Research Adjacent: Recent Episodes
Sarah McLusky
Research Adjacent is a podcast that shines a light on everything that goes into making research successful, except the research. I’m talking about public engagement, knowledge exchange, outreach, project management, research communications, publishing, funding, events, training, partnerships, facilitation, and the rest.
Too often, all we hear about are the researchers and the research outputs. Well, not here! In the podcast Sarah McLusky talks to amazing research-adjacent professionals about what they do and why it makes a difference. Tune in to find out why we think the research-adjacent space is where the real magic happens.
This episode is a must listen for anyone who hires freelancers to support research projects or who is a freelancer themselves. It is packed with advice for making things run more smoothly – from contracts to cold-hard cash. We are also launching the Research Adjacent Directory listing service.
Sarah is joined by fellow freelancers from the Research Adjacent Community including Limor Zwi-Dantsis, Russell Arnott, Sophie Morris, Naomi Tyrrell and Vittoria Danino, to talk about…
- Why hiring a freelancer can be a great decision
- Tips for working effectively with research-adjacent freelancers
- How much excellent specialists actually cost
- Where to find quality contractors
Find out more
- Read the show notes and transcript on the podcast website
- Check out the Research Adjacent Directory
- Find out if the Research Adjacent Community is right for you
- Read Top 5 reasons to hire an independent research-adjacent professional
- Read Working effectively with research-adjacent freelancers
- Read How much do research-adjacent freelancers cost?
- Connect with Limor Zwi-Dantsis, Russell Arnott, Sophie Morris, Naomi Tyrrell and Vittoria Danino on LinkedIn
About Research Adjacent
- What do you think of this episode? Share a screenshot with your thoughts and tag @ResearchAdjacent on LinkedIn, Instagram or BlueSky
- Fill out the research-adjacent careers quiz
- Sign up to the Research Adjacent newsletter
- Email a comment, question or suggestion
- Leave Sarah a voice message
Sarah reports from the International Research Culture Conference #IRCC25 which was held at the University of Warwick on 17 September 2025. It features contributions from Rika Nair, Alys Kay and Dolly Coates, as well as excerpts from Sarah’s talk on professional development for research enablers.
Sarah and her guests talk about
- Why the recognising the contributions of research-adjacent roles is a key research culture issue
- Challenges research-adjacent professionals can face when trying to make progress in their careers
- The System Shuffle game which aims to make the hidden labour in research teams more visible
- How the language used to describe research-adjacent roles influences how they are perceived
Find out more
- Read the show notes and transcript on the podcast website
- Connect with Rika Nair, Alys Kay or Dolly Coates on LinkedIn
- Read Alys’s LinkedIn post about the System Shuffle game
- Find out more about Research Culture Knowledge Exchange, IRCC25 and the work of the National Centre for Research Culture
- Read the Wellcome report ‘What researcher’s think about the culture they work in’
About Research Adjacent
- Where are you listening from? Share a pic and tag @ResearchAdjacent on LinkedIn, Instagram or BlueSky
- Fill out the research-adjacent careers quiz
- Sign up to the Research Adjacent newsletter
- Email a comment, question or suggestion
- Leave Sarah a voice message
Esther Lisk-Carew is engagement coordinator for a programme called AHEAD (Arts and Humanities Engagement and Dialogue) at Manchester Metropolitan University. She is also a freelance consultant, trustee of Manchester’s Portico Library and founder of the Black and Global Majority Cultural Creative Network.
Sarah and Esther talk about
- How she combines a love of storytelling and the arts with a talent for managing events and operations
- Why engagement is often baked into the methods and outputs of arts and humanities
- Building a career in the cultural sector (despite a detour into French law)
- Why academia needs more diverse voices, and high-profile cultural icons
Find out more
- Read the show notes and transcript on the podcast website
- Find out about everything Esther is working on via her Linktree
- Find AHEAD at MMU on the web, Linktree, LinkedIn and Instagram
About Research Adjacent
- Where are you listening from? Share a pic and tag @ResearchAdjacent on LinkedIn, Instagram or BlueSky
- Fill out the research-adjacent careers quiz
- Sign up to the Research Adjacent newsletter
- Email a comment, question or suggestion
- Leave Sarah a voice message
Tamika Heiden is the founder and director of impact consultancy Research Impact Academy. Her company works with researchers around the globe and also runs the Research Impact Summit.
Sarah and Tamika talk about
- How her career and business evolved from research to knowledge translation to impact
- The language and practice of impact around the world
- Overcoming the mindset challenges that came with starting her own business
- How the current funding systems are holding back progress
Find out more
- Read the show notes and transcript on the podcast website
- Connect with Tamika on LinkedIn
- Sign up for the Research Impact Summit
- Find Research Impact Academy on the web, LinkedIn, Facebook, X, BlueSky, YouTube and Instagram
About Research Adjacent
- Fill out the research-adjacent careers quiz
- Sign up to the Research Adjacent newsletter
- Follow Research Adjacent on LinkedIn Instagram and BlueSky
- Email a comment, question or suggestion
- Leave Sarah a voice message
Anji Miller is Senior Partner for Academic Engagement at healthcare charity LifeArc. LifeArc help turn great research into real-world healthcare products – from bench to bedside.
Sarah and Anji talk about
- Trusting her instincts, even when others didn’t understand her career choice
- Embracing opportunities and making the next best move
- Why she is a passionate advocate for mentoring, EDI and STEM initiatives
- Seeing the impact of her work on patients and the people she has supported
Find out more
- Read the show notes and transcript on the podcast website
- Connect with Anji on LinkedIn
- Find out about LifeArc
About Research Adjacent
- Fill out the research-adjacent careers quiz
- Sign up to the Research Adjacent newsletter
- Follow Research Adjacent on LinkedIn Instagram and BlueSky
- Email a comment, question or suggestion
- Leave Sarah a voice message
Sarah's guest is impact consultant, Chris Pahlow. Based in Melbourne, Australia, Chris runs the consultancy business Amplifying Research and hosts the podcast of the same name.
Sarah and Chris talk about
- Blagging his way into a university teaching position whilst an indie filmmaker
- Why impact is really all about relationships
- Being honest – even when it’s not what people want to hear
- The often-invisible work of research professional staff
Find out more
- Read the show notes and transcript on the podcast website
- Connect with Chris on LinkedIn
- Listen to the Amplifying Research podcast
- Find out about Chris’s business Amplifying Research
About Research Adjacent
- Fill out the research-adjacent careers quiz
- Sign up to the Research Adjacent newsletter
- Follow Research Adjacent on LinkedIn Instagram and BlueSky
- Email a comment, question or suggestion
- Leave Sarah a voice message
Louise Jopling is the Chief Scientific and Innovation Officer at the Babraham Research Campus and Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the Babraham Institute.
Sarah and Louise talk about
- Her career journey from immunology research to business leader and mentor
- Why hearing about the real-world impact of health innovations still gives her goosebumps
- The Babraham Research Campus ‘melting pot’ which creates a unique environment for research commercialisation and collaboration
Find out more
- Read the show notes and transcript on the podcast website
- Connect to Louise on LinkedIn
- Find out about the Babraham Research Campus and Babraham Institute
About Research Adjacent
- Fill out the research-adjacent careers quiz
- Sign up to the Research Adjacent newsletter
- Follow Research Adjacent on LinkedIn Instagram and BlueSky
- Email a comment, question or suggestion
- Leave Sarah a voice message
Sarah’s guest for this episode is Andy Tattersall. Andy is a communications specialist who embraces using technology to help share research.
Sarah and Andy talk about
- Making himself so useful that a job was created especially for him
- Using technology to solve problems and always trying to make things better
- How he evolved from bedroom radio host to pirate station DJ to podcaster
- Being a lifelong learner and why more CPD time would benefit everyone
Find out more
- Read the show notes and transcript on the podcast website
- Check out Andy’s Linktree for all his podcasts and articles
- Connect to Andy on BlueSky
- Visit Andy’s website
About Research Adjacent
- Fill out the research-adjacent careers quiz
- Sign up to the Research Adjacent newsletter
- Follow Research Adjacent on LinkedIn Instagram and BlueSky
- Email a comment, question or suggestion
- Leave Sarah a voice message
Stephen Britton, Health & Safety Officer (Episode 70)
Sarah’s guest for this episode is Stephen Britton. Stephen is currently a Biological Safety Officer at Durham University. Prior to that he spent over 20 years working for the UK Government’s Health & Safety Executive.
Sarah and Stephen talk about
- Our changing appetite for risk and what life might be like without health and safety regulations
- Some of the major incidents he has investigated
- Why the constant churn of university research projects creates safety challenges
- The far-reaching impact of his chosen career compared to staying in research
Find out more
- Read the show notes and transcript on the podcast website
- Connect to Stephen on LinkedIn
About Research Adjacent
- Fill out the research-adjacent careers quiz
- Sign up to the Research Adjacent newsletter
- Follow Research Adjacent on LinkedIn Instagram and BlueSky
- Email a comment, question or suggestion
- Leave Sarah a voice message
Laura Evans-Hill, Visual Storyteller (Episode 69)
Sarah’s guest for this episode is Laura Evans-Hill. Laura is a visual storyteller and director of research communications agency Nifty-Fox Creative.
Sarah and Laura talk about
- Why combining visuals and storytelling can be such a powerful communication tool
- How she works with researchers to turn illustrations into impact
- Her journey from accidental freelancer to agency director
- What AI might mean for the future of research communication
Find out more
- Read the show notes and transcript on the podcast website
- Connect to Laura on LinkedIn
- Find out more about Nifty Fox Creative on their website, LinkedIn or BlueSky
- Check out the More Than Medals online exhibition
About Research Adjacent
- Fill out the research-adjacent careers quiz
- Sign up to the Research Adjacent newsletter
- Follow Research Adjacent on LinkedIn Instagram and BlueSky
- Email a comment, question or suggestion
- Leave Sarah a voice message
This is a special double episode. First up Sarah meets David Mendes, aka Papa PhD, medical writer/translator and host of the Beyond the Thesis podcast. Then the tables are turned and David interviews Sarah for the Beyond the Thesis podcast.
Sarah and David talk about
- How networking led to both the career and podcast he has now
- The origin story of the Papa PhD podcast
- Why creating the podcast has helped him feel more confident
- The emotional and practical challenges of the post-PhD journey
Then David and Sarah have a conversation about
- How Sarah transitioned from research to research-adjacent post-PhD
- Advocating for research-adjacent professionals
- Research-adjacent jobs and where to find them
- Why PhD graduates who want to become research-adjacent need to reframe both their skills and their expectations
Find out more
- Read the transcript on the podcast website
- Connect to David on LinkedIn
- Visit the Papa PhD podcast website
- Follow the Papa PhD podcast on Instagram or X
- Connect to Sarah on LinkedIn
About Research Adjacent
- Fill out the research-adjacent careers quiz
- Sign up to the Research Adjacent newsletter
- Follow Research Adjacent on LinkedIn Instagram and BlueSky
- Email a comment, question or suggestion
- Leave Sarah a voice message
It’s the Easter holidays in the UK so this is a behind the scenes update with just Sarah.
Sarah talks about
- The recent Challenges miniseries
- Upcoming episodes and future guests, including a special collaboration with Papa PhD
- The Research Adjacent Community for freelancers and the Research Adjacent Directory
- What she does when she's not podcasting and her Gathering with Purpose research events newsletter
Find out more
- Read the transcript on the podcast website
- Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn
- Find out more about the Research Adjacent Community
- Sign up for Gathering with Purpose, Sarah’s research events newsletter
About Research Adjacent
- Fill out the research-adjacent careers quiz
- Sign up to the Research Adjacent newsletter
- Follow Research Adjacent on LinkedIn Instagram and BlueSky
- Email a comment, question or suggestion
- Leave Sarah a voice message
Rosalind Gill is Head of Policy and Engagement at the National Centre for Universities and Businesses (NCUB).
Sarah and Rosalind talk about
- bringing people together to respond to big sector challenges
- the realities of working in the sometimes-volatile political realm
- the huge contribution universities make to the UK economy
- why changing how people think often has more impact than any individual policy
Find out more
- Read the show notes and transcript on the podcast website
- Connect to Rosalind on LinkedIn or X
- Find out more about NCUB their website or LinkedIn or X
About Research Adjacent
- Fill out the research-adjacent careers quiz
- Sign up to the Research Adjacent newsletter
- Follow Research Adjacent on LinkedIn Instagram and BlueSky
- Email a comment, question or suggestion
- Leave Sarah a voice message
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This episode is about influencing others at work with Joanna Royle and Orla Kelly. Joanna is a Researcher Development Manager at the University of Glasgow. Orla is Scotland's Knowledge Exchange and Innovation Collaboration Manager based at the University of the West of Scotland.
Sarah, Joanna and Orla talk about
- What the term influence means to them
- How the need to influence others shows up for research-adjacent professionals
- Examples of how they have used their influence at work
- Tips for influencing others, including more senior people
Find out more
- Read the show notes and transcript on the podcast website
- Connect to Orla on LinkedIn
- Connect to Joanna on LinkedIn or via the University of Glasgow website
- Visit the University of Glasgow's Research Culture and Researcher Development team blog
- Listen to Orla’s first appearance on Research Adjacent
About Research Adjacent
- Fill out the research-adjacent careers quiz
- Sign up to the Research Adjacent newsletter
- Follow Research Adjacent on LinkedIn Instagram and BlueSky
- Email a comment, question or suggestion
- Leave Sarah a voice message
This episode is all about finding and building your community with networking expert Jeni Smith.
Sarah and Jeni talk about
- Why everyone is feeling isolated and craving human connection
- How self-awareness can help you figure out what kind of community you want
- Where to look for people like you
- Ideas for nurturing and growing relationships
Find out more
- Read the show notes and transcript on the podcast website
- Listen to Jeni’s first appearance on Research Adjacent
- Connect to Jeni on LinkedIn
- Find networking events on NetworkWhere.com
Check out the Research Adjacent Community for freelancers and small business owners
About Research Adjacent
- Fill out the research-adjacent careers quiz
- Sign up to the Research Adjacent newsletter
- Follow Research Adjacent on LinkedIn Instagram and BlueSky
- Email a comment, question or suggestion
- Leave Sarah a voice message
This episode is all about navigating change in the research and higher education world. Sarah’s guest is Andrew Millar, Head of Web Services at the University of Dundee.
Sarah and Andrew talk about
- Seeing change as an evolution not a revolution
- Why open communication is essential for anyone managing change
- The importance of finding a sense of control amid change
- What changes are coming for higher education in 2025 and beyond
Find out more
- Read the show notes and transcript on the podcast website
- Connect with Andrew on LinkedIn
- Andrew’s Predictions for 2025 LinkedIn article
Download the Career Compass worksheet
About Research Adjacent
- Fill out the research-adjacent careers quiz
- Sign up to the Research Adjacent newsletter
- Follow Research Adjacent on LinkedIn Instagram and BlueSky
- Email a comment, question or suggestion
- Leave Sarah a voice message
This episode is all about imposter syndrome and how it shows up for research-adjacent professionals. Sarah’s guest Jenny Brady is a coach and facilitator who previously featured in episode 16.
Sarah and Jenny talk about
- Why Imposter moments are part of being human
- When working with researchers can trigger confidence issues
- Techniques for managing imposter moments including evidence-based reflection, reframing and focusing on strengths
Find out more
- Read the show notes and transcript on the podcast website
- Connect with Jenny on LinkedIn
- Listen to Jenny’s previous appearance on the podcast
Download the Career Compass worksheet
About Research Adjacent
- Fill out the research-adjacent careers quiz
- Sign up to the Research Adjacent newsletter
- Follow Research Adjacent on LinkedIn Instagram and BlueSky
- Email a comment, question or suggestion
- Leave Sarah a voice message
Holly is a PhD Careers Specialist at the University of Birmingham and creator of Post-Gradual: The PhD Careers Blog.
Sarah and Holly talk about
- How a nudge from a friend kick-started her career
- The shortage of research-specialist careers advisers
- Navigating life and work with a disability
- Why we need better language to define roles in research and higher education
Find out more
- Read the show notes and transcript on the podcast website
- Connect with Holly on LinkedIn or BlueSky
- Visit Post-Gradual: The PhD Careers Blog
About Research Adjacent
- Fill out the research-adjacent careers quiz
- Sign up to the Research Adjacent newsletter
- Follow Research Adjacent on LinkedIn Instagram and BlueSky
- Email a comment, question or suggestion
- Leave Sarah a voice message
Rachel is the author of Surviving and Thriving in Higher Education Professional Services, founder of The Bold Collective, and Senior Admissions Manager at Anglia Ruskin University.
Sarah and Rachel talk about
- Being a positive disruptor in higher education
- Why HE professional roles are invisible by design
- The disparities between professional and academic contracts
- Her wish for HE professionals to speak up and speak out
Find out more
- Read the show notes and transcript on the podcast website
- Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn or via her website
- Read Rachel's book Surviving and Thriving in Higher Education Professional Services
- Join one of Rachel's monthly workshops
About Research Adjacent
- Fill out the research-adjacent careers quiz
- Sign up to the Research Adjacent newsletter
- Follow Research Adjacent on LinkedIn Instagram and BlueSky
- Email a comment, question or suggestion
- Leave Sarah a voice message
For the last episode of 2024, Sarah is looking ahead to 2025 and sharing a sneak peek into what lies ahead.
Sarah talks about
- A preview of upcoming episodes and a special mini-series
- The new research-adjacent careers quiz and making the podcast back catalogue more accessible
- Her half-written book on research adjacent careers
- New workshops and support for research-adjacent professionals
- Launching the Research Adjacent Community for self-employed folks
Find out more
- Suggest a guest via this form
- Try out the research-adjacent careers quiz
- Sign up to the Research Adjacent newsletter
- Follow Research Adjacent on LinkedIn Instagram and now BlueSky
- See the list of workshops and training Sarah offers
- Come and join the Research Adjacent Community for freelancers
- Email a comment, question or suggestion
- Leave Sarah a voice message
Theme music by Lemon Music Studios from Pixabay
Sarah looks back on memorable podcast moments from 2024
Sarah talks about
- How the second year of the podcast has been different from the first
- How the podcast has grown and evolved in 2024
- What she has learned from Spotify Wrapped (yacht rock anyone?) and other podcast stats
- Most listened to episodes and memorable moments
Episodes and links mentioned * Suggest a guest via this form * Research Adjacent at 50 celebration episode * Most listened to episode of 2024 - Anthony Kavanagh, Patent Attorney * Other popular and memorable episodes + John Elvin, Industry Programme Manager + Naomi Tyrrell, Research Consultant + Kath Burton, Publishing Professional + Helen White & Danni Elster, Experts by Experience + Susan Shanks and Alice Millard, Archivists + Sam Steele, Research Centre Managing Director + David Wright, Exhibition Curator + Helen Riding, NHS Research Manager * For my podcast artwork of the year see Networking Expert, Jeni Smith's episode * The Academic Adventures podcast * Diversity in Research podcast - How being research adjacent can influence diversity in research * Research Culture Uncovered (Episode 94) The role of podcasting in research culture and communications * Find out what a 'ta-da' list is
Find out more * Follow Research Adjacent on LinkedIn and Instagram * Sign up to the Research Adjacent newsletter * Email a comment, question or suggestion * Leave Sarah a voice message
Theme music by Lemon Music Studios from Pixabay
Helen Riding, NHS Research Manager (Episode 57)
Helen is a research manager for the North of England Commissioning Support Unit and coordinator for the Research and Development Forum.
Sarah and Helen talk about
- Being the glue that holds the primary care research world together
- How she went from graphic designer to research manager (via midwifery)
- Navigating redundancy and becoming a mature student
- Why she keeps the patient at the heart of everything she does
Find out more
- Read the show notes and transcript on the podcast website
- Connect with Helen on LinkedIn, X or ResearchGate
- Find out about the NECS and the Research and Development Forum
- Read a recent paper on how being research-active improves healthcare
About Research Adjacent
- Follow Research Adjacent on LinkedIn and Instagram
- Sign up to the Research Adjacent newsletter
- Email a comment, question or suggestion
- Leave Sarah a voice message
Jeni Smith is an academic networking expert and founder of NetKno.
Sarah and Jeni talk about
- How she turned her natural ability for connecting people into a career
- Why businesses and academics network for different reasons
- What networking is really about – and it’s not what most people think
- Finally finding the language to describe what she has been seeing in real life for 20 years
Find out more
- Read the show notes and transcript on the podcast website
- Connect with Jeni on LinkedIn
- Follow NetKno on the web, LinkedIn and Instagram
About Research Adjacent
- Follow Research Adjacent on LinkedIn and Instagram
- Sign up to the Research Adjacent newsletter
- Email a comment, question or suggestion
- Leave Sarah a voice message
Deb Lancaster leads research-facing teams at Genomics England.
Sarah and Deb talk about
- Why making a difference in the world has motivated her entire career
- The impact her teams and the data they manage is having
- That you never stop learning, or being scared sometimes, even after 30-years in work
Find out more
- Read the show notes and transcript on the podcast website
- Listen to the Behind the Genes podcast
- Find out more about Genomics England on their website, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube
About Research Adjacent
- Follow the podcast on LinkedIn and Instagram
- Sign up to the podcast newsletter
- Email Sarah a comment, question or suggestion
- Leave Sarah a voice message
David brings research to life through exhibitions
David Wright is an Assistant Curator at Durham University where he creates research-based exhibitions for university-owned galleries.
Sarah and David talk about
- Finding the stories, objects and experiences to hook visitors
- Why endless hours of people-watching were perfect preparation for being a curator
- The challenges of building a steady career in the museums sector
- His vision for more creative and radical exhibitions
Find out more
- Read the show notes and transcript on the podcast website
- Connect with David via LinkedIn or the Durham University website
- Explore his online exhibitions including Catch Your Breath, Tunstall and the Tudors and Between Worlds.
About Research Adjacent
- Follow the podcast on LinkedIn and Instagram
- Sign up to the podcast newsletter
- Email Sarah a comment, question or suggestion
- Leave Sarah a voice message
Kasia wants to change academia from the inside
Kasia is project manager for the IgG4-TREAT Consortium at the Medical University of Vienna in Austria. She also created the podcast Science on Trial and Error.
Sarah and Kasia talk about
- Her transition from researcher to research manager
- How her podcast grew out of disillusionment with academia
- Why stepping away from research has made her feel more hopeful
- The contribution research-adjacent roles can make to culture change
Find out more
- Read the show notes and transcript on the podcast website
- Connect with Kasia on LinkedIn
- Listen to the Science on Trial and Error podcast on LinkedIn, Instagram, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and wherever you listen to podcasts
- Find out more about the IgG4-TREAT Consortium on their website or LinkedIn
About Research Adjacent
- Follow the podcast on LinkedIn and Instagram
- Sign up to the podcast newsletter
- Email Sarah a comment, question or suggestion
- Leave Sarah a voice message
Maria uses her literary skills to communicate medical research
Maria Cohut is Feature Editor for the website Medical News Today and host of the In Conversation podcast.
Sarah and Maria talk about:
- Finding good stories and why press releases are still important
- How she pivoted from English literature to medical journalism
- Transferable skills and redefining her identity
- Why we all need to be more open-minded about career paths
Find out more
- Read the show notes and transcript on the podcast website
- Connect with Maria on LinkedIn
- Read Maria's articles on Medical News Today including Lucid dreaming: Controlling the stories of sleep and The science behind lucid dreaming
- Listen to the In Conversation podcast
About Research Adjacent
- Follow the podcast on LinkedIn and Instagram
- Sign up to the podcast newsletter
- Email Sarah a comment, question or suggestion
- Leave Sarah a voice message
Ally is building partnerships across the life sciences research community
Ally Hughes is Project Manager for the Scottish Universities Life Sciences Alliance, also known as SULSA. SULSA fosters research collaborations between different organisations, different disciplines and even different countries.
Sarah and Ally talk about:
- Her current role which keeps her connected to research with lots of variety and learning opportunities
- Brokering research collaborations between Scotland and Germany and tackling diversity in STEM
- How an industrial placement and being a student rep for SULSA opened her eyes to the job possibilities beyond academia
- Mental health challenges, especially during her PhD, and the professional and personal support that pulled her through
- Why greater cooperation and collaboration are key to tackling massive global challenges
Find out more
- Read the show notes and transcript on the podcast website
- Connect with Ally on LinkedIn
- Find out about SULSA on their website, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram
About Research Adjacent
- Follow the podcast on LinkedIn and Instagram
- Sign up to the podcast newsletter
- Email Sarah a comment, question or suggestion
- Leave Sarah a voice message
Sarah is on holiday so we are revisiting an episode from April 2023 all about boundaries and work-life balance.
Sarah talks about
- Why setting and holding boundaries can be particularly challenging in the research-adjacent world
- Setting boundaries and taking leave as a form of quiet activism
- Managing expectations and managing our own behaviour
- Why we are all, always, a work in progress
Find out more
- Read the original show notes
- Follow the podcast on LinkedIn
- Send Sarah an email
- Leave Sarah a voice message
Sarah looks back on the first 50 episodes of Research Adjacent.
Sarah invites a number of past guests to reflect on what being part of the podcast has mean to them. This includes
- Connecting with new people
- Self-reflection
- Embracing the term research-adjacent
- Boosting confidence
- Feeling like part of a community
- Giving something back
What has Research Adjacent meant to you? Please let Sarah know!
- Comment on LinkedIn
- Send an email
- Leave a voice message
Catch up on the guests featured in this episode
- Kirsty Ross, Public Engagement Professional (Episode 2)
- Orla Kelly, Knowledge Exchange Manager (Episode 9)
- Lorraine Coghill, Science Outreach Specialist (Episode 12)
- Jenny Brady, Coach & Facilitator (Episode 16)
- Ged Hall, Research Impact Specialist (Episode 19)
- Peter Barker, Audiovisual Content Creator (Episode 20)
- Alice Cann, Research Librarian (Episode 21)
- Simon Cutler, Business Relationship Manager (Episode 22)
- Steph Sinclair, Science Communications Manager (Episode 26)
- Saneeya Qureshi, Ipshita Ghose & Jennifer Leigh, Researcher Developers & Vitae Award Nominees (Episode 29)
- John Elvin, Industry Programme Manager (Episode 35)
- Sam Andrews, Consultant/Communicator (Episode 43)
- Claire Toogood, Research & Insights Manager (Episode 45)
- The Academic Adventures podcast
Theme music by Lemon Music Studios from Pixabay
Katrina is helping researchers inspire and educate the next generation
Katrina is Head of Tutor Engagement at The Brilliant Club, a charity which places PhD students in schools to support less advantaged pupils.
Sarah and Katrina talk about
- Why teaching research to school pupils is amazing for skills development
- How the instability of early career academia led her to a research-adjacent path
- The Brilliant Club’s mission to tackle inequality through education
- Embracing the responsibilities of being a people manager
Find out more
- Read the full show notes on the podcast website
- Connect with Katrina on LinkedIn or X (Twitter)
- Find out about The Brilliant Club on their website, LinkedIn or X/Twitter
About Research Adjacent
- Follow the podcast on LinkedIn and Instagram
- Sign up to the podcast newsletter
- Email Sarah a comment, question or suggestion
- Leave Sarah a voice message
Helen and Danni are using their experiences to help improve womb cancer research.
Helen and Danni are both volunteers for the Peaches Womb Cancer Trust Patient Voices group.
Sarah, Helen and Danni talk about
- How the group grew from one voice to Patient Voices
- The difference they have made to research especially around language and ethics
- Why contributing to research can help bring meaning and comfort following a cancer diagnosis
- What research teams could be doing to work more effectively with patients
Find out more
- Read the full show notes on the podcast website
- Connect with Helen via LinkedIn or email
- Find out about Peaches Trust and Peaches Trust Patient Voices
Contribute to the 50th Episode by 30 July 2024
- Leave a voice message via SpeakPipe
About Research Adjacent
- Follow the podcast on LinkedIn and Instagram
- Sign up to the podcast newsletter
- Email Sarah a comment, question or suggestion
- Leave Sarah a voice message
Theme music by Lemon Music Studios from Pixabay
Christian unites industry and academia to tackle big health challenges
Christian is the founder and Managing Director of the BioMed X Institute in Heidelberg, Germany.
Sarah and Christian talk about
- Why he jumped straight into entrepreneurship after his PhD
- The biggest lessons he’s learned from multiple ventures
- His current role as a ‘guardian of time’
- The importance of mentors and mentoring
Find out more
- Read the full show notes and get the transcript on the podcast webpage
- Connect with Christian on LinkedIn
- Find out about the BioMed X Institute
- If you enjoyed this episode you might also like the Academic Adventures podcast
About Research Adjacent
- Follow the podcast on LinkedIn and Instagram
- Sign up to the podcast newsletter
- Email Sarah a comment, question or suggestion
- Leave Sarah a voice message
Theme music by Lemon Music Studios from Pixabay
Jade is bridging the gap between science and marketing
Jade is Senior Science and Health Press Officer at The Brain Tumour Charity.
Sarah and Jade talk about
- How a chemistry teacher crushed her dreams of becoming a vet
- Transferable skills and learning on the job
- Prioritising human connection over science
- Why good research communication is essential for charities that rely on donations and fundraising
Find out more
- Read the full show notes and transcript on the podcast webpage
- Connect with Jade on Twitter or LinkedIn
- Find out about The Brain Tumour Charity
About Research Adjacent
- Follow the podcast on LinkedIn and Instagram
- Sign up to the podcast newsletter
- Suggest guests or topics for the podcast on this form
- Email Sarah with a comment or question
- Record a voice message for Sarah
Theme music by Lemon Music Studios from Pixabay
Claire Toogood, Research Insights Manager (Episode 45)
Claire is developing HE careers advisors and careers advice through research
Claire Toogood is Research & Insights Manager for AGCAS, the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services.
Sarah and Claire talk about
- Why research is valuable currency in universities
- Her squiggly career journey through both research and research-adjacent worlds
- Thriving in varied roles and small organisations
- Why everyone needs more time to think
Find out more
- Read the full show notes on the podcast webpage
- Connect with Claire on LinkedIn
- Find out more about Claire’s case study training on 3 July 2024
Follow the podcast on LinkedIn and Instagram
Suggest guests or topics for the podcast on this form
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Anthony helps researchers profit from their intellectual property
Anthony Kavanagh is currently Senior Patent Counsel at Key Patent Innovations Ltd in Dublin, Ireland.
Sarah and Anthony talk about
- Why patents are important for anyone developing new technologies – including researcher
- His transition from medical physics to patent law
- Getting through the famously hard patent attorney exams
- Why he got slightly obsessed with medical staplers
Find out more
- Read the full show notes on the podcast webpage
- Connect with Anthony via his company profile or LinkedIn
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Sam is helping researchers tell stories which create change
Sam Andrews is a marine science writer, research consultant, and director of ocean-focused communications agency Ocean Oculus.
Sarah and Sam talk about
- How a student blog turned into a writing career
- The importance of adapting solutions and messages for different contexts
- Why she wants researchers and research communicators to work more closely together
Read the full show notes on the podcast webpage
- Connect with Sam on LinkedIn, X, BlueSky or via her website
- Find out about Sam's communications agency Ocean Oculus
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Updates, guests and podcast recommendations with Sarah
Sarah shares
- An update on where you can listen to and follow Research Adjacent
- Upcoming guest appearance, special episodes and Sarah’s new project
- Your opportunity to suggest podcast guests via this form
- A podcast recommendation – check out The Academic Adventures Podcast
- What else she is up to
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Susan and Alice are cataloguing the past for the researchers of the future
Susan Shanks and Alice Millard are archivists working on the New Jerusalems new towns archive project. Susan is based at County Durham Records Office while Alice is based at West Sussex record Office.
Sarah, Alice and Susan talk about
- How they took different routes to the same job
- Finding satisfaction in uncovering forgotten stories and putting things in order
- Balancing access and preservation for archival materials
- The headaches caused by constant digital progress
Read the full show notes on the podcast webpage https://sarahmclusky.com/susan-shanks-alice-millard-archivists-episode-41
- Connect with Susan on LinkedIn
- Connect with Alice on LinkedIn or via her website
- Find out about the New Jerusalems project
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Suggest guests or topics for the podcast on this form
Kath is growing connections in humanities publishing
Kath Burton works in humanities development at the academic publisher Routledge Taylor and Francis. She is also a community gardening enthusiast with Incredible Edible Reading.
Sarah and Kath talk about
- Exploring new ways of sharing scholarly knowledge
- The surprisingly pragmatic reason for her move into academic publishing
- Why she feels privileged to be part of the research conversation
- Activism and launching the journal Porn Studies
- Her passion for connecting communities through gardening
Read the full show notes on the podcast webpage https://sarahmclusky.com/kath-burton-publishing-professional-episode-40
- Connect with Kath on LinkedIn
- Find out about all of her projects including community gardening via her Linktr.ee
Follow the podcast on LinkedIn and Instagram
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Suggest guests or topics for the podcast on this form
Naomi has found freedom and fulfilment in an Alt Ac career
Naomi Tyrrell is director of research consultancy business Research Your Way and founder of the Alt Ac Careers Facebook group.
Sarah and Naomi talk about
- How coaching and thinking like a researcher helped her step into self-employment
- Finding community on social media
- Why she values the freedom of freelance life
- The satisfaction she gets from helping charities and social enterprises
Read the full show notes on the podcast webpage https://sarahmclusky.com/naomi-tyrrell-research-consultant-episode-39
- Connect with Naomi on LinkedIn or visit the Research Your Way website
- Join the Alt Ac Careers Facebook Group
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Join the Research Adjacent Substack
Suggest guests or topics for the podcast on this form
Nick Sheppard is an Open Research Advisor at the University of Leeds and UK Wikimedian of the Year 2023.
Sarah and Nick talk about
- How the conversation, and his career, has moved from open access to open research
- Why Wikipedia is a great tool for sharing research and democratising knowledge
- The different challenges for open research in different disciplines
- Resources for anyone interested in a career in open research
Read the full show notes on the podcast webpage
- Connect with Nick on LinkedIn, X or Wikipedia
- Read Nick's pet Wikipedia page about abolitionist Wilson Armistead
- Listen to Nick’s favourite episode of the Research Culture Uncovered Podcast
Follow the podcast on LinkedIn and Instagram
Join the Research Adjacent Substack
Suggest guests or topics for the podcast on this form
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Sam is at the cutting edge of the cultural conversation.
Sam Steele is Managing Director of the Centre for Creativity Enabled by AI at Bayes Business School.
Sarah and Sam talk about
- Sam’s meandering career from music journalist to research adjacent
- Why embracing our human weirdness is key to using AI effectively
- Differences between the worlds of music, catering, and academia
- The importance of encouraging creativity in schools
Read the full show notes on the podcast webpage
- Connect with Sam on LinkedIn
- Have a play with the Centre for Creativity Enabled by AI’s free AI creativity tools Business Sparks and Design Sparks
Follow the podcast on LinkedIn and Instagram
Join the Research Adjacent Substack
Suggest guests or topics for the podcast on this form
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Sarah is helping researchers reimagine their future
Sarah is a Researcher Developer at University of Manchester and an independent Careers Consultant.
Sarah and Sarah talk about
- the 'planned happenstance' that took her from microbiology to careers
- why every day is a learning day and how that has boosted her career
- how her own journey helps her support researchers struggling to make a career change
Read the full show notes on the podcast webpage
- Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn
- Find out more about the University of Manchester’s Researcher Development service
Follow the podcast on LinkedIn and Instagram
Join the Research Adjacent Substack
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John is advocating for applied science
John Elvin is Industry Programme Manager at The Royal Society.
Sarah and John talk about
- His career in the biotech industry
- The mechanical balance that led to an outreach project for 3500 children
- How much industry contributes to research and development
- Why every undergraduate student should do an industry placement
Read the full show notes on the podcast webpage
- Connect with John on LinkedIn to find out about an event his team are running in Liverpool on 14 February
- Find out about some of the schemes John's team run including Entrepreneur in Residence, Industry Fellowships and Partnership Grants
Follow the podcast on LinkedIn and Instagram
Join the Research Adjacent Substack
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Happy New Year! In this solo episode Sarah invites you to start the year by looking back before you look forwards.
Sarah talks about
- Why, controversially, she likes New Year more than Christmas
- How to write a 'ta-da' list rather than a to-do list
- Why taking time to reflect on what felt good in 2023 can help you follow through on your goals for 2024
If you have feedback, questions or topics you'd like the podcast to cover, or suggestions for guests please submit them here.
Follow the podcast on LinkedIn and Instagram
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The Research Adjacent podcast is one year old!
In this episode Sarah reflects on 2023 talking about
- Why she started the podcast
- How the podcast has grown over the year
- What it has been like to step into the role of podcast host
- Reactions to the term 'research-adjacent'
- Her most memorable moments
If you have feedback, questions or topics you'd like the podcast to cover, or suggestions for guests please submit them here.
Follow the podcast on LinkedIn and Instagram
Join the Research Adjacent Substack
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Charlotte is a 'human signpost' for researchers
Sarah's guest for this episode is Charlotte Stephenson, a Research Facilitator at Leeds University Business School.
Sarah and Charlotte talk about
- Why she tries to be the friendly face of research development
- How she transferred her research communications skills to grant writing
- The work she is doing to uncover and address inequalities in who gets research funding
Read the full show notes on the podcast webpage
- Connect with Charlotte on LinkedIn
- Download the funding proposal roadmap that Charlotte and her team developed From ideas to action: Leeds University Business School’s roadmap for developing a research funding proposal
Follow the podcast on LinkedIn and Instagram
Join the Research Adjacent Substack
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For this episode Sarah is talking to entrepreneur turned business development manager Emma Perfect.
Emma talks about
- How her career started with glowing fungi
- The ups and downs of life in a small business
- The way her current role is feeding her curiosity
- Why start-ups need strong business skills as well as a great product idea
Read the full show notes on the podcast webpage
- Connect with Emma on LinkedIn
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Join the Research Adjacent Substack
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Sarah offers a framework for thinking about and building resilience
Sarah talks about
- What resilience means to her
- The inevitability of change
- Why resilience is such a key skill in research environments
- How to strengthen resilience by building skills, drawing on practical tools and managing our mindset
Read the full show notes on the podcast webpage
- Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn
- Listen to Lorna Wilson speaking on this podcast and on the Nature Careers podcast
- Listen to the Boundaries podcast episode
- Listen to Brene Brown talking about FFTs
- Check out the Rebel Finance School on YouTube
Follow the podcast on LinkedIn and Instagram
Join the Research Adjacent Substack
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Saneeya, Ipshita and Jennifer are making an outstanding contribution
Recorded live at the Vitae Researcher Developer Conference in September 2023, Sarah interviews the nominees for the Vitae Outstanding Contribution Award.
The guests are
- Saneeya Qureshi is the Head of Researcher Development and Culture at the University of Liverpool
- Ipshita Ghosh is Head of Research Strategy and Development, Social Sciences, at the University of Birmingham
- Jennifer Leigh is Reader in Creative Practices for Social Justice, at the University of Kent
Saneeya, Ipshita and Jennifer talk about
- Squiggly careers and following their curiosity
- Creating culture change
- Collaboration over competition
- Equity and inclusion
Read the full show notes on the podcast webpage https://sarahmclusky.com/saneeya-qureshi-ipshita-ghose-jennifer-leigh-researcher-developers-vitae-award-nominees-episode-29
- Connect with Saneeya on LinkedIn or Twitter
- Connect with Ipshita on LinkedIn
- Connect with Jennifer on LinkedIn or Twitter
Follow the podcast on LinkedIn and Instagram
Sign up for Research Adjacent Round-Up monthly newsletter https://researchadjacent.substack.com/
Hamish is facilitating ‘impact at scale’
Sarah talks to Hamish McAlpine, Director of Policy and Engagement at innovation consultancy Oxentia.
Hamish talks about
- The thread of knowledge exchange running through his career
- Why talking about pathways to impact can be less intimidating and more inclusive than commercialisation
- What universities and elephants can have in common
- The importance of good data for making sound decisions
Read the full show notes on the podcast webpage https://sarahmclusky.com/hamish-mcalpine-innovation-consultancy-director-episode-28
Connect with Hamish on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/hamish-mcalpine-a1400417/
Complete the podcast survey
Follow the podcast on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/resadjacent/ or Instagram https://www.instagram.com/resadjacent/
Sign up for Research Adjacent Round-Up monthly newsletter https://subscribepage.io/subscribeSMcL
Vicki wants us to be more career curious.
Sarah talks to Vicki Aldmington, a Careers Consultant at the University of Reading.
Vicki talks about
- Her meandering career path
- How she draws on her experience to support students and alumni
- Why one-to-one consultations can be more satisfying than big projects
- What being career curious means to her
Read the full show notes on the podcast webpage
Connect with Vicki on LinkedIn
Complete the podcast survey
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Sign up for Research Adjacent Round-Up monthly newsletter
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Steph is sharing research to help tackle cancer.
Sarah talks to Steph Sinclair, Science Communications Manager at Worldwide Cancer Research.
Steph's insights include;
- Transitioning from a university to a charity
- Feeling more connected to the research
- Creative collaborations
- Making things better for women in science
Complete the podcast survey
Read the full show notes on the podcast webpage
Connect with Steph on Twitter and LinkedIn
Follow the podcast on LinkedIn and Instagram
Sign up for Research Adjacent Round-Up monthly newsletter
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Sarah reflects on what she has learned about being research-adjacent
This is a solo episode with Sarah McLusky discussing some of her key takeaways so far, including these nuggets...
- No-one has a straightforward career path
- Opportunities can come from unexpected places
- Being research-adjacent is all about people and transferable skills
- Having a research background can be helpful, but it’s definitely not essential
Complete the podcast survey
Read the full show notes on the podcast webpage
Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn
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Sign up for Research Adjacent Round-Up monthly newsletter
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Lorna is leading research development and research developers
For this episode Sarah is talking to Lorna Wilson, Director of Research Development and Operations at Durham University, and chair of ARMA.
Lorna talks about
- Her journey from temp to the top
- The added value that research development experts can bring
- Why ARMA has been a huge support throughout her career
Read the full show notes on the podcast webpage
Connect with Lorna on Twitter or LinkedIn
Follow the podcast on LinkedIn and Instagram
Sign up for Research Adjacent Round-Up monthly newsletter
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Sam uses her own experiences to help improve research involvement
For this episode Sarah is joined by Sam Alexandra Rose, a Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Manager at Bowel Research UK.
Sam talks about
- Why patients are the most important people in health research
- Her journey from bowel cancer patient to PPI manager
- Breaking down stigma and ‘getting comfortable being uncomfortable’
Read the full show notes on the podcast webpage
Connect with Sam on Twitter, Instagram or visit her personal website
Follow the podcast on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram
Sign up for Research Adjacent Round-Up monthly newsletter
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Simon is making friends and sparking opportunities
Sarah is joined by Simon Cutler, a Business Relationship Manager at the University of Reading.
Simon talks about
- How he turned from 'poacher to gamekeeper' and back again
- Why he loves meeting new people, making connections and sees everyone as a potential friend
- The satisfaction he gets from supporting young researchers in particular
Read the full show notes on the podcast webpage
Connect to Simon onLinkedIn
Follow the podcast on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram
Sign up for Research Adjacent Round-Up monthly newsletter
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Alice is helping find the right resources to enable research
For this week’s episode Sarah is joined by Alice Cann an academic Liaison Librarian at Brunel University London.
Alice talks about
- How academic librarians can make a big difference to research
- Why her role is constantly changing and evolving
- The confidence she gained from being part of the Research Catalyst Cohort
Read the full show notes on the podcast webpage
Connect to Alice on LinkedIn and Twitter
Find out applying to join the Research Catalyst Cohort in 2023/24
Follow the podcast on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram
Sign up for Research Adjacent Round-Up monthly newsletter
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Peter is boosting research impact through creative communication.
For this week’s episode Sarah is joined by Peter Barker, audiovisual content creator, founder of Orinoco Communications, and host of the Research Comms podcast.
Peter talks about
- How his career evolved via documentary-making and public engagement
- The satisfaction of creating impactful and boundary-pushing videos and animations
- Why his podcast is all about building community amongst research communicators
Read the full show notes on the podcast webpage
Connect to Peter on LinkedIn
Follow the podcast on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram
Sign up for Research Adjacent Round-Up monthly newsletter
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Ged wants to shape the future of research impact culture
For this episode Sarah chats to research impact specialist Ged Hall.
Ged talks about
- Being a career magpie
- The differences between R&D in industry and academia
- Why we all need to be part of the research culture conversation
Read the full show notes on the podcast webpage
Connect to Ged on LinkedInand Twitter
Listen to the Research Culture Uncovered podcast
Follow the podcast on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram
Sign up for Research Adjacent Round-Up monthly newsletter
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Anja is co-creating research environments and gathering odd socks.
For this week’s episode Sarah is joined by Anja Roeding, research manager and founder of the PRISM Network.
Anja talks about
- Her 'wiggly, winding path' from research to research-adjacent
- How frustration led her to gather up all the other 'odd socks' and create the PRISM Network
- Why the system needs to better recognise all the people who contribute to co-creating research environments
Read the full show notes on the podcast webpage
Connect to Anja on LinkedIn and the find out more about the PRISM Network
Follow the podcast on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram
Sign up for Research Adjacent Round-Up monthly newsletter
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Edwin is joining the dots between communications, engagement and impact.
Sarah's guest for this episode is Edwin Colyer, founder of the research communications and engagement agency, Scientia Scripta.
Edwin talks about
- Copyediting for David Attenborough, writing for New Scientist and painting pictures with words
- The joys of having colleagues and being able to create your own workplace culture
- Moving from just telling impact stories to helping create them
- Building a business that connects the dots between communication, engagement and impact
Read the full show notes on the podcast webpage
Connect to Edwin on LinkedIn
Follow the podcast on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram
Sign up for Research Adjacent Round-Up monthly newsletter
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Jenny wants to give researchers permission to show up authentically.
For this week’s episode Sarah is joined by researcher developer and business coach Jenny Brady.
Jenny talks about
- The joy and challenges of being research-adjacent when you were never a researcher
- The importance of playfulness and curiosity
- Why she wants researchers to show up authentically and connect to the value of their work
Read the full show notes on the podcast webpage
Connect to Jenny on LinkedIn and Twitter
Follow the podcast on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram
Sign up for Research Adjacent Round-Up monthly newsletter
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Matthew Partridge, Cartoonist (Episode 15) | Matthew wants to help us see the funny side of science
For this week’s episode Sarah is joined by Matthew Partridge, cartoonist and founder of ErrantScience.com.
Matthew talks about
- His journey from biochemistry to research-adjacent cartooning
- Why he is motivated to share the realities of life in the lab
- Why being 'terrible at art' is no barrier to creating cartoons
- What goes into live cartooning a 24h online chemistry poster session
Read the full show notes on the podcast webpage
Visit the ErrantScience website or connect with Matthew on Discord, Mastadon or Instagram
What did you think of this episode? Follow the podcast on Twitter @ResAdjacent and share your thoughts using #ResearchAdjacent
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Boundaries (Episode 14) | Sarah is out of the office, and she means it this time!
This week’s episode is a holiday special all about boundaries and why it can be so hard for research-adjacent folks to really take time off.
Sarah addresses
- Why setting and holding boundaries can be particularly challenging in the research-adjacent world
- Setting boundaries and taking leave as a form of quiet activism
- Managing expectations and managing our own behaviour
- Why we are all, always, a work in progress
Read the full show notes on the podcast webpage
Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn and Twitter
What did you think of this episode? Follow the podcast on Twitter @ResAdjacent and share your thoughts using #ResearchAdjacent
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Melissa Hobson, Science Writer (Episode 13) | Melissa just wants to write stories about cool fish
For this week’s episode Sarah is joined by freelance science writer Melissa Hobson who specialises in marine science and conservation.
Melissa talks about
- How learning to scuba dive prompted a career change
- What it’s like to be a science writer without a science background
- Why she celebrates getting rejected
- Her top tips for success, which include reading and eating cake!
Read the full show notes on the podcast webpage
Visit Melissa’s website or connect on LinkedIn
What did you think of this episode? Follow the podcast on Twitter @ResAdjacent and share your thoughts using #ResearchAdjacent
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Lorraine Coghill, Science Outreach Specialist (Episode 12) | Lorraine wants to give people permission to be curious
This week Sarah is talking to science outreach specialist Lorraine Coghill, currently Deputy Director of Science Outreach and Engagement at Durham University.
Lorraine talks about
- Why her work is really about people rather than science
- Encouraging curiosity, creativity and problem solving
- What can happen when you put young people in charge
- Tackling the invisibility of public engagement professionals
Read the full show notes on the podcast webpage
Connect with Lorraine on LinkedIn
What did you think of this episode? Follow the podcast on Twitter @ResAdjacent and share your thoughts using #ResearchAdjacent
Good Work, Precarity and Contracts (Episode 11) | Sarah explores the good, the bad, and the ugly of research-adjacent job contracts
This week's Research Adjacent podcast is another solo episode. Host Sarah McLusky explores some common issues around contracts in the research-adjacent sector.
Sarah explores
- What characterises ‘good work’
- Jargon busting - the difference between fixed term, open-ended and fractional contracts
- Why open-ended isn’t always better
- Toxic practice to watch out for
- When short contracts might be the right thing for you
- Making the most of a fixed term contract
Read the full show notes on the podcast webpage
Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn and Twitter
What did you think of this episode? Follow the podcast on Twitter @ResAdjacent and share your thoughts using #ResearchAdjacent
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Abraham Mamela, Communications and Engagment Specialist (Episode 10) | Abraham explains why communication only works if you understand the context
What do you think of Research Adjacent so far? If you have any feedback or suggestions for guests or topics please contact Sarah via the podcast website www.researchadjacent.com via Twitter @ResAdjacent or connect on LinkedIn.
This week’s guest is Abraham Mamela. Based in Botswana, Abraham is a communications and engagement practitioner currently working at the Alliance for African Partnership.
We talk about
- How Abraham learned the importance of connecting communication and engagement
- His time as an intern and engagement fellow at Wellcome
- Communicating genome research through comics
- Why the research ecosystem in Africa needs to focus more on engagement
Read the full show notes on the podcast webpage
Connect with Abraham on LinkedIn and Twitter
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Orla Kelly, Knowledge Exchange Manager (Episode 9) | Orla talks about encouraging innovation and connecting people
This week’s guest is Orla Kelly, Knowledge Exchange and Innovation (KE&I) Collaboration Manager She is based at University of the West of Scotland but works across all 19 of Scotland’s higher education institutions.
We talk about
- What it means to have an entrepreneurial mindset
- How she moved from academia to industry and back
- Why it’s the small things that make the biggest difference
- Why KE&I isn’t all about the sciences
- And weighing pigs…honestly!
Read the full show notes on the podcast webpage
Connect with Orla on LinkedIn and Twitter
What did you think of this episode? Follow the podcast on Twitter @ResAdjacent and share your thoughts using #ResearchAdjacent
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Faye Watson, Public Engagement Manager (Episode 8) | Faye talks about rising through the ranks and making engagement better for everyone
This week’s podcast guest is Faye Watson, a rising star in the engagement world. Faye has recently joined at the College of Medical and Veterinary Medicine at the University of Edinburgh as their Public Engagement with Research Manager.
We talk about
- Her rapid rise through the public engagement ranks
- Why she quit her PhD to become research-adjacent
- Working in virus research engagement during COVID
- Improving career prospects, sharing power and encouraging creativity in public engagement
Read the full show notes on the podcast webpage
Connect with Faye on LinkedIn and Twitter
What did you think of this episode? Follow the podcast on Twitter @ResAdjacent and share your thoughts using #ResearchAdjacent
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Mary Robson, Creative Facilitator (Episode 7) | Mary shares her arts-based approach to creating meaningful connections and allowing space for different opinions
For episode 7 of Research Adjacent my guest is (we think) the UK’s only full-time university-based Creative Facilitator, Mary Robson. Mary works at the Institute for Medical Humanities at Durham University.
We talk about
- What creative facilitation is and how it helps in research
- Creating meaningful connections between diverse groups
- Holding space for different experiences and opinions
- Challenging the academic status quo
- Sharing her creative facilitation approach
Read the full show notes on the podcast website
Find out more about Mary and her work here: Creative Facilitation Unit at the Institute for Medical Humanities, Durham University
What did you think of this episode? Follow the podcast on Twitter @ResAdjacent and share your thoughts using #ResearchAdjacent.
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Getting a research-adjacent job (Episode 6) | Sarah shares some advice for finding and landing your next (or first) research-adjacent job
Short-term contracts and lack of promotion opportunities mean that research-adjacent professionals are often hunting from their next job. While Sarah can’t guarantee you’ll land that job, she does have some advice to help you improve your chances including:
- Where to find research-adjacent jobs
- How to boost your chances of being shortlisted
- What to expect in interviews
- What happens next - how to handle ghosting, feedback, and learning for next time
- Two top tips for improving your chances of landing any job you want
Read the full show notes on the podcast website
Find out more and sign up for Sarah's Get Shortlisted training on Mon 27 Feb, 5pm
Contribute to the Twitter research-adjacent jobs thread here
What did you think of this episode? Follow the podcast on Twitter @ResAdjacent and share your thoughts using #ResearchAdjacent.
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Duncan Yellowlees, Presentation Skills Trainer (Episode 5) | Duncan talks about telling stories, building confidence and doing things differently
For episode 5 of Research Adjacent my guest is freelance presentation skills trainer Duncan Yellowlees. Duncan trains researchers to communicate better, helping them tell stories about their work, connect with different audiences, and collaborate more effectively.
We talk about
- why building confidence in presenting spills over into all other parts of life
- why being a researcher is quite like being a freelancer
- why Duncan wants to ban academic posters and hopes to one day see more creative and interactive conferences - maybe even with puppet shows!
- why he thinks training in communication skills should be a core part of every university qualification
Read the full show notes on the podcast website
Find out more about Duncan and his work here: Duncan Yellowlees Training
What did you think of this episode? Follow the podcast on Twitter @ResAdjacent and share your thoughts using #ResearchAdjacent.
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Nina Ruddle, Civic Mission Champion (Episode 3) | Nina is on mission to make a real difference across North Wales
For episode 4 of Research Adjacent I chat with Nina Ruddle. Nina leads the Civic Mission Partnership Strategy at Wrexham Glyndwr University.
We talk about
- How growing up in North Wales led to a passion for social and economic regeneration
- The importance of showing up with genuine curiosity and humility to build genuine, collaborative relationships
- Why her deep local knowledge and public sector experience are invaluable
- What it takes to really change things for the better
Read the full show notes on the podcast website
Find out more about Nina and her work here:
What did you think of this episode? Follow the podcast on Twitter @ResAdjacent and share your thoughts using #ResearchAdjacent.
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Colin Wilkinson, Public Involvement Specialist (Episode 3) | Colin talks about the good, bad and ugly of health research involvement
For episode 3 of Research Adjacent I chat with Colin Wilkinson, a public involvement specialist, about the good, bad and ugly of health research involvement.
We talk about
- Colin's journey from steel chemist to public involvement specialist
- His passion for improving science and research through engagement and involvement
- His recent contributions towards the Shared Commitment to Public Involvement
- Advice for researchers and research-adjacent professionals looking to improve their collaborations
Read the full show notes on the podcast website
Find out more about Colin and his work here: Corylus Services
The Shared Commitment to Public Involvement is a joint commitment by UK research organisations to bring about changes that will drive up standards in health and social care research.
What did you think of this episode? Follow the podcast on Twitter @ResAdjacent and share your thoughts using #ResearchAdjacent.
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Kirsty Ross, Public Engagement Professional (Episode 2) | Kirsty talks about doing engagement via Wikipedia, prisons and quilts, job precarity, and ADHD
For this episode of Research Adjacent I chat with Kirsty Ross, a public engagement and culture change professional with not one, but currently three jobs at the Universities of St Andrews and Strathclyde!
In this episode we talk about
- How she got into working in public engagement
- The challenges of juggling multiple jobs, short term contracts and ADHD
- Projects she is proud of including Cell Block Science, Quilts for Cancer, using Wikipedia for impact and engagement, and the Fortissat Science Alliance Podcast
Read the full show notes on the podcast website
Follow Kirsty on Twitter @DrKirstyRoss and check out lots of the resources she has created on Figshare
- Fortissat Science Alliance podcast
- Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility in Open Knowledge Network (IDEA Network for short)
- Quilts 4 Cancer
- Cell Block Science & Beyond the Walls and Mhairi talking about the project for Falling Walls
- EXPLORATHON
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Introduction to Research Adjacent (Episode 1) | Sarah introduces herself, the story behind the podcast, and previews upcoming episodes
It's time! Research Adjacent has been brewing for a couple of months now and I'm so excited to share the first episode with you. Most episodes will be an interview with a brilliant research-adjacent professional, but for today it's just me.
I share the story behind the podcast including...
- A bit about my 20+ years as a research adjacent professional (get the full story here)
- How I came up with the idea for this podcast (more on that in this blog, and this one too)
- Why I decided to call the podcast, and my entire career, Research Adjacent
- What to expect including a preview of the next 8 episodes
Find all episodes, blog posts, and sign up for notifications at www.researchadjacent.com
Follow the podcast on Twitter @ResAdjacent
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