Concordat Steering Group
A number of people are involved in governing The Researcher Development Concordat at LJMU. Please see below for our members:
Faq Items
Dr Hannah Timpson
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Role on Steering Group: Academic Lead (currently on maternity leave)
Job role: Reader in Socioeconomic Engagement in Health/ Head of Research Engagement and Impact PHI
School/Faculty/Department: Public Health Institute
I lead the Concordat Implementation and Review Group and report to the University Research and Knowledge Exchange Committee. I also lead the PHI Athena Swan group and I am a member of the LJMU Athena Swan working group.
Email: H.Timpson@ljmu.ac.uk
Dr Tori Sprung
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Role on Steering Group: Academic representative and Interim Academic Lead (maternity cover)
Job role: Reader in Clinical Exercise Physiology
School/Faculty/Department: Sport and Exercise Sciences, Faculty of Science
Following seven years of fixed term contracts as a researcher, I am passionate about the development of research staff to reach their full potential in academia. I also sit on various equity, diversity, and inclusion panels, including Athena SWAN, and help the steering group to strategically align with other ongoing workflows in the Institution.
I am currently the interim academic lead covering Hannah Timpson, and as such picking up her duties for a twelve month period.
Email: V.S.Sprung@ljmu.ac.uk
Ellie McCoy
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Role on Steering Group: Externally funded researcher representative
Job role: Research and Project Manager (externally funded research only contract)
School/Faculty/Department: Public Health Institute
I have worked in a research capacity at LJMU for over 15 years, on a series of fixed term contracts and then on a permanent externally funded contract. I also manage research assistants on fixed term contracts. I am a member of the PHI Athena Swan group. I have been a member of the LJMU Concordat since 2020.
Email: E.J.McCoy@ljmu.ac.uk
Dr Sarah Taylor
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Role on Steering Group: Postdoctoral researcher representative
Job role: Postdoctoral Researcher in Physical Activity (externally funded research only contract)
School/Faculty/Department: Sport and Exercise Sciences, Faculty of Science
I am currently on a fixed term contract. Since completing my PhD in 2018 I have had four jobs in HE, three of which have been fixed term contracts. I am passionate about sharing my experiences within these roles and to ensure that other staff members in similar situations can have positive and fulfilling roles.
Email: S.L.Taylor1@ljmu.ac.uk
Barbara Steele
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Role on Steering Group: HR representative
Job role: Head of HR Resourcing and Operations
School/Faculty/Department: Human Resources
The HR Resourcing and Operations team support the complete lifecycle of all LJMU employees and being part of this steering group gives further insight into the role and contribution of fixed term research colleagues and how we can best support them in their career development.
Email: B.A.Steele@ljmu.ac.uk
Prof Susan Grant
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Role on Steering Group: HSS representative
Job role: Professor of Russian and Soviet History; PI of the Wellcome Trust project, ‘Growing Old in the Soviet Union, 1945-1991' (2019-2023)
As an advisor to postdoctoral research fellows, I am keen to support fixed-term researchers and their career development.
Email: S.Grant1@ljmu.ac.uk
Jane Townend
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Role on Steering Group: Knowledge Exchange and Innovation representative
Job role: Head of Knowledge Exchange
School/Faculty/Department: Research and Innovation Services
Aligning and contributing activities from KE agenda to ensure continuity, relevance, and efficiency between the KE Concordat and RDC
Email: J.C.Townend@ljmu.ac.uk
Dr Victoria Sheppard
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Role on Steering Group: Researcher development (PGR) representative
Job role: Researcher Development Manager
School/Faculty/Department: Doctoral Academy
I work with doctoral researchers in my role but recognise that there is plenty of common ground between the career development needs of PGRs and research staff. This steering group is an opportunity to work with other teams who support researchers at different stages, allowing us to join up development provision for all early career researchers.
Email: V.M.Sheppard@ljmu.ac.uk
Rebecca Harrison
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Role on Steering Group: Externally funded researcher representative
Job role: Researcher (externally funded research only contract)
School/Faculty/Department: Public Health Institute
I have worked at LJMU for 17 years. I am externally funded. I am a member of the PHI Athena Swan group.
Email: R.Harrison@ljmu.ac.uk
Jason Boulter
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Role on Steering Group: OD Representative
Job role: Organisational Development Manager
School/Faculty/Department: Human Resources
The Organisational Development team focuses on the development of staff and operations across LJMU, through a mixture of training, coaching/mentoring, guidance, change management, project support and other methods. Being a member of this group will help ensure that the provisions that we have in place are meeting the real needs of our research community.
Email: J.Boulter@ljmu.ac.uk
Prof Iain Steele
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Role on Steering Group: Grant PI / Research Team Leader
Job role: Professor of Astronomical Technology and Director of the Liverpool Telescope
Most of my highly skilled and experienced research and technical staff are on fixed term and/or funding limited contracts. I would like to understand how LJMU can better offer them a path to permanent positions.
Email: I.A.Steele@ljmu.ac.uk