Dr. Rachel Curwen
Head of Research Development Team
Life Sciences portfolio
Rachel.curwen@york.ac.uk
01904 328121

• Identify and develop emerging cross-institutional research strengths and strategic priorities in life-sciences and health by organising seminars, events and sandpits
• Pro-actively develop and sustain relationships with external bodies and persons who may be funders (especially BBSRC, MRC and Wellcome Trust), collaborators or research users/stakeholders of life-science and health research
• Provide input into the creation and submission of strategically-important applications, including bid management, editorial and critical input, advice on compliance with requirements, identifying and liaising with collaborators or users
• Identify and enhance opportunities for impact, knowledge exchange, and translational activities, working with colleagues as appropriate (e.g. BDMs)

Dr. David Diston
Research Development Manager
Environment
David.diston@york.ac.uk
01904 328120

• Support for strategic research developments around environmental activity.
• Coordination of inter- and multi-disciplinary research initiatives across academic disciplines involving the Environment and related departments.
• Focus on major funding opportunities and calls.

Dr. Helen Niblock
Research Development Manager
Physical Sciences
helen.niblock@york.ac.uk

01904 328184

• Support for strategic research developments in the physical sciences.
• Coordination of inter- and multi-disciplinary research initiatives involving the physical science departments.
• Focus on major funding opportunities and calls.

Helen Wells
Research Development Manager
Social Sciences
Helen.wells@york.ac.uk
01904 321263 

• Support for strategic research developments around the social sciences.
• Coordination of inter- and multi-disciplinary research initiatives involving the social science departments.
• Focus on major funding opportunities and calls.

Dr. Louisa Shilton
Research Development Manager
Applied Health and Social Care
louisa.shilton@york.ac.uk
01904 328134 

• Support for strategic research developments around Applied Health and Social Care.
• Coordination of inter- and multi-disciplinary research initiatives across academic disciplines involving the Environment and related departments.
• Focus on major funding opportunities and calls.

Kate Thorley
Research Theme Co-ordinator
kate.thorley@york.ac.uk

• Point of contact for staff who wish to meet with one or more Champions or invite a Champion to a department event or seminar
• Organisation of Theme-led activities and events
• Management of Champion budgets including any priming funds awarded to departments
• Provision of support for the PVC-R and Research Development Team in the Champion initiative and its outcomes

Dr. Harriet Hutchinson
Research Development Manager
ICT & Electronic Engineering
harriet.hutchinson@york.ac.uk
01904 328185

• Support for strategic research developments in ICT and Electronic Engineering.
• Coordination of inter- and multi-disciplinary research initiatives involving the physical science departments.
• Focus on major funding opportunities and calls.

Dr. John Atibila
Research Development Manager (AgriFood) &
N8 AgriFood Knowledge Exchange Fellow
john.atibila@york.ac.uk 
01904 328163 

• Support for strategic research development around AgriFood/Food Systems/Food Security
• Coordination of inter- and multi-disciplinary research initiatives across academic disciplines involving AgriFood/Food Systems/Food Security across various departments
• Support for knowledge exchange and research impact dissemination around AgriFood/Food systems/Food Security/Nutrition & Food Safety across various departments
• Focus partnerships and collaborations involving major funding opportunities and calls

Catherine Hardman
Research Development Manager
Arts & Humanities
catherine.hardman@york.ac.uk
01904 328093

• Support for strategic research developments in the Arts and Humanities (A&H).
• Coordination of inter- and multi-disciplinary research initiatives involving the A&H departments.
• Focus on major funding opportunities and calls.
• Brokering research partnerships for the A&H faculty

• Administrative and organisational support for the Applied Health and Social Care portfolio
• Administration and coordination of the AgriFood at York initiative
• Administration of the AgriFood internal Pump Priming Fund, and support for colleagues administering other internal funds

•  Particular administrative support for Social Sciences research development; GCRF priming funding and Morrell Trust Pump Priming

Ben Clark
Team Administrator
Research Development Team
ben.clark@york.ac.uk 
01904 328165

• Administrative and secretarial support for the RD team
• Assists fund managers with the process of internal allocation of 'priming' funds: setting up funding calls, receiving applications, circulating outcomes, monitoring budgets and maintaining records on finances and project outputs
• Maintenance of the departmental webpages and creation of promotional materials and events