)
- Two PGR Representatives (1-year term)
- 3 External Advisors (2-year term)
- Scottish Research Cultures Collaboration Manager (SFC)
- Plus, invited members as required to serve the Lab’s agenda
Working Groups
In addition to overseeing the University's Research Culture Action Plan, the Lab for Academic Culture has several ongoing project-based working groups:
- Activating Communities for Culture Change - led by Dr Rachel Herries (Research Culture Manager). This project brings different segments of the community together to catalyse action towards a positive research culture.
- Power Relationships and Research Integrity - led by Dr Sam Oakley (Research Governance and Integrity Manager). This project aims to explore the intersections of power relationhsips, research misconduct and interpersonal behaviour.
- Data Sharing Community - led by Valerie McCutcheon (Research Information Manager). This project aims to develop a community informed about the value of data sharing and who are active in data sharing practices.
- DORA and CoARA Working Group - Chaired by Prof. Lisa DeBruine (Academic Lead for Good Research Practice) and Dr Rachel Herries (Research Culture Manager): The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) aims to improve the ways in which the output of scientific research is evaluated. The Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA) is a collective of organisations committed to reforming the methods and processes by which research, researchers, and research organisations are evaluated.
- InFrame Project, led by Dr Kay Guccione (InFrame Project Lead) and Charlotte Bonner-Evans (InFrame Project Manager): The universities of Glasgow, Edinburgh and St Andrews have been awarded £3m to create a new framework for inclusive research leadership – the InFrame Project – recognising that a skilled collegial approach is critical for the development of supportive and equitable cultures, and foundational to the aspirations set out in our research culture action plans.
- Inclusive Research Practice - Led by Prof. Doris Eikhof, Academic Lead for Inclusive Research. IRP gives us the tools to do inclusion meaningfully, as a valuable and valued aspect of how our research is done, not just a box ticking exercise. Browse the Inclusive Research Practice web pages to learn more about how our projects and initiatives can support your inclusive research practice, at the University of Glasgow and beyond.
- Narrative CVs - a Research Services Directorate collaboration: this project spans all areas of work for Research Services from recruitment and promotion, to demand managed funding calls, to REF2029. We work collectively on our growing Narrative CV resource bank.
Outputs, Awards and Impact
2026
- Bonner-Evans.C. (2026) Keynote: ‘The Why, What and How of Mentoring: The benefits of mentoring for Early Career Researchers’ Developing your research career through mentoring and networking, Bangor University 27/02/2026
- Symposium Space for InFrame Culture Catalyst Fund Projects – Session 2 (2026) Scottish Research Integrity and Culture Week Programme | research integrity and culture week 2025
- Symposium Space for InFrame Culture Catalyst Fund Projects – Session 1 (2026) Scottish Research Integrity and Culture Week Programme | research integrity and culture week 2025
- Unwin, A ‘Community Hub’, (2026) Scottish Research Integrity and Culture Week Programme | research integrity and culture week 2025
- Axelithioti, P., McDonald, C., Gourlay, E, Jackson Ireland, H. ‘The Importance of Being Earnest (and Collegial, and Disruptive)’, (2026) Scottish Research Integrity and Culture Week, University of Strathclyde, UK
- Attenborough, R., Ploin, A. ‘Evaluating what hasn’t happened yet? A creative methodological response to the challenge of evaluating a 2-year cross institutional culture change project’ (2026) Researcher Education and Development Scholarship (REDS) Conference 2026 University of Glasgow, UK
- Axelithioti, P., McDonald, C. ‘Disrupting Hierarchies: An examination of the InFrame Project’ (2026) Researcher Education and Development Scholarship (REDS) Conference 2026 University of Glasgow, UK
- Backwell, L., Lim, C. ‘Giving voice to the community: Co-creating a framework for research culture change’ (2026) Researcher Education and Development Scholarship (REDS) Conference 2026 University of Glasgow, UK
- Herries, R., and Guccione, K. 'Activating People & Projects through an All Schools Research Culture & Environment Away Day' Presentation, Scottish Research Cultures Showcase. , Uiversity of Edinburgh, UK, 5 March 2026
- InFrame Team. Increasing Collegiality in Research: Lessons from the InFrame Project. Online Symposium. 24th February 2026.
- Guccione, K. 'Maximising development through a whole culture approach'. Keynote. Postgraduate Pedagogies Conference. University of Liverpool, UK 15th January, 2026.
2025
- Abidin, Z. U., Guccione, K., ‘Making the Hidden Labour Visible: Mapping Leadership, Collegiality and Support Networks underpinning Research Culture Funding Success’ (2025), Society for Research into Higher Education (SRHE) International Conference 2025, University of Nottingham, UK
- Backwell, L., Lim, C., Gardener, D. ‘Giving voice to the community: Co-creating a framework for research culture change’ (2025) Society for Research into Higher Education (SRHE) International Conference 2025 University of Nottingham, UK
- Axelithioti, P., McDonald, C., Vazquez Martin, C. ‘Role modelling collegiality in an interdisciplinary research support team’ (2025) Society for Research into Higher Education (SRHE) International Conference 2025, University of Nottingham, UK
- Lim, C., Abidin, Z. U. ‘InFrame Presentation’ (2025) Scottish Technical Conference 2025 University of Glasgow, UK
- Abidin, Z. U., Bonner-Evans, C. ‘Mapping Inclusive Research Leadership and Collaboration through Social Network Analysis: Insights from the Culture Catalyst Fund’. (2025) International Research Culture Conference University of Warwick
- Lim, C., Backwell, L. ‘Giving voice to the voices: Co-creating a framework for research culture change’ (2025) International Research Culture Conference 2025 University of Warwick, UK
- Guccione, K. 'Building collegiality and confidence in supervisory teams'. Lecture. University Umea, Online. 18th September, 2025.
- Backwell, L., Lim, C., Abidin, Z. U. ‘Giving voice to the voices: Co-creating a framework for positive research culture impact’ (2025) Impact Ignite 2025 Research Impact Academy Southampton, UK
- Abidin, Z. U., Bonner-Evans, C. ‘Who Really Makes Research Happen? Surfacing the Hidden Work Behind Funding Success’ (2025) Scottish Educational Research Association, SERA Conference, Symposium Presentation, University of Aberdeen
- Lim, C., Backwell, L. ‘Giving voice to the voices: Co-creating a framework for research culture change’ (2025) European Conference on Educational Research (ECER) 2025 University of Belgrade, Serbia
- Abidin, Z. U., Lim, C., Bonner-Evans, C. ‘Mapping Collegiality, Research Leadership and Institutional Collaboration: Social Network Insights from the Culture Catalyst Fund’ (2025) European Conference on Educational Research (ECER), Paper Presentation, University of Belgrade, Serbia
- Guccione, K., Gourlay, E., and Chin, R. (2025) European Mentoring and Coaching Council Mentoring Award for Thesis Mentoring
- Bonner-Evans, C., Unwin, A. ‘Transformative change: improving research culture through the lens of collegial leadership’ (2025) Association of Higher Education Professionals Annual Conference 2025, Glasgow Caledonian University, Annual Conference 2025 Programme | AHEP
- Guccione, K. 'Connecting Research Integrity to Research Culture' Keynote. National Conference on Research Integrity (NCRI). Office of Research Integrity. Chicago, USA, 19-21 May 2025.
- Bonner-Evans, C. 'Developing Collegial Leadership.' BBSRC Connecting Research Culture Conference. Norwich, UK, 26-27 March 2025
- Barkley, D. Bridging the Gap: Supporting Mid-Career Researchers in UK Higher Education. Vitae. Online. 12 March 2025.
- Guccione, K. 'Positioning coaching within educational practice' at the Coaching in HE UK Network, Online. 24 March 2025.
- Bonner-Evans, C., Nicoll Baines, K., Fuller, S. ‘Interactive Seminar: How senior leaders can foster a positive culture change and how to sell it to a reluctant audience.’ (2025). BBSRC Connecting Research Culture Conference, Earlham Institute Connecting Research Culture Conference 2025 | Earlham Institute
- Guccione, K. "What’s going right in research culture?" European Association of Research Managers and Administrators (EARMA) ECDI Thematic Group, Online, March 2025.
- Guccione, Kay (2025) A whole culture approach to doctoral education. In: Creaton, Jane and Gower, Owen (eds.) Prioritising the Mental Health and Wellbeing of Doctoral Researchers: Promoting Healthy Research Cultures. Routledge, pp. 73-90. ISBN 9781003403210
2024
- Guccione, Kay and Bonner-Evans, Charlotte (2024) "The Approach Breaks Down Barriers". Academic-professional Mentoring Partnerships that shift the Power Differential through Mutual Third-space Alliance. Society for Research into Higher Education International Conference, Nottingham, UK, 6-9 December 2024.
- Herries, R. Keynote 'Positive Research Culture – a partnership approach' Netherlands Research Integrity Network Symposium, Utrecht, Netherlands, 25 October 2024.
- Gourlay, E. 'A Community Approach to Leadership Development: Giving Research Professionals a Ticket on the Self-Esteem Train'. Researcher Education and Development Scholarship (REDS) International Conference. Online. 10 October 2024
- Gourlay, E. and Naik, V. ‘Honey, we shrunk a thesis mentoring programme’ Vitae International Conference. Birmingham, UK, 23-24 September 2024.
- Guccione, K. Keynote: '"It’s not charity": reducing waste and activating talent through research culture work’. University of Manchester Research Culture Open Meeting. Manchester, UK, 16 July 2024.
- Guccione, K. 'Measuring and monitoring research culture is easy' The Unnamed Research Culture Event, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK 15-16 July 2024
- Guccione, K., Keynote: 'Collegiality: will we know it when we see it?' Advancing Research Culture Conversation Meeting, Waterford, Ireland, 16 May 2024
- Herries, R., and Guccione K. Keynote: Activating 'Anecdotes: the power of open practices in changing Research Culture. Liverpool John Moores University Open Research Week 2024. Online. 26 February 2024.
2023
- Somorin Y., and Stefanatos, R. 'Aligning the Concordat with research culture strategies' Vitae Conference. Manchester, UK. 6-7 September 2023
- Guccione, Kay , Gourlay, Elaine and Bonner-Evans, Charlotte (2023) Mentoring as a Mechanism for Leading Culture Change. Researcher Education and Development Scholarship International Conference 2023, Online, 11 October 2023.
2022
- Guccione, Kay (2022) Finding the Reasonable Boundaries of Peer Mentoring. Student Mental Health Research Network 2022, Online, 25 January 2022.
- Guccione, Kay (2022) Foreword: when our postgraduate researchers choose to teach, we should show their value. Postgraduate Pedagogies, 2(1), pp. 3-10.
2021
- Guccione, Kay (2021) 'I never thought of this work as supervision, but it definitely is!’ Becoming aware of supervision work as an early career researcher. Society for Research into Higher Education Annual Research Conference 2021, 6- 10 December 2021. (Unpublished)
- Collegiality is the means to effect teamwork: Tanita Casci and Miles Padgett on the importance of collegiality (July 2021)
- Changing Academic Life (podcast): Tanita Casci and Elizabeth Adams on supporting, rewarding and celebrating a positive collegial research culture (May 2021)
- INORMS SCOPE Workshop Case Study: University of Glasgow: Supporting the careers of others (May 2021).
2020
- Rewarding contributions to research culture is part of building a better university (LSE blog, Dec 2020).
- Five ways culture change can be led by postgraduate researchers (The Hidden Curiculum, Oct 2020)
- We'll be judged by the careers we create (WonkHE, Aug 2020).
- Research Culture, setting the right tone (eLife, Feb 2020).
2019
- Reimagining Research Culture event blog and event report (Sept-Nov 2019).
Previous Lab Projects
- Piloting the Wellcome Trust Café Culture Toolkit for Research Professional Staff (2022)
- Mitigating the Differential Impacts of Covid-19 on Research - Report (2022)
- Understanding the Effectiveness of Narrative CVs Report (2021)
- Article (Casci & Padgett, 2021) Collegiality is the means to effective teamwork
- Article (Casci & Adams, 2020) Research Culture: Setting the right tone
- Article (Casci & Adams, 2020) Rewarding contributions to research culture is part of building a better university
- Article (Casci & Padgett, 2020) We’ll be judged by the careers we create
- Developing an Institutional Survey for Research Culture Question Set (2019)