The Research and Enterprise department is responsible for the University’s strategy around impactful, collaborative, excellent and sustainable research.
Supporting all aspects of research grant applications and contract negotiation.
We work with our academics in several cross-functional ways, including:
- Identifying suitable funding opportunities for grants and advising on all aspects of the application process
- Providing high-quality training for researchers at all career stages
- Contributing to research strategy and policy at university and school level
- Implementing and managing research management systems
- Providing a ‘service hub’ of knowledge and expertise on research matters.
Contact Us
- Leadership team
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Professor Mike Caine - Pro Vice-Chancellor, Research and Enterprise
m.caine@aston.ac.uk
Professor Jun Jie Wu - Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor, Research and Enterprise
University Academic Lead for the Research Excellence Framework 2029; Leading the University Graduate School, Early Career Researcher Development, and University International Research Development and Partnerships.
junjie.wu@aston.ac.ukProfessor Shivani Sharma - Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor, Research and Enterprise
s.sharma10@aston.ac.ukSally Puzey - Director of Research Services
s.puzey@aston.ac.ukJohn Richards – Director of Knowledge Exchange
J.E.Richards@aston.ac.uk | 0121 204 4254Luke Southan - Head Of Research Commercialisation
southanl@aston.ac.uk | 0121 2045160 - Research Services
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Funding:
Dr Purbani Chakrabarti - Strategic Funding Manager (College of Engineering and Physical Sciences)
p.chakrabarti@aston.ac.uk | 0121 204 4826
Developing and implementing a strategic approach to research development in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences (EPS). Supporting academics to develop high-quality grant funding applications.Ronni Littlewood - Strategic Funding Manager (College of Business and Social Sciences)
v.littlewood@aston.ac.uk
Developing and implementing a strategic approach to grant capture in the College of Business and Social Sciences. Supporting academics to develop high-quality research funding applications.Vera Kubenz - Research Funding And Development Officer(College of Business and Social Sciences)
v.kubenz@aston.ac.ukDr Jen Whale - Strategic Funding Manager (College of Health and Life Sciences)
j.whale1@aston.ac.uk
Developing and implementing a strategic approach to grant capture in the College of Health and Life Sciences (HLS). Supporting academics to develop high-quality research funding applications.Grants and Contracts:
Kevin O'Reilly - Awards and Contracts Specialist
k.d.oreilly@aston.ac.uk | 0121 204 4241
Leading on research contracts and agreements across the 3 colleges.Dr Karina Tveen-Jensen - Grants and Contracts Officer (College of Health and Life Sciences)
k.tveen-jensen@aston.ac.uk | 0121 204 5020
Assisting academics with submission of applications for research funding, reporting on applications and awards, and drafting and negotiating contracts for successful funding applications in the College of Health and Life Sciences (HLS).Dr Lorena Diaz Sanchez - Grants and Contracts Officer (College of Engineering and Physical Sciences)
diazsanl@aston.ac.uk | l.diazsanchez@aston.ac.uk
Assisting academics with submission of applications for research funding, reporting on applications and awards, and setting up contracts for successful funding applications in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences.Ruth Davies - Grants and Contracts Officer (College of Business and Social Science) (Currently on maternity leave)
daviesr7@aston.ac.ukDanielle Farrier - Grants and Contracts Officer (College of Business and Social Science) (Maternity cover)
farrierd@aston.ac.uk
Assisting academics with submission of applications for research funding, reporting on applications and awards, and setting up contracts for successful funding applications in the College of Business and Social Sciences.Dr Angels Odena - Research Funding and Development Officer (EU)
a.odena@aston.ac.uk | 0121 204 3630
Development of the EU funded research portfolio acrosss the three Colleges, including mapping opportunities onto research interests, assistance with the development of partnerships and liaision with partners for the development of research proposals.Research Imapct:
Fiona Geary - Research Impact Manager
f.geary@aston.ac.uk
Leading the University’s Research Impact Team and oversees the University Impact Fund to support the development of Aston's real-world research impact. Supporting REF impact preparation and working towards a collaborate research impact culture across the University.James Crawford - Senior Impact Officer
j.crawford2@aston.ac.uk
Advising ABS-LSS researchers with planning/development of activities principally benefitting external non-academic stakeholders, and with evidencing of real-world research impacts.Ellie O'Driscoll - ESRC and EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) Manager
odriscoe@aston.ac.uk
Overseeing the management and delivery of Aston's ESRC and EPSRC Impact Acceleration Accounts (IAAs), including the operation and delivery of the associated impact funding calls, events, reporting and West Midlands cluster activities.Dr James Ekeocha-Kamara - Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) Administrator
ekeochaj@aston.ac.uk
Supporting the Research Impact and Impact Acceleration Account Managers with the processing, operation and delivery of impact funding calls, events and reporting. First point of contact for initial enquiries regarding applications and post-award activities.Research Data and System:
Samuel Atiku - Research Data and System Manager
atikus@aston.ac.uk
Overseeing the systems and data infrastructure that underpins our research activities. Responsible for system implementation, data governance, and providing insightful analysis to inform and advance the organization's research strategy.Dr Qiuyi Sun - Research Excellence Officer
sunq5@aston.ac.uk
Supporting REF preparation by building Power BI dashboards, managing PURE enquiries, and assisting with research reporting and internal funding administration.Research Integrity:
Yvonne Henderson - Research Governance and Integrity Manager
hendersy@aston.ac.uk
Oversees the Aston University Research Integrity Office (AURIO), including the development, implementation and awareness raising of the University's policies in respect of research ethics, research integrity, open science and the Human Tissue Act.Matt Richards - Research Integrity Officer
m.richards3@aston.ac.uk
First point of contact for queries relating to research governance, integrity and human tissue work. Leads on study support for research involving the NHS for which Aston is sponsor. Secretary to University Research Integrity and Ethics Committee (URIEC) and HTA Oversight Group.Sarah Paris - Research Ethics Officer:
pariss@aston.ac.uk
Oversees administration of all three college research ethics committees (CRECs) at Aston, including providing guidance and support for applicants, reviewers, and Chairs. First point of contact for College level research ethics applications and queries relating to ethics approval. - Knowledge Exchange
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Dr Steven Daniels – Senior Business Development Manager, AIPT
s.daniels@aston.ac.uk
Leading the development of high-value partnerships with industry and external stakeholders to drive collaborative research and innovation projects with academic staff from across the University.Dr Andrea Fotticchia – Senior Business Development Manager, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences
a.fotticchia@aston.ac.uk
Leading the development of high-value partnerships with industry and external stakeholders to drive collaborative research and innovation projects with academic staff from across the University.Zaheda Teladia - Senior Business Development Manager, College of Business and Social Sciences
z.teladia1@aston.ac.uk
Leading the development of high-value partnerships with industry and external stakeholders to drive collaborative research and innovation projects with academic staff from across the University.Emily Wakefield - Knowledge Transfer Partnership Manager
e.l.wakefield@aston.ac.uk
Leading the work with organisations to help them benefit from the research and knowledge transfer activities carried out at Aston University. This includes business development activities, adopting new technologies or developing new products or processes, working on funding applications and project management.Samuel Burrows - Knowledge Transfer Partnership Operations Coordinator
s.burrows4@aston.ac.uk
Supporting the Knowledge Exchange Team by coordinating business development activities through a data-driven approach, leveraging CRM and other digital tools to manage partnerships and drive collaborative research.Lana Amosova - Knowledge Transfer Partnership Operations Manager
l.amosova@aston.ac.uk | 0121 204 3151
Leading the work on the KTP post award processes and stakeholder management. Facilitating knowledge transfer activities carried out at Aston University. This includes business development activities and working on funding applications and project management.Asma Bibi - Knowledge Transfer Partnership Operations Coordinator
a.bibi34@aston.ac.uk
Supporting the Knowledge Exchange Team by coordinating business development activities through a data-driven approach, leveraging CRM and other digital tools to manage partnerships and drive collaborative research.Paul Yeomans – Knowledge Transfer Partnership Manager
p.yeomans@aston.ac.uk
Co-leading Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) activity, working with organisations to help them benefit from the research and knowledge transfer activities carried out at Aston University. Developing KTP funding applications including business cases; overall responsibility for developing and maintaining a successful KTP portfolio of projects; KTP strategy and stakeholder management. - Commercialisation
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Dr Martina Pasini Technology Transfer Manager
m.pasini@aston.ac.ukThomas Richard Congdon
t.congdon@aston.ac.ukChynna Pascual – SPARK Project Manager
c.pascual@aston.ac.uk | 0121 204 3678Randhir Tindal – SPARK Regulatory Affairs Consultant
r.tindal@aston.ac.ukMatthew Vassey
m.vassey@aston.ac.uk - Graduate School
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Researcher Development Team:
Dr Fatosh Eren Bilgen – Researcher Development Advisor
f.erenbilgen@aston.ac.uk | 0121 204 4609
Designing and delivering training sessions and development activities for postgraduate and early career researchers; coordinating the Graduate School’s annual researcher training programme and PGR inductions.Dr Eleni Tseligka – Professional Development Advisor for Research
e.tseligka@aston.ac.uk
Programme Leader for Early Career Researcher (ECR) TrainingSupport and Administration:
Farat Ara – PGR Administration Manager
f.ara@aston.ac.uk | 0121 204 3501
Leading the Postgraduate Research (PGR) Administration team within the Graduate School. The team is responsible for operational management of the postgraduate research degree lifecycle, from enquiry through to award, and supports all PGR applicants, current students and supervisors.PGR Admissions:
Jennifer Sutherland Clothier – PGR Admissions / Marketing Officer
j.sutherlandclothier@aston.ac.uk | 0121 204 3781Stephen Baker – PGR Admissions/Bursaries Officer
s.baker@aston.ac.uk | 0121 204 5246
Supporting Postgraduate Research applicants from initial enquiry to application and enrolment. Supporting supervisors to select suitable applicants and liaising with the Colleges in relation to funding for research projects.Joanne Thorpe – DBA Admissions and Programme Support Officer
j.thorpe@aston.ac.uk
Managing the admissions processes for the DBA Programme and supporting current DBA students.PGR Progression:
Caroline Brocklebank – PGR Progression/ Completion Officer
c.brocklebank@aston.ac.uk | 0121 204 4154
Administration of all aspects relating to progression/completion for postgraduate research degree programmes.Catherine Jarrett – PGR Progression/ Completion Officer
c.jarrett2@aston.ac.uk | 0121 204 3004
Administration of the progression of postgraduate research students.Abdul Mumin – Programme Support Officer
a.mumin2@aston.ac.uk
General administrative support within Aston Graduate School and supporting the PGR research environment.
Midlands Innovation Shared Facilities
We are a member of Midlands Innovation, a world-class research and innovation partnership, combining the collective excellence of leading universities in the heart of the UK. The Midlands Innovation equipment catalogue facilitates equipment sharing between its research-intensive universities, with a repository of all equipment available at each member institution. Discover the research facilities you can access as part of this consortium here.
Go to Midlands Innovation equipment catalogue