Our Research and Knowledge Exchange Team

 

The Research and Knowledge Exchange (RKE) 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

Professor Mike Cane - Pro Vice-Chancellor, Research and Enterprise
m.caine@aston.ac.uk

Professor Jun Jie Wu - Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor, Research and Enterprise
junjie.wu@aston.ac.uk

Sally Puzey - Director of Research Services
s.puzey@aston.ac.uk

John Richards – Director of Knowledge Exchange
J.E.Richards@aston.ac.uk | 0121 204 4254       

Luke Southan - Head Of Research Commercialisation
southanl@aston.ac.uk | 0121 2045160

Knowledge Exchange

Martin May – Knowledge Transfer Partnership Manager
M.R.May@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, and working on funding applications.

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 
Providing administrative support of Aston University’s KTP portfolio. Working closely with colleagues to provide an efficient and customer-focused service to company partners, academic staff, KTP Associates, KTP Advisors and Innovate UK.

Martina Pasini - Business Development Co-Ordinator
m.pasini@aston.ac.uk 
Supporting the business development team to identify and build new business development opportunities, maximize the impact of existing partnerships, and work with various aspects of translational research.

Zaheda Teladia ­– Business Development Manager, College of Business and Social Sciences
z.teladia1@aston.ac.uk 
Identifying and building mutually beneficial partnerships between academics and companies across a broad range of programmes including collaborative R&D and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships.

Andrea Fotticchia – Business Development Manager, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences
a.fotticchia@aston.ac.uk 
Identifying and building mutually beneficial partnerships between academics and companies across a broad range of programmes including collaborative R&D and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships.

Sinziana Irimia – Business Development Manager, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences
s.irimia@aston.ac.uk
Identifying and building mutually beneficial partnerships between academics and companies across a broad range of programmes including collaborative R&D and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships.

Matthew Vassey – Business Development Manager, College of Health and Life Sciences
m.vassey@aston.ac.uk 
Identifying and building mutually beneficial partnerships between academics and companies across a broad range of programmes including collaborative R&D and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships.

Nadiya Vasta - CRM Manager
n.vasta@aton.ac.uk | 0121 204 5291

Sinziana Irimia - Business Development Manager
s.irimia@aston.ac.uk | 0121 204 3388

Lana Amosova - KTP Operations Manager
l.amosova@aston.ac.uk | 0121 204 3151

Chynna Pascual - Project Manager
c.pascual@aston.ac.uk | 0121 204 3678

Research

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 | 0121 204 3814
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.

Dr Jen Whale - Strategic Funding Manager (College of Health and Life Sciences)
j.whale1@aston.ac.uk | 0121 204 3892
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.

Kevin O'Reilly - Awards and Contracts Specialist
k.d.oreilly@aston.ac.uk | 0121 204 4241

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 Angels Odena - Grants and Contracts Officer (College of Engineering and Physical Sciences) 
a.odena@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)
daviesr7@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 Liz Fawcett - University Impact Manager
l.fawcett@aston.ac.uk
Leading the University’s Research Impact Team, and managing the University’s ESRC IAA and EPSRC IAA programmes. 

Fiona Geary, Senior Impact Officer (EPS & HLS)
f.geary@aston.ac.uk
Advising researchers in EPS and HLS on planning, supporting and enhancing research impact and external engagement with research activity. Delivering impact training. 

Dr Jelena Nolan-Roll, Senior Impact Officer (BSS)
j.nolan-roll@aston.ac.uk
Advising researchers in BSS on planning, supporting and enhancing research impact and external engagement with research activity. Delivering impact training. 

James Crawford, Impact Officer 
j.crawford2@aston.ac.uk
Advising early career researchers on planning, supporting and enhancing research impact and external engagement with research activity. Delivering impact training to early career researchers and doctoral students. ​​​​​​​

Dr Conor McKenna - Research and Information and Systems Manager
c.mckenna10@aston.ac.uk

Daniel Hayes - Research Officer
d.hayes@aston.ac.uk 
 

Research Integrity

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.

Hannah Smart - Research Ethics Officer:
h.smart1@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. 

Graduate School

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) Training

Support 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 3781

Stephen 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