Arts & Humanities
The Arts & Humanities Special Interest Group brings together research managers and administrators who support arts and humanities research or researchers at any point in the research lifecycle – from the development of research proposals for external funding to the preparation of research outputs and impact case studies for the Research Excellence Framework exercise. The A&H SIG seeks to address the unique challenges and opportunities that face arts and humanities research, researchers and research support.
Champions:
Our Special Interest Group champions are responsible for the activity and resource base of the group.
Paola Palma Research & Innovation Development Manager, University of Portsmouth
Paola Palma is a Research & Innovation Development Manager at the University of Portsmouth, specialising in supporting research in the Creative Industries, Heritage and Humanities.
She brings to ARMA a blend of academic expertise and professional research-development experience grounded in more than two decades in the heritage sector.
Graduated at Southampton University, Paola previously worked in academia as a Senior Lecturer, Framework and Programme Leader in Maritime Archaeology and other heritage Master Programmes, contributing to teaching, fieldwork training and heritage-sector collaboration. Her academic background includes extensive scientific work on Underwater Cultural Heritage. Prior to this, Paola was a Maritime Archaeologist at The Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth, working on International, EU Funded Projects and partaking in other major maritime-heritage initiatives, with a particular focus on the scientific monitoring of shipwrecks, their environment, degradation challenges and inclusive public engagement. She also collaborated with a number of Museum both in the UK and in Europe.
In her current research-development manager role, she supports interdisciplinary projects, partnership building and innovation across the Arts and Humanities, helping researchers navigate funding landscapes and develop high-impact, collaborative work. Paola’s dual perspective — as both a scholar-practitioner and a research-development professional — underpins her commitment to strengthening the visibility, sustainability, impact and accessibility of Arts and Humanities research.
Sam Sherry Research Support Manager, College of Arts & Humanities, University of Glasgow
Sam is Research Support Manager in the College of Arts & Humanities at the University of Glasgow. Before returning to Glasgow — where she completed her undergraduate degree — in 2020, she worked as Research Development Manager and Research Planning Officer at the University of Reading. Her academic and research professional careers have been firmly rooted in the humanities; she held a Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship in the sub-faculty of Modern Languages at University of Oxford from 2013-16 and holds a PhD in Russian from the University of Edinburgh. Sam is committed to recognising and supporting the specific needs of academics in the arts and humanities disciplines and promoting their interests and values. In her current role, she leads the research funding team, providing cradle-to-grave support for funded research projects and works closely with colleagues in Impact, Knowledge Exchange and other parts of the University.
Tania Cleaves Research Development Manager (Arts), University of Nottingham
Tania joined the University of Nottingham in November 2023 and supports research development and bid support in the Arts and Humanities with amazing colleagues in the Faculty of Arts Research Accelerator (FARA) team. Previously she held various research support and operational roles at the University of Birmingham (2016-2023), a Wellcome Trust Research Fellowship in the Medical Humanities at the University of Warwick (2012-2016) and a SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowship at McGill University (2010-2012). She is an alumna of the University of Nottingham, completing her PhD in Art History in 2008.
As an alternative academic (‘alt-ac’)/independent Humanities scholar on top of her full-time role, Tania empathically brings dual perspectives as an HE Professional and academic with her own grant track record. She has served on ARMA’s Professional Development Committee, Training & Development Working Group, Secondments Working Group, participated on its Mentoring Programme, and is currently a mentor on the RLUK Research Catalyst Cohort Programme.
Dr Valentina Bertolani, Research Development Adviser, Cambridge University Library
Valentina Bertolani is the Research Development Adviser at Cambridge University Library. Her job role includes supporting the administration of UL affiliated research projects and activities.
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