By the Research Culture Team
We’re delighted to introduce Professor Daniela Schmidt, who has recently taken up the role of Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor (APVC) for Research Environment and Culture. In this role, she will lead our ongoing work to create an open, inclusive and supportive environment for everyone involved in research.
As a professor in Earth Sciences, Daniela studies the impact of climate change on marine ecosystems, drawing lessons from the past to better understand future risks and vulnerabilities. Her commitment to collaboration across disciplines and her passion for inclusive research practices make her ideally placed to guide Bristol’s evolving research culture.
To help us get to know her and her priorities in this new role, we asked Daniela to share some reflections on what “research culture” means to her, what inspires her, and what she hopes to focus on in the months ahead.
What drew you to this role as APVC for Research Environment and Culture?
I work with colleagues in the humanities, social science and law to assess adaptation options, whether these are acceptable by and co-developed with communities, and aim to widen the discourse of climate change risks. In this work I have learned how different we all do “research” and how we use different approaches and even words when we explore our questions. I have also worked closely with colleagues in Policy, Research Impact and Technical professionals making me aware that it needs a “village” to do research well today. I would like us to continuously develop as an organisation to be more open and inclusive, providing a place to do research for all and a home for practitioners across disciplines, career stages, and workplaces. I want us to speak out on issues we care about and be open about needs for improvement. We’re clearly not enabling everyone with potential to fulfil that potential, and we need to do better there.
How would you describe “research culture” in your own words?
Making sure that a diversity of people, skills, and experiences are all represented and valued in how we do research. Research culture is such a broad remit, covering how we conduct research and ensure its integrity, the equity and inclusion of everyone contributing to our research endeavour, and how we support and develop researchers and research-enabling staff. Research culture at Bristol was formalised under my predecessor in the role, Professor Marcus Munafò. The scope has now widened to include ‘Environment’, and I’m keen to explore how we collaborate across disciplines and with partners and how we engage with others and co-produce new research.
What experiences from your career so far have most shaped how you think about research culture?
When I started university, I had no expectation I would have a research career. I am a first generation academic and the youngest of three girls. An academic career was an alien thought. But there were people who supported me, mentored me and showed me that there is a space for someone like me in academia. When I started my career, the expectation for a research academic was basically to write papers, do some teaching, and get the grants in to support the research. Since then, research culture has become much more visible. We know that diverse teams are more successful. But if people can’t see themselves and have no role models, we’re not providing a way for everyone to succeed in higher education and research.
What are your immediate priorities in this new position?
Getting an overview of a remit as broad as Research Environment and Culture is a hard challenge, and I am very grateful of the excellent team who supported me to find my feet. I want to find out where we are making progress to embed best practice in research culture, how we support all who contribute to research and celebrate their contributions, and how we ensure our research is ethical, open, transparent and reproducible. To do this, I need to know what we do well, where people are facing barriers who want to evoke change, and where we just need to become better quickly.
Outside of work, how do you like to spend your time?
I have two still relatively young children – combining that with the teaching, mentoring, research and the APVC role is a challenge. I use my travel to work on the bike to detach. I will try everything possible to not look at my computer in the evenings and the weekend so ensure that I have time to look after my wellbeing, reading a book, going out into nature, or pottering around in my garden.
If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self starting out in research, what would it be?
Be kind to yourself.
We’re excited to work with Daniela as we continue strengthening Bristol’s research environment — one that values openness, collaboration and wellbeing alongside research excellence. You can find out more about ongoing initiatives on our Research Culture SharePoint or by contacting the Research Culture team at pa-apvc-researchculture@bristol.ac.uk.
For research culture matters, please contact Daniela via apvc-research-environment-culture@bristol.ac.uk or use this form to submit anonymous research culture feedback and suggestions.