This week Jane is speaking to Alison Ryan and Eirini Porfyraki who received the Team award for supporting colleagues.
Jane: Can you tell me more about your roles at the University?
Alison: I lead a small team that supports the Faculty’s Research Centres. I also work with our Associate Dean (Research) on research-related initiatives and managing the Faculty’s preparations for the next Research Excellence Framework (REF).
Eirini: I am the Research Support Officer in the Faculty of Engineering and Design
Jane: What do you like best about working at the University?
Alison: It has to be the people I work with, particularly those in our Faculty community, but also colleagues elsewhere in the University. I also find it incredibly inspiring that our researchers are working to solve global environmental, social and economic challenges through their research. The campus ducks have to get a mention too!
Eirini: I like being part of this vibrant community. I love seeing the new cohorts of students coming in every year. It amazes me how campus quiets down in summer and then everything starts again when the students arrive in the autumn, it is very unique. Also, I love my role, our Faculty is a friendly place to be. The feeling that I get from supporting research and contributing towards solving global challenges is very fulfilling.
Jane: In 2024, you were a recipient of a Staff Recognition Award. Can you tell us more about what you got the award for?
Both: We received the Supporting Colleagues Team Award for our work as a new team supporting the establishment of the Faculty’s new Research Centres, and for building strong and collaborative partnerships to support the Centre Leaderships Teams in their new roles. We both showed dedication and determination with a helpful, positive and friendly approach.
Jane: What sorts of things do you do for the community and what motivates you to get involved in helping members of our community?
Both: We established the Faculty’s first Research Culture Awards in 2024, which was supported by the Research England Enhancing Research Culture Fund. We wanted to find a way to officially recognise and celebrate Faculty colleagues and PhD students who make a real difference in creating a positive research environment in our community. Improving our research culture motivates us, and we are always looking for opportunities to engage in research culture activities within the Faculty and University.
Jane: If someone is reading this and wants to get more involved in community activities at the University, where should they start?
Alison: If you have a research enabling role, definitely join the Research Enablers Network, and you can also engage with the University’s Research Culture activities through the recently launched Research Culture Action Plan. The University has many other networks and other opportunities to engage with University community initiatives, such as Green Impact, so there should be something for everyone.
Eirini: I think they should start in their Faculty and their peers/colleagues. It is amazing how much information can be found out by talking to others. People are always happy to share information and signpost others, especially if they are seeking a starting point.
Jane: If you had a magic wand, what one thing would you change at the University to build a greater sense of community?
Alison: I would redesign some of our older campus buildings to be community focused, with more collaborative spaces. I would then use the magic wand to give everyone more time to be able to benefit from these.
Eirini: I agree. I would create more common spaces where people from across campus would meet to collaborate.
Jane: What does community and inclusion mean to you?
Alison: For everyone in our University to feel that they belong here, and to feel that they are equally valued, appreciated and respected in our community.
Eirini: Community is a place to belong, a place to call home. Inclusion is that everyone is welcomed and appreciated, like an invite for coffee and biscuits at home.
Jane: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Alison: ‘It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it, that matters’ (Epictetus). I only heard this recently, but it seems just as relevant today as when it was recorded in the first century.
Eirini: A colleague once said to me: the greatest thing you need to learn in life is to be able to say 'oh well sometimes these things happen in life' and just move one. Don’t stop and dwell.
Jane: Can you tell us something about you that might surprise people?
Alison: I can juggle. I learnt to juggle balls when I was a child, but juggling clubs is harder and I only managed this when I was older.
Eirini: When I lived in Crete we owned 100 olive trees. I used to collect the olives send them off to the factory, we would then have our own extra virgin olive oil produced.
Do you know some incredible colleagues like Alison and Eirini that deserve recognition? Take some time out of your day and nominate them for a well-deserved Staff Recognition Award.