Research staff champions

Our network of CMVM research staff champions has  a specific remit of working locally within institutes and centres to ensure visible and active support for research staff at an early stage of their career. 

What is the role of a champion?

• Be a recognised and visible advisor who can be approached for direction to the best source of support for: 

- Training in current role, careers and support for transition to next role in or beyond academia

- Other issues related to work (this may include wellbeing, bullying/harassment, research integrity)

• Take a proactive approach to engagement with local research staff
• Champion the interests of research staff in local management structures

How to contact a champion

You are welcome to contact any of the champions.  Champions will aim to meet with you within two weeks or discuss an alternative arrangement that suits both parties.

Meet your champions

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Marja Main (Edinburgh Neuroscience, FU205 Chancellor's Building, BioQuarter campus or G.3 at 1 George Square, Central area)

I did a PhD in Neuroscience and after that moved to the professional services side. I’ve worked at ERO (helping with grant applications), at the CMVM Research Office (helping with the REF impact case studies and subsequently co-developing an impact strategy, supporting core facilities, the clinical trials pathway and the CMVM Research support website), at the Usher Institute as the Research Strategy Manager (secondment) and I'm now the Scientific Strategy Coordinator at Edinburgh Neuroscience.

I’ve learned a lot about the wider landscape and efforts at College, University and UK level to help researchers to deliver research of the highest quality, integrity and impact – and support their wellbeing at the same time. I’m now in a position to point ECRs to a wide range of different support and help available. Researchers are the key engine of the College, so I want them to feel as valued and supported as possible.

Email: Marja.Main@ed.ac.uk

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Tim Czopka (Chancellor’s Building, GU.586, BioQuarter campus)

I am a biologist by training and obtained my PhD in 2009, and have been a Principal Investigator since 2015. My group does curiosity-driven research on the roles of oligodendrocytes for neural circuit development, function and dysfunction. We use high-resolution optical imaging methods, cellular/genetic manipulations, in vivo physiology and behaviour using zebrafish as model organism. Besides being a researcher, I have a genuine interest in helping to foster the next generation of excellent scientists by promoting their career progression. I myself have been very fortunate to always have had this support which has been invaluable for my own development. In continuation with this spirit I am available to provide guidance to early career researchers to help them understand academic processes, in particular, postdoctoral researchers who are transitioning to independence and everything that comes with it. 

Email:  Tim.Czopka@ed.ac.uk

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Sarah Farnworth-McHugh (Institute for Regeneration and Repair, Room 1.21 IRR South, BioQuarter campus)

I am the Research Operations Manager for IRR and have enjoyed a career in both research and, latterly, support roles. I moved to Edinburgh in 2003 to do a PhD in the Centre for Inflammation Research. My early academic career as a Postdoctoral researcher focussed on various aspects of inflammation in multiple diseases, and these roles spanned purely academic to translational to R&D. I then took a sideways step into Laboratory and Finance Management in 2017, managing one of the shared labs in the Centre for Inflammation Research and the Child Life and Health Unit within the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People. Since then I have specialised in research grants management and I now lead the Research Grants Team in IRR where we support academics at all stages of the Research Grant life cycle, working closely with the Edinburgh Research Office.

I have experienced first-hand how challenging a career in research can be. Having spent the majority of the last 18 years working within or with close links to the CIR/CRM/IRR and CMVM, and having directly benefitted myself from a wide range of support, I would like to give something back and offer my experience and support to CMVM researchers.

Email: Sarah.Farnworth@ed.ac.uk

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Bhuvaneish Thangaraj Selvaraj (CCBS/UK-Dementia Research Institute, BioQuarter campus) 

I am a translational neurobiologist with a research focus on understanding mechanisms of neuronal vulnerability in neurodegenerative diseases such as motor neuron disease and dementia. Through this role as a research staff champion, I hope to provide active mentoring to ECRs about the career development model in UK HEIs, especially to expats who are otherwise oblivious of this. I am also keen to offer career development advice.

Email: bthangar@ed.ac.uk

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Julie Rodor (Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, BioQuarter campus) 

From a wet lab background, I am now using computational approaches to develop my research interests which include RNA biology, vascular biology and disease, and transcriptomics. In becoming a champion, I am interested in promoting a better integration of new research staff and developing staff networking across the College. I am keen to advertise and share my experience with several University support schemes such as IAD courses, career transitioning support, mentoring and wellbeing support. I am also passionate on promoting Research Integrity. As a bioinformatician, I would like to improve the connection among the bioinformatics community across the College.

Email: Julie.Rodor@ed.ac.uk

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Luke Daines (Usher Institute, Teviot Place and Bioquarter campus)

I’m a GP and post-doctoral research fellow working within the Centre for Medical Informatics and Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research at the Usher Institute.  I completed my GP training in 2015 and have balanced my clinical and academic commitments since that time, including completing a Masters in Public Health (2017), PhD (2021), working as a clinical teaching fellow (2021) a clinical lead for respiratory prescribing in NHS Lothian (2021) and as a GP.  My research interests are respiratory medicine, prediction modelling and routinely collected primary care data. My current research projects include developing a prediction model for long-COVID, implementing a decision support system for asthma diagnosis and investigating the value of nasal saline irrigation in preventing asthma exacerbations.   As a research champion I hope to be a point of contact for early career researchers and share my experiences of working as a clinical academic and balancing different roles.

Email: Luke.Daines@ed.ac.uk

Shipra Bhatia (Institute for Genetics and Cancer, Western General campus)

I am a Research Fellow/ Investigator Scientist at the Institute of Genetics and Cancer (IGC). Following on from a doctoral degree obtained at the University of Delhi in India, I joined the MRC Human Genetic Unit for my postdoctoral work in January 2010. I was awarded the Leverhulme Trust early career fellowship and the Caledonian fellowship from Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2014. My research focusses on understanding how disease-associated changes in the noncoding ‘junk’ DNA lead to human genetic disorders. Currently in my role as an Investigator Scientist at the MRC Human Genetics Unit, I champion the use of zebrafish and organoid culture systems as models for my research. I am passionate about supporting career development of early career researchers, with a keen interesting in providing mentoring opportunities and showcasing the work of long-term research staff at the university. I am a member of the Research Cultures Collaboration committee, helping to support and guide researcher careers and issues related to research culture, and serves on the IGC postdoctoral society committee. I am also very passionate about communicating science to wider public, including patients/their families and children and I actively participate in the public engagement events at IGC. 

Email: Shipra.Bhatia@ed.ac.uk