Postgraduate Research
The PGR SIG discusses operational and strategic support for post-graduate research students.
Champions:
Our Special Interest Group champions are responsible for the activity and resource base of the group.
Charlotte Wood, Head of Doctoral Services, Manchester Metropolitan University
Charlotte is the Head of Doctoral Services at Manchester Metropolitan University, where she leads a team focussed on delivering exceptional student experience and operational and strategic priorities as directed by the institution’s research and doctoral strategies. Charlotte’s Higher Education career spans more than fifteen years across a wide variety of roles across UG, PGT and PGR as well as across three institutions. Her background focuses on operations, programme support and transformational change projects, particularly within service excellence and IT. Charlotte has also taken her career back to the classroom and gained her MBA with a dissertation that focussed on co-creation of services within Higher Education. Alongside this interest Charlotte has a passion for training and development and enjoys putting learning into practice and supporting others to do the same.
Joanne Lakey, Senior Postgraduate Research Administrator, Durham University
Joanne has worked in Research and Postgraduate support roles within departments and the Faculty of Science at Newcastle University for 14 years, gaining substantive knowledge of research administration; from pre-award to post-award finance, and Postgraduate research including CDT/DTP management.
Joanne moved to her current role within Durham University in 2021, supporting Postgraduate Researchers within the Department of Physics. Along with providing Postgraduate researcher support, Joanne has set up and Chair’s the Faculty of Science PGR admin Forum, working closely with PGR coordinators across the Faculty and University. Joanne is passionate about research culture and environment, whilst supporting Postgraduate researchers through their studies.
Lucy Parnall, Head of the Bristol Doctoral College and PGR Strategy, University of Bristol
Lucy is Head of the Bristol Doctoral college and PGR strategy at the University of Bristol. She oversees a team delivering the Universities personal and professional development programme for PGRs, central scholarship investment and PGR strategic plan (plus lots of other things!). She works to advocate for PGR across the University and is passionate about Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Lucy has recently achieved support for a PGR organisational programme to make key improvements to PGR policy and process across the University.
Lucy has worked in Research Management for over 18 years across the University of Bristol and UKRI. Her roles have covered a broad portfolio including strategy and policy development; establishing the first block training grant funding for AHRC (Arts and Humanities Research Council) studentships; initiating and delivering strategic research programmes; running funding calls and international collaboration.
Rhiannon Thompson, Research Culture & Environment Manager, PGR College, University of Aberdeen
Rhiannon is the Research Culture and Environment Manager at the University of Aberdeen’s PGR College, where she leads a team delivering institution-wide initiatives to enhance the PGR experience. A strong advocate for evidence-based practice and co-creation with PGRs, Rhiannon shapes policy and strategy to ensure fair, transparent, and equitable processes. Her work is grounded in placing PGRs at the heart of institutional decision-making, fostering inclusive, diverse, and supportive research cultures and environments.
With over a decade of experience in research-enabling and culture change roles, Rhiannon brings extensive sector insight and a strong commitment to collaborative, student-centred approaches. Her expertise spans PGR engagement and progression, supervisor development, research cultures and environments enhancement, and the creation of vibrant, cross-disciplinary communities.
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