- Helen Elwood and Paul Knobbs have won the Biochemical Society 2027 Research Support Award
- Helen is the Aston Institute for Membrane Excellence (AIME) laboratory manager, while Paul is the AIME manager
- The award celebrates the skills and experience of support staff within education, research, and industry.
Two members of Aston Institute for Membrane Excellence (AIME), Helen Elwood and Paul Knobbs, have won the Biochemical Society 2027 Research Support Award.
The award is presented to an individual or team demonstrating an outstanding contribution and impact to a team, department, organisation or field of science, and celebrates the skills and experience of support staff within education, research, and industry. The Biochemical Society, a UK learned society in the field of biochemistry, presents its awards annually. Candidates are nominated by their peers, and the winners are agreed by a judging panel of respected scientists from across a range of different scientific backgrounds.
Helen is the AIME laboratory manager. She has contributed to the development of AIME’s laboratories and is focused on enabling high-quality research, while championing the visibility, recognition, and career development of technical professionals in science. She has a degree in biological sciences and experience across community pharmacy, aseptic production and academic labs.
Paul is the AIME manager and is responsible for the day-to-day running of the Institute, short-, medium- and long-term strategy and planning, internal and external profile raising and maintenance, and other duties as required. He likens managing a new research institute to managing a high-tech start-up. His skills were honed in a number of roles, including at a greengrocer’s, a strawberry farm, a clay pigeon shooting club, local government, and government quangos, before joining higher education.
Helen and Paul will receive their prize and deliver an award or medal lecture in 2027. All the awards and medal lectureships carry a range of career enhancing opportunities and as winners, they will also be invited to submit an article to one of the Society’s journals.
Helen and Paul said:
“We thank our institute colleagues for nominating us. This award is a great honour. It is reflection of the collaborative and supportive environment within our research institute.
“It highlights the value of technical and support roles, particularly female technicians, within the research environment. This award comes at an exciting time for AIME as we move into our brand-new lab.”
Professor Steve Busby, Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Birmingham, and Chair of the Biochemical Society’s Awards Committee, said:
“My personal congratulations to each one of the 2027 Biochemical Society Award winners. Each year, the Awards Committee is presented with an exceptional pool of candidates, and I would like to extend my sincere thanks to everyone involved in the nominations and selection process, especially those who took the time to nominate. The breadth of award categories continues to reflect the diversity and excellence of work across our community, spanning all career stages. It is particularly encouraging to see continued recognition of professional educators, whose innovative teaching methods continue to inspire the next generation of bioscientists. Throughout 2027, awardees will have the opportunity to share their work at a Biochemical Society meeting or webinar, and I encourage everyone to look out for these events.”
- Notes to editors
-
About Aston University
For over 130 years, Aston University has been making our world a better place through education, research and innovation. Our history is intertwined with the remarkable city of Birmingham, once the heartland of the Industrial Revolution and now the thriving base for an innovation ecosystem of global significance, which Aston is co-creating.
Our vision is to be a leading university for science, technology and enterprise, measured by the positive transformational impact we achieve for our people, students, businesses and the communities we serve.
Aston focuses on high-quality, exploitable research that has an impact on society through medical breakthroughs, advancements in engineering, policy and practice in government, and the strategies and performance of business.
The University offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes, as well as continuing professional development solutions.
Thanks to its focus on delivering excellent outcomes for students, Aston University's reputation continues to grow. It was recognised as the Daily Mail University of the Year for Student Success 2025, is second in England for social mobility (2023 HEPI Social Mobility Index), and is top 20 for graduate salaries (2024 Longitudinal Education Outcomes).
Aston University is now defining its place in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (and beyond) within a rapidly changing world.
For media inquiries in relation to this release, contact Helen Tunnicliffe, Press and Communications Manager, on (+44) 7827 090240 or email: h.tunnicliffe@aston.ac.uk.
Be first to get the latest news, research and expert comment from Aston by following us on X
Need an expert for your story? Browse our experts directory