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Dr Emma Francis @emmarubyfrancis.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Very pleased to share that I will be the Research Culture Director on the new @ukri.org MRC-Doctoral Landscape Award (DLA) at @ucl.ac.uk and Birkbeck University. This is part a £90 million investment, shared between 14 DLAs at universities across the country🎉 www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2026/se...

ucl.ac.uk

New PhD training programme for biomedical researchers launched

A new programme enabling PhD students to gain experience across academia, healthcare and industry has been launched at UCL and Birkbeck, University of London.

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Dr Emma Francis @emmarubyfrancis.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Some prelim findings from the Research Professional Futures study funded by Research England! #IRCC2026

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Dr Emma Francis @emmarubyfrancis.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Some significant challenges facing the technical community in the UK shares Kelly Vere, Director of UK Institute for Technical Skills & Strategy @uniofnottingham.bsky.social #IRCC2026

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Dr Emma Francis @emmarubyfrancis.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

The people with the least cultural power are researchers and professional service staff (inc research enablers) and they're the ones most exposed to toxic cultures and environments @catdavies.bsky.social sharing findings from their @wellcometrust.bsky.social report #IRCC2026

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Dr Emma Francis @emmarubyfrancis.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

@catdavies.bsky.social Opening up their parallel session asking who holds most of the responsibility for culture change... most people put their hands up for university leadership! Followed by shared responsibility across funding bodies and university staff #IRCC2026

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Dr Emma Francis @emmarubyfrancis.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Really great insight and advice from Alys Kay @ncace.bsky.social on using a service-design approach to measuring research culture #IRCC2026

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Dr Emma Francis @emmarubyfrancis.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Really enjoyed participating in the challenge-led workshop 'Safe to fail: a workshop to explore holistic approaches to addressing"failure" in research culture' #IRCC2026 Some great ideas shared about to address systematic issues such as having role models + transparency about careers in academia

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Dr Emma Francis @emmarubyfrancis.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

"Research culture should be treated like something studied tested evaluated and improved" - Jimmy Volmink @wellcometrust.bsky.social Couldn't agree more. That's why @ucl-cbc.bsky.social are using evidence-based frameworks to generate our intervention recommendations and evaluate them! #IRCC2026

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Dr Emma Francis @emmarubyfrancis.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

"If we want to have different outcomes we need to pay attention to the conditions that shape them" - Jimmy Volmink from @wellcometrust.bsky.social giving the Plenary Keynote #IRCC2026 #ResearchCulture

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Dr Emma Francis @emmarubyfrancis.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Wonderful to be back this year #IRCC26 with my research culture colleagues and the study team!

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Dr Emma Francis @emmarubyfrancis.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Proud to have contributed as a sector expert to a new @advancehe.bsky.social guide on creating an impact-forward research culture. This offers approaches for institutions to move beyond culture activity towards impact. Read here: advance-he.ac.uk/knowledge-hu...

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Dr Emma Francis @emmarubyfrancis.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

Enjoyed this piece from @nature.com on changing research fields, especially having moved fields since my PhD. These three scientists share practical tips for making a successful pivot: www.nature.com/articles/d41... #innovation #interdisciplinaryresearch

nature.com

What's the best way to change research fields? These three scientists have ideas

Planning to switch fields? Be bold, know your limits and choose your institution wisely, say three UK research leaders.

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Reposted by Dr Emma Francis

Peter Tennant @pwgtennant.bsky.social · 16/10/2025

Dear biomedical colleagues, Please refrain from doing or judging observational research until you've properly learnt about confounding bias & selection bias. TEST: if you can't explain these concepts using causal diagrams, it's probably not safe to conduct or interpret observational data analyses.

Screenshot of Wellcome trust announcement on LinkedIn saying that Wellcome Leap have pledged $50m to "identity the role or the microbiome in autism"

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Dr Emma Francis @emmarubyfrancis.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

@catdavies.bsky.social sharing that it's important we have senior leadership buy-in for research culture change to happen. Whilst there are some incentives for people to have good practice, there is still a way to go to recognize this formally (aka in promotions). #IRCC2025

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Dr Emma Francis @emmarubyfrancis.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

Great analogy from @catdavies.bsky.social, Outgoing Dean for Research Culture, @universityofleeds.bsky.social: 'The same boiling water that softens the potato hardens the egg' Aka we shouldn't assume the same intervention works everywhere and for everyone! #IRCC2025

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Dr Emma Francis @emmarubyfrancis.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

Enthused by the workshop led by Dr Róisín McKelvey & Dr Alíz Owolabi from Uni of Edinburgh on Inclusive pathways: Embedding EDI into Research & Research Management. Great to be sat in the room with leadership from funders @ukri.org too! #IRCC2025

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Dr Emma Francis @emmarubyfrancis.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

New upcoming report to be published early next year by @wellcometrust.bsky.social in partnership with @manchester.ac.uk about mid career researchers and how they can be supported #IRCC2025

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Dr Emma Francis @emmarubyfrancis.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

Next up - panel session! Professor Grace Mulcahy (Chair of Research culture initiatives, UCD) shares "we need to factor in the wider eco-system too. The publishing practices, impact of paper pills...We need to involve our community, funders and those that impact our research cultures." #IRCC2025

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Dr Emma Francis @emmarubyfrancis.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

Question asked: What are the challenges we face with different definitions of research culture across the world - Prof Steven Hill acknowledged that resource allocation is difficult if we don't agree on the definition we are using. "We don't know what is making the biggest difference" #IRCC2025

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Dr Emma Francis @emmarubyfrancis.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

Keynote by Prof Steven Hill (Director of Research, Research England) who shared the importance of embedding research culture at the department and at an institution level. Report coming in a few weeks which will be great to read for all, not just those who work in research culture #IRCC2025

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Dr Emma Francis @emmarubyfrancis.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

Attending the International Research Culture Conference 2025 today at Warwick University where our @ucl-cbc.bsky.social project on targeting collaborative research leadership is being presented (poster board 10) by our colleague Huner Erdinch! #IRCC2025

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Dr Emma Francis @emmarubyfrancis.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

Dr Rachel Knowles recommends researchers read Prof Miles Witham's @oldertrialsprof.bsky.social guidance that focuses on inclusive COVID-19 research, however has checklists applicable to all research: bmjopen.bmj.com/content/bmjo... #UCLEqualities @uclbrainscience.bsky.social

bmjopen.bmj.com

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Dr Emma Francis @emmarubyfrancis.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

Dr Rachel Knowles, Lead for Clinical Research Policy, Ethics and Governance at the MRC, is up next and discusses ways to address under-representation in research, sharing “Inclusion is essential for a high performing research and innovation system.” #UCLEqualities @uclbrainscience.bsky.social

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Dr Emma Francis @emmarubyfrancis.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

Prof Talia Isaacs discusses how they found within research the focus is often not on WHO is taking part in studies but more whether there is sufficient power to detect an effect #UCLEqualities @uclbrainscience.bsky.social

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Dr Emma Francis @emmarubyfrancis.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

Today, I'm attending an Inclusive Research and Recruitment workshop run by UCL Centre for Equality Research @uclbrainscience.bsky.social Will try and post learnings throughout!

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UCL Faculty of Brain Sciences @uclbrainscience.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

What has been the lasting impact of the Covid pandemic on our mental health? Prof @susanmichie.bsky.social, director of @ucl-cbc.bsky.social, spoke to BBC Radio London about the lasting challenges. 🔗 Listen from 19 min, 15 sec:

buff.ly

Eddie Nestor - 17/03/2025 - BBC Sounds

The best topical guests and stories in London mixed with great music and your calls.

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Reposted by Dr Emma Francis

Behavioural Research UK (BR-UK) @behaviourresuk.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

Are you interested in learning how AI can be used to improve behavioural research? 📈 There is time to register for BR-UK’s webinar tomorrow at 1:30pm BST with speakers @jannahastings.bsky.social, @susanmichie.bsky.social and @robertjwest.bsky.social. Sign up here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

A blue and grey slide with the text 'Artificial Intelligence in Behavioural Research. Dr Janna Hastings Universities of St. Gallen and Zurich. Professor Susan Michie, University College London and Professor Robert West, University College London' What you'll learn: What the difference is between 'Analytical AI' and 'Generative AI.' Strengths and weaknesses of existing AI tools. How Generative AI can be used in behavioural science to generate evidence-based ideas for behaviour change interventions.

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Reposted by Dr Emma Francis

Leonard Frach @leofrach.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

I guess I'm a doctor now?? Huge thanks to the best lab for all the memories over the last 4 years and for the sweetest messages 🥹 @giuliapiazza.bsky.social @emmarubyfrancis.bsky.social @andrealle.bsky.social @josejmorosoli.bsky.social @jessiebaldwin.bsky.social @kxlim.bsky.social

Dear Dr Frach,
I am pleased to inform you that your examiners have confirmed that you have been successful in your recent examination for the Doctor of Philosophy degree.

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Reposted by Dr Emma Francis

Dr Emma Norris @emmajnorris.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

The peer review system no longer works to guarantee academic rigour - a different approach is needed: Introducing MetaROR theconversation.com/the-peer-rev...

theconversation.com

The peer review system no longer works to guarantee academic rigour - a different approach is needed

Peer review is often assumed to guarantee quality, but it doesn’t always work so well in practice.

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Dr Emma Francis @emmarubyfrancis.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

First post on @bsky.app! 😀 Brief intro - recently gained my PhD in psych epidemiology and genetics from @uclofficial.bsky.social and now work at @ucl-cbc.bsky.social as a Research Fellow improving research culture through behavioural science! Keen to connect with likeminded people!

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