Pillar 3: Collaboration, Culture, and Talent Development
3a: Collaboration and Team Science
We want to ensure our School is a place where people and science can flourish. We will develop a thriving and diverse programme of Guest Lectures coupled to an innovative and engaging Internal Seminar Programme, facilitating a culture of collaboration across SCMH, MVLS, and our external partners.
We will incentivise and support collegiality and team-based approaches to research, including co-supervision, joint funding bids, and recognition for ECRs as Co-applicants and Researcher Co-investigators. We will build interdisciplinary links with other Schools and Colleges, particularly in data science, AI, engineering, chemistry, and public health, enabling us to leverage University-wide research networks and platforms, including those aligned to One Health, Advanced Imaging, and Precision Medicine.
3b: Support for Funding Applications
Senior staff will play a key role in fostering a culture of openness and collaboration by actively sharing best practice in grant writing and research development. To support transparency, we will establish and maintain a database of successful funding applications, accessible to all researchers, as a practical resource for strengthening future bids. In parallel, we will work with Research Culture and Researcher Development Teams to develop and disseminate templates for key sections of applications, such as environment statements, to streamline preparation and ensure consistently high standards across submissions.
3c: Support for Early Career Researchers
SCMH recognises and embraces the principles of the Research Concordat, providing ECRs a minimum of 10 days per year for developmental activity. We will create a clear career development pathway for postdoctoral researchers and early career academics, providing mentoring schemes, internal peer review, and tailored support for fellowship and grant applications. ECR voices will be represented in strategic planning and all levels of School governance. We will embed ECR development in all major research initiatives and infrastructure investments and ensure research achievements are recognised and celebrated. We will provide support, both budgetary and through formal endorsement, for career development activities and conference attendance.
3d: Training and Talent Development
We aim to equip all PhD, MSc, and undergraduate students within the school with the highest level of training, knowledge, and skills, ensuring they are well-prepared to generate impact in society. We will support integration of R&T and LTS career tracks by aligning undergraduate and postgraduate teaching with research priorities. We will support supervisors at all career stages, emboldening early-career colleagues to lead student projects, and develop interdisciplinary and collaborative studentships, including partnerships with external organisations.
3e: Good Research Practice
We will foster a research culture grounded in integrity, transparency and rigour, ensuring that all work across SCMH is conducted to exemplary standards of research integrity and quality. Through dedicated School Good Research Practice Advisors and regular training, resources, and communications, we will equip our research community to embed openness, ethical responsibility, and reproducibility into every stage of the research process. By championing positive research culture and supporting colleagues in navigating best practice, we will strengthen the quality, trustworthiness, and long‑term impact of our science.