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Celebrating our people

Posted on 8 December 2023

Across the University, we want to celebrate our staff and students for their contributions, achievements, and impact across departments and schools over the past 12 months.

From supporting the most vulnerable in society through community volunteer work, through to pushing the boundaries of new technologies and tackling global sustainability issues, our staff and students have been recognised across a range of disciplines and areas.

Our commitment to public good through education and the impact of our research is vital to our success. 

Vice-Chancellor Professor Charlie Jeffery said: “Our community has achieved some incredible things over the past 12 months, as individuals and as part of teams, and it is truly inspirational to witness their commitment to improving the lives of others both locally, nationally and internationally.   

“I want to thank everyone for this hard work, for embracing our vision as a university for public good, and playing such an important role in creating a better, safer, and more sustainable future for us all.”

Honours

In the 2023 New Year’s Honours list Professor Kate Pickett was awarded an OBE for Services to Societal Equality. In the King’s Birthday Honours, Professor Nicky Milner received her OBE for services to archaeology and higher education and Professor Jane Hill was awarded an OBE for services to conservation ecology. 

Prizes/awards

Nuclear physicist Professor David Jenkins has been awarded the 2023 Institute of Physics Ernest Rutherford medal and prize, for outstanding contributions to experimental nuclear physics, nuclear applications and widening participation in physics.

Professor of Public law Joe Tomlinson has won a Philip Leverhulme Prize in Law 2023, for his work on administrative law and justice, and socio-legal studies. The prize recognises and celebrates the achievements of outstanding researchers whose work has already attracted international recognition and whose future careers are considered exceptionally promising.

Meghna Asthana, a PhD student in computer vision science, was selected as one of the 75 India UK Achievers award winners. The awards recognise and celebrate the work of 75 Indian students and alumni who have pursued a British programme of study, and marks the 75th anniversary of India’s independence.

Jason Daff, Horticulture Manager at the University of York's Department of Biology, was named Technician of the Year at the prestigious Times Higher Education Awards.

Mohammad Malik, PhD student in Politics, was presented with the Achievement in Education award at the prestigious Yorkshire Asian Young Achiever Awards (YAYAs), as well as the VC’s Award at the University’s Inclusive Impact Awards. He draws on his experiences to provide mentorship for students who want to enter higher education or study for a PhD and is active in the Student Action for Refugees group, organising fundraising events, trips to Calais to deliver clothes and toiletries to refugee camps, and helping Afghan refugees to settle in York. 

Tanisha Jain, the first Asian woman to be York Sport Union President, is committed to removing barriers and improving inclusion in sport; she won the award for Achievement in Sport at the Yorkshire Asian Young Achiever Awards. During her time in post, she has increased diversity in sport at York, with participation by the BAME and LGBTQ+ communities rising by around 30%. 

Professor Jonathan Wainwright, from the Department of Music, received the Claude V. Palisca Award for bringing together a three-volume set of the full range of Angelo Notari’s works, recognising that Professor Wainwright had significantly expanded knowledge of the Italian composer’s biography and his important role at the Stuart court.

Professor Sarah Brown, from the Department of History of Art, was awarded the Plowden Medal for Conservation 2023, for her significant contribution to the stained glass conservation sector, by the Royal Warrant Holders Association.

Dr Dilnoza Duturaeva, from the Department of History, received the 2023 Silk Road Academic Award from Academia Via Serica at Keimyung University in Daegu, Korea. The award was presented in recognition of her exceptional contributions to Silk Road Studies expressed through her seminal work: Qarakhanid Roads to China: A History of Sino-Turkic Relations.

Professor Bob Phillips, Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, won the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG) Excellence in Delivery award, which acknowledges and rewards individuals for best practice excellence and cutting-edge studies in the understanding of children’s cancers.

Professor Lesley Stewart from the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination was selected for the Olkin Address, which recognises an individual who has made distinguished lifetime achievement in research synthesis methodology, which represents the highest honour bestowed by the Society for Research Synthesis Methodology  in recognition of contributions to the field. 

Appointments

Professor Catherine Hewitt, co-director of the York Trials Unit, Professor Yvonne Birks, Associate Dean (Research) Faculty of Social Sciences, and Professor Simon Gilbody, Director of the Mental Health and Addictions Research Group (MHARG) were each awarded the prestigious NIHR Senior Investigator status. NIHR Senior Investigators are recognised as the most prominent and successful researchers working in health and social care.

Professor Christina van der Feltz-Cornelis from the Department of Health Sciences was appointed as International Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. This represents the highest award that can be made by the APA and recognises sustained research that is internationally regarded.

Professor Simon Gilbody and Professor Gavin Wright were elected as Fellows of the Academy of Medical Sciences, in recognition of their scientific achievement and leadership. The Fellowship represents the most influential medical scientists in the UK and worldwide, with around 1000 scientists elected in the group. 

Dr Aimee Little and Dr Penny Bickle, from the Department of Archaeology, were appointed Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries, which recognises distinction in understanding of the human past.

Professor Laura Bojke, from the Centre for Health Economics, has been appointed as Inaugural Chair for the World Health Organization (WHO) Advisory Group on Economics for Environment, Climate Change and Health. The expert group, comprising 11 members drawn from the global academic community, will serve in their personal capacities to represent the broad range of disciplines relevant to economics for environment, climate change and health.

Team recognition

The University of York’s support for researchers was recognised by the European Commission HR Excellence in Research Award for the 12th year running. The award highlights the University’s commitment to supporting the career development of researchers and its implementation of the Researcher Development (RD) Concordat and is led by the Building Research and Innovation Capacity (BRIC) Team.

The University of York’s Inclusive Learning team was awarded a national Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE) from Advance HE in recognition of the team’s value-based approach to inclusive teaching and learning and their commitment to collaboration, co-construction and student partnerships. 

EMPOWER consortium, an international workplace health and wellbeing project involving researchers from the Department of Health Sciences, was awarded the Malaspina Award for organisations by the Spanish Embassy in Canberra, Australia. 

Two students who made outstanding contributions in the local area were celebrated at the Student Volunteering Awards. Lauren Stanton, a 3rd year MSci Psychology student, and Kashi Gill, a 4th year Social Work student were both recognised for their contributions to tackling city priorities, such as inequalities in health and wellbeing, loneliness and young people struggling to achieve their potential.

A video essay on the disappearing differences between the real and the unreal, written by Professor Jenna Ng, a Senior Lecturer in Film and Interactive Media and directed by Oliver Tomkins, a research student in Interactive Media, was awarded the Special Jury Prize at the Learning on Screen Awards. The film explores how virtual reality and AI technologies can break down the boundaries between ‘truth’ and ‘fakery’, ‘real’ and ‘virtual’. 

The University of York's Sustainability Clinic has won a prestigious Green Gown award. The Clinic, which forms part of York’s suite of interdisciplinary modules and is available to students from across the University, was recognised for its work in student engagement. To date, 300 students and 51 partner organisations have participated in Clinic projects, which brings together students and the local community to tackle pressing sustainability issues.

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