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Fiona McIntyre

@fionamcintyre.bsky.social

455 followers 444 following 107 posts

Features Editor at Research Professional News, @resprofnews.bsky.social. Currently on maternity leave. Previously at New Civil Engineer, @newcivilengineer.com.web.brid.gy. Looking for tips on how to keep houseplants alive.

Posts Replies Media

Fiona McIntyre @fionamcintyre.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Very sad news today: Research Professional News to discontinue publication at end of 2026. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-o...

researchprofessionalnews.com

Research Professional News to discontinue publication at end of 2026 - Research Professional News

A message for readers about the publication’s closure and continued community access to past reporting

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Fiona McIntyre @fionamcintyre.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

An STFC evaluation lays bare ‘huge damage’ if cuts go ahead Advisers are warning of a “major crisis” for UK research as an impact assessment is sent to ministers. Reporting by @francesjones.bsky.social www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

researchprofessionalnews.com

STFC evaluation lays bare ‘huge damage’ if cuts go ahead - Research Professional News

Advisers warn of “major crisis” for UK research as impact assessment is sent to ministers

Fiona McIntyre @fionamcintyre.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Brexit 10 years on: as bad as universities feared? A decade after the vote, universities are still grappling with consequences in research and recruitment. Via @harrietswain.bsky.social www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...

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Reposted by Fiona McIntyre

Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Revealed: Office for Students spent almost £450,000 on Sussex court case. One of the most-read stories on our site this week. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...

researchprofessionalnews.com

Office for Students spent almost £450,000 on Sussex court case - Research Professional News

Experts say “extraordinary sum” for legal costs in free speech case will “raise eyebrows”

Reposted by Fiona McIntyre

Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Visa applications to study in UK at lowest ebb in four years. Applications during the year to May 2026 dipped below 400,000, ahead of tighter compliance regime. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...

researchprofessionalnews.com

Visa applications to study in UK at lowest ebb in four years - Research Professional News

Applications during the year to May 2026 dipped below 400,000, ahead of tighter compliance regime

Fiona McIntyre @fionamcintyre.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

Can ‘high-stress’ interviews for grants save a system under pressure? Funders are using interviews to manage demand, but some worry about the consequences for applicants. Via @harrietswain.bsky.social. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-worl...

Reposted by Fiona McIntyre

Frances Jones @francesjones.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

New long read by me: Is academic freedom under threat in Europe? Despite Orbán’s ousting and upcoming legal protections, the continent is being urged to act I enjoyed writing this one. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-euro...

researchprofessionalnews.com

Is academic freedom under threat in Europe? - Research Professional News

Despite Orbán’s ousting and upcoming legal protections, the continent is being urged to act

Reposted by Fiona McIntyre

Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Peer-reviewed papers are ‘old hat science’, says millionaire investor. Candy Crush businessman Mel Morris says universities “must embrace AI” to transform into economic powerhouses. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-i...

researchprofessionalnews.com

Peer-reviewed papers are ‘old hat science’, says millionaire investor - Research Professional News

Candy Crush businessman Mel Morris says universities “must embrace AI” to transform into economic powerhouses

Fiona McIntyre @fionamcintyre.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Could basic research income help fix a funding system in crisis? Thanks to Matthew Smith @healthhistory.bsky.social, Jonathan Grant @jonathancgrant.bsky.social and others for sharing their thoughts. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-worl...

researchprofessionalnews.com

Could basic research income help fix a funding system in crisis? - Research Professional News

“Radical” solution gains attention as applications surge engulfs funders but lacks any serious experimentation

Fiona McIntyre @fionamcintyre.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

European countries are struggling to improve research careers at a time when funding calls are “severely oversubscribed”, as the Dutch Research Council has put it. Via @francesjones.bsky.social www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-euro...

researchprofessionalnews.com

Europe struggling with ‘severely oversubscribed’ funding calls - Research Professional News

Netherlands, Norway and UK outline efforts to improve research careers and bolster “system under pressure”

Fiona McIntyre @fionamcintyre.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

Plans to cut more than 600 jobs at the University of Nottingham “pose significant systemic risks to elite-level research”, the UCU has warned. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...

researchprofessionalnews.com

Nottingham job cuts ‘pose systemic risks to research’, union warns - Research Professional News

Research-intensive university told it risks “intellectual stagnation” as 2,700 staff put at risk of redundancy

Fiona McIntyre @fionamcintyre.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

After Orbán: what next for Hungary’s researchers? Five experts weigh up the damage done by authoritarianism, and they set out what needs to change. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-euro...

researchprofessionalnews.com

After Orbán: what next for Hungary’s researchers? - Research Professional News

Five experts weigh up the damage done by authoritarianism, and what needs to change

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Fiona McIntyre @fionamcintyre.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

Not long after rejoining Horizon Europe, Switzerland could lose access to EU funding once again. This would be 'catastrophic' for Swiss research, leaders have warned. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-euro...

researchprofessionalnews.com

Severing Swiss-EU research ties again ‘would be catastrophic’ - Research Professional News

Upcoming referendum on population size could plunge Swiss sector back into damaging isolation, leaders warn

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Reposted by Fiona McIntyre

Robin Bisson @robinbisson.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Getting ONS R&D stats 2 years after the fact always feels a bit...old news BUT, I do think there's some interesting stuff in there Namely, that while there were two years of real-terms growth in UK public R&D spending of ~9%, this pretty much took place outside funding for the university sector 🧵

Government expenditure on R&D has risen more rapidly in real terms from 2022 than pre-pandemic

Reposted by Fiona McIntyre

Robin Bisson @robinbisson.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

There's definitely a reshaping of UK research going on Some of it is intentional - govt encouraging unis to specialise, UKRI directing funds for applied R&I to industrial strategy areas Some of it isn't - unis taking individual decisions to save costs that add up to impact on national capacity 🧵

Speaking to Research Professional News, Marcus Munafò, deputy vice-chancellor and provost at the University of Bath, said: “I think there’s a risk we could end up in a situation where some technologies or certain disciplines fall off a cliff—go past a certain threshold because they don’t have a critical mass of funding to support them.

“That bit seems to be missing from the debate; we need to think about the research ecosystem as national capability and infrastructure that we need to keep healthy to allow us to react to unknown scenarios in the future.”

Fiona McIntyre @fionamcintyre.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

Researchers say Hungary ‘should move fast on Horizon to end nationalist bubble’. They want to see Orbán-era university policies axed and action taken to regain access to Horizon Europe. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-euro...

researchprofessionalnews.com

Hungary ‘should move fast on Horizon to end nationalist bubble’ - Research Professional News

Calls for swift action to axe Orbán university policies and regain EU R&I programme access

Reposted by Fiona McIntyre

Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

David Comerford: incentivising rigorous peer review would be a first line of defence against the rising tide of “resmearch”, where special interest groups or firms use AI to trawl large, public datasets and produce findings that seem to support their product or stance'. 1/3

Reposted by Fiona McIntyre

Robin Bisson @robinbisson.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Researchers not happy about a 12-month wait to resubmit unsuccessful bids for MRC research grants Applicants had no idea in Sept 25 that the funding rate would be lower (possibly much lower) than in previous years BUT...important difference between the call text, and the MRC line to RPN though ...

Reposted by Fiona McIntyre

Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Resubmission embargo branded ‘unfair’ as MRC calls reopen. Researchers caught out by reduced funding rates barred from re-applying for 12 months “unless invited”. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

researchprofessionalnews.com

Resubmission embargo branded ‘unfair’ as MRC calls reopen - Research Professional News

Researchers caught out by reduced funding rates barred from re-applying for 12 months “unless invited”

Fiona McIntyre @fionamcintyre.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Can we fight AI-driven 'bullshit science' with better peer review? Great to speak to @stir.ac.uk's David Comerford about his idea for a peer review points system designed to tackle the rising tide of 'resmearch'. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...

researchprofessionalnews.com

‘Fight AI-driven resmearch with points for peer review’ - Research Professional News

Professor pitches high-quality reviews as antidote to firms using scientific techniques for own commercial ends

Fiona McIntyre @fionamcintyre.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Do falling success rates mean ‘the entire system needs a rethink’? My piece exploring whether anything other than more funding can ease applicants' frustrations. Thanks to @gemmaderrick.bsky.social, Karen Stroobants and others for their insights. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-euro...

researchprofessionalnews.com

Do falling success rates mean ‘the entire system needs a rethink’? - Research Professional News

Grant applicants are feeling frustration and career pressure as budgets fall and AI factor looms

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Fiona McIntyre @fionamcintyre.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Can UKRI’s Sheffield showcase boost people’s support for R&D? Great to hear views from @sciencecampaign.bsky.social, Vivienne Parry and @andywestwood.bsky.social on whether schemes like these make a difference. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

researchprofessionalnews.com

Can UKRI’s Sheffield showcase boost people’s support for R&D? - Research Professional News

Agency spotlights benefits of publicly funded research amid fears over “disconnect”

Fiona McIntyre @fionamcintyre.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

Do we need a national strategy to end the ‘gridlock’ in achieving open access for books? A @britishacademy.bsky.social report calls for a joined-up approach, as "the systems are not currently in place to make it work". www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-o...

researchprofessionalnews.com

Academy urges end to ‘gridlock’ on open access for books - Research Professional News

British Academy report calls for sector-wide agreement ahead of next Research Excellence Framework

Fiona McIntyre @fionamcintyre.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Fantastic long read from @francesjones.bsky.social on why the physics cuts ‘could hurt government’s dash for growth’. Shrinking the UK's pool of experts, particularly early career researchers, will 'hurt UK industry over the long term'. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

researchprofessionalnews.com

Physics cuts ‘could hurt government’s dash for growth’ - Research Professional News

UK scientists fear for the talent pipeline and homegrown expertise in AI and quantum

Reposted by Fiona McIntyre

Robin Bisson @robinbisson.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Double-take detail in this interview with Edith Heard, head of the Crick Her French husband decided against getting a spouse visa because of the UK's "intrusive" immigration rules If that's happening with one of the UK's most senior scientists, how many others are being put off completely?

Fiona McIntyre @fionamcintyre.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Great to speak to Cefin Campbell about @plaidcymru.bsky.social's plans for research and universities if the party wins the May election in Wales.

Fiona McIntyre @fionamcintyre.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

Universities are wasting up to £4.7bn each year through outdated digital systems. This is stifling innovation and research, @jisc.bsky.social has warned. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...

researchprofessionalnews.com

Universities ‘waste up to £4.7bn a year through old technology’ - Research Professional News

Outdated systems are hampering research productivity and harming innovation, according to Jisc

Reposted by Fiona McIntyre

Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

Universities urged not to ‘drag feet’ on engaging with populists Institutions must engage now or risk US-style crackdown on academic freedom and research, @hepi-news.bsky.social paper says www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...

researchprofessionalnews.com

Universities urged not to ‘drag feet’ on engaging with populists - Research Professional News

Institutions must engage now or risk US-style crackdown on academic freedom and research, paper says

Fiona McIntyre @fionamcintyre.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

Research networks are ‘diminishing by the day’ thanks to the surging number of redundancies in UK universities. Via @chrisjparr.bsky.social www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...

researchprofessionalnews.com

Research networks ‘diminishing by the day’ as redundancies hit - Research Professional News

Cross-institutional networks being thwarted by job pressures, warns academic after homicide detection project collapses

Reposted by Fiona McIntyre

Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

Researchers need the UK to secure autonomy in AI. In hostile world, copyright changes and investment can bring sovereignty and innovation, says Ben White. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

researchprofessionalnews.com

Researchers need the UK to secure autonomy in AI - Research Professional News

In hostile world, copyright changes and investment can bring sovereignty and innovation, says Ben White

Reposted by Fiona McIntyre

Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

UK university unions demand pay rise 3% above inflation Employers describe claim as “extremely challenging” in current financial climate www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...

researchprofessionalnews.com

UK university unions demand pay rise 3% above inflation - Research Professional News

Employers describe claim as “extremely challenging” in current financial climate

Reposted by Fiona McIntyre

Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

UK visa rules have ‘negative impact’, say prize-winning scientists. Foreign-born winners of Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists describe barriers to working in UK. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-p...

researchprofessionalnews.com

UK visa rules have ‘negative impact’, say prize-winning scientists - Research Professional News

Foreign-born winners of Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists describe barriers to working in UK

Fiona McIntyre @fionamcintyre.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

There is a “national catastrophe” unfolding as universities close modern languages courses. University of Birmingham VC Adam Tickell told the @britishacademy.bsky.social conference that important “cultural assets” are being lost “by stealth”. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...

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Closure of language courses is ‘national catastrophe’, warns VC - Research Professional News

Birmingham leader Adam Tickell says “institutional mergers” may be needed to protect “national cultural assets”

Reposted by Fiona McIntyre

John Morgan @johnmorgan3.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

Birmingham v-c Adam Tickell made some really interesting comments at @britishacademy.bsky.social conference. Called university languages closures a "national catastrophe", said uni mergers may be needed to address it. Not many v-cs are willing to take public stand on national sector issues.

Fiona McIntyre @fionamcintyre.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

How can the EU hit its 3% R&D spending target? Given the challenges facing Europe, that target has been described as the "bare minimum". Great to speak to Mattias Björnmalm @bearore.bsky.social and others about this issue. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-euro...

researchprofessionalnews.com

How can the EU hit its 3 per cent R&D spending target? - Research Professional News

Experts advocate creating right conditions for industry and getting taxpayers on board with public spending

Reposted by Fiona McIntyre

Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

UKRI details how ‘buckets’ model relates to previous spending Comparison given after pressure from MPs, as experts question funder classifying QR as curiosity-driven research www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

researchprofessionalnews.com

UKRI details how ‘buckets’ model relates to previous spending - Research Professional News

Comparison given after pressure from MPs, as experts question funder classifying QR as curiosity-driven research

Reposted by Fiona McIntyre

Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

Fears over STFC cost-savings plan aired since September 2025. Oversight body repeatedly raised concerns over “lack of transparency” with research community. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

Fiona McIntyre @fionamcintyre.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

Job losses at research-intensive universities doubled in two years. The scale of redundancies revealed by RPN has been branded a “disaster” for UK research capacity. Via @chrisjparr.bsky.social. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...

researchprofessionalnews.com

Job losses at research-intensive universities double in two years - Research Professional News

Exclusive: Scale of redundancies revealed by RPN branded a “disaster” for UK research capacity

Fiona McIntyre @fionamcintyre.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

For the next REF, the rules are changing. Researchers can't 'port' their outputs to a new employer - with an exception for long-form outputs. While some are happy with the rules, others warn of a 'backlash' amid widespread redundancies. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

researchprofessionalnews.com

‘Disproportionate’ REF portability rules still dividing opinion - Research Professional News

While some are happy with the long-form exception, others fear a “significant backlash”

Reposted by Fiona McIntyre

Chris Parr @chrisjparr.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

I sent FOI requests to all 34 members of the Russell Group and Research Plus to collate this data, though only 24 replied on time. Still a decent sample. Not happy reading.

Reposted by Fiona McIntyre

Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

Job losses at UK research-intensive universities double in two years. Exclusive: Scale of redundancies branded a “disaster”. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...

researchprofessionalnews.com

Job losses at research-intensive universities double in two years - Research Professional News

Exclusive: Scale of redundancies revealed branded a “disaster” for UK research capacity

Reposted by Fiona McIntyre

Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

Wales sees steeper fall than other UK nations in university staff. Employee numbers at Welsh institutions declined by 2.8 per cent in 2024-25. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...

researchprofessionalnews.com

Wales sees steeper fall than other UK nations in university staff - Research Professional News

Employee numbers at Welsh institutions declined by 2.8 per cent in 2024-25

Reposted by Fiona McIntyre

Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

Exempt PhDs from international fee levy, ministers urged. University groups warn imposing fee on overseas doctoral students would “harm research talent pipeline”. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...

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Exempt PhDs from international fee levy, ministers urged - Research Professional News

University groups warn imposing fee on overseas doctoral students would “harm research talent pipeline”

Reposted by Fiona McIntyre

Anna McKie @annamckie.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

I spoke to scientists and former directors of NCAR for @resprofnews.bsky.social as they rally to save the important climate research centre www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-usa-...

researchprofessionalnews.com

Former directors and scientists rally to save NCAR - Research Professional News

Leaders warn restructuring could undermine US atmospheric science, as supercomputing transfer raises further fears

Fiona McIntyre @fionamcintyre.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

Ian Chapman has promised UKRI will be ‘consulting widely’ on its funding reforms. He also acknowledged the "anxiety" among researchers around the changes, which have seen funding calls paused. Via @annamckie.bsky.social. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

researchprofessionalnews.com

UKRI head commits to ‘consulting widely’ on funding reforms - Research Professional News

Ian Chapman tries to reassure researchers amid uncertainty over paused calls and cost pressures

Reposted by Fiona McIntyre

Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · 16/02/2026

ICYMI: Physics cuts put livelihoods, investment and reputation at risk. Cutting the UK out of the Electron-Ion Collider project will damage science, says Daria Sokhan. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-v...

researchprofessionalnews.com

Physics cuts put livelihoods, investment and reputation at risk - Research Professional News

Cutting the UK out of the Electron-Ion Collider project will damage science, says Daria Sokhan

Fiona McIntyre @fionamcintyre.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

ICYMI: Is science really suffering from a reproducibility crisis? After Maria Leptin suggested the crisis was "exaggerated", I spoke to experts including @ludowaltman.bsky.social and @elisabethbik.bsky.social about how big the problem really is. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-worl...

researchprofessionalnews.com

Is science really suffering from a reproducibility crisis? - Research Professional News

Experts divided over severity of problems, as AI “monster” creates different threat

Reposted by Fiona McIntyre

Robin Bisson @robinbisson.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

It's been a busy couple of weeks covering the funding changes at UKRI, to put it mildly Here are my thoughts on how it's played out TL;DR...the message that curiosity-driven research is protected is not going to reassure those who are seeing their funding streams disrupted

researchprofessionalnews.com

Rhetoric on UKRI’s funding reforms offers cold comfort - Research Professional News

Messaging that curiosity-driven research is protected is hard to square with funding reductions and pauses

Fiona McIntyre @fionamcintyre.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

Duncan Ivison told @chrisjparr.bsky.social that he has ‘serious questions about the REF’. The University of Manchester vice-chancellor also shared his frustration that the UK is "not grabbing" the opportunity to become a global education superpower. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...

researchprofessionalnews.com

Duncan Ivison: ‘I have serious questions about the REF’ - Research Professional News

Manchester vice-chancellor discusses assessment reform, missed education “superpower” opportunity and political perils

Fiona McIntyre @fionamcintyre.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

UKRI funding changes are already causing junior researchers to leave the country. Some STFC-funded research groups are already "haemorrhaging" early career researchers, according to @lucienheurtier.bsky.social. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

researchprofessionalnews.com

UKRI funding changes ‘pushing junior researchers abroad’ - Research Professional News

Disruptions to core funding streams raise fears for a “generation” of early career researchers