FEATURING: Usher’s Research Support Team: good research practice

By Viraj Alawa, Andrew Castle and Sarah Golightly | Usher’s Research Support Team

At Usher, we are data-driven pioneers transforming health through innovative collaborations and responsible data use. Good research practice is fundamental to our mission, ensuring data integrity, accuracy, and transparency for impactful outcomes.

Meet our Research Support Team

Good research practice stretches across all disciplines and encompasses many aspects of research. This includes ethics, data management, open research, and publication. It supports high academic and ethical standards, ensuring the integrity and impact of our research. At Usher, we are passionate about supporting researchers at every step of their journey, and we are excited to share Usher's Research Support Team's dynamic approach to empowering our data-driven community.Our team includes: Phyllis Quinn, our Senior Research Strategy Manager; Viraj Alawa, our Data Manager; Andrew Castle, our Open Research Administrator; and Sarah Golightly, our PGR Support Officer.

The role of Open Research

Open Research is now a crucial element of good research practice and a key focus for research funders and institutions. As such, Usher’s Research Support Team maintains up-to-date knowledge of University and funder policies, as well as activities and events that can be disseminated across Usher.

Open Research is the process of ensuring that the research process is transparent, replicable, and accessible. This can involve citizen science, working with the public and non-research professionals, or storing data in a secure repository to enable other researchers to access and replicate findings.

Data management: a foundation for integrity

But what about the data that fuels our research? Data is a vital asset of our institute. The foundation of effective data management lies in establishing a comprehensive strategy. Data management encompasses the entire lifecycle of research data – from its initial collection and organisation throughout the active project phase to ensuring its long-term preservation, accessibility, and potential for future use.

Understanding that every research journey is unique, we have tailored strategies to tackle diverse challenges. Through feedback gathered from our researchers, we have identified common data management challenges and developed effective solutions. By collaborating with University-wide teams, we are building a robust support network that includes engaging drop-in sessions, personalised guidance, and hands-on training.

Supporting postgraduate students

Our support extends to postgraduate research students. To ensure they are well-equipped for their future careers, we host a welcome event introducing them to research data management, ethics, and insights from our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Committee and the Institute of Academic Development. We provide ongoing support through regular drop-in sessions and a wealth of resources, ensuring staff and students have the tools and guidance needed to thrive throughout their research journey.

Partnering with academic teams for research success

The Usher Research Support Team is a partner in our academic community’s research success. We work closely with the University to provide training, support, and exciting events. We are passionate about open-access publishing guiding our community through the process, ensuring our research reaches a global audience.

We keep our community informed about the latest research trends and best practices, including cutting-edge data management tools. We frequently monitor publications across Usher, showcasing the breadth of research and variety of work being conducted across our institution, while also encouraging collaboration between colleagues.

If you’re a student or staff member at Usher and need guidance on data management, support with open-access publishing, or opportunities to connect with fellow researchers, the Usher Research Support Team is here to help.

Find our details at Contact us | Usher