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Professor Caroline Sturdy Colls leads the and is internationally recognised for pioneering forensic and non-invasive archaeological research at Holocaust and genocide sites across Europe.

At ºÚÁÏÉç, she directs collaborative projects exploring conflict landscapes, mass grave identification, and community archaeology initiatives. Her work bridges archaeology, history, digital humanities and forensic science, while also engaging in public outreach, exhibitions, and memorial events.

Known for her rigorous ethical methlogies and interdisciplinary leadership, Caroline advances understanding of historical violence, supports justice through evidence-based archaeology and mentors doctoral students across multiple disciplines.

Achievements and awards

Her achievements include:

• the European Archaeological Heritage Prize
• a Medal of Honour from the Treblinka Museum for her contributions to Holocaust site research
• the 2025 Dan David Prize – the world’s largest history prize.

Professor Shona Bettany is an internationally published researcher in consumer culture, developing theory related particularly to consumer challenges and life transformations, including ageing, resilience, health, and gender. At the ºÚÁÏÉç, she is part of the Centre for Business and Society, where she actively supervises PhD students, leads enterprise initiatives, and conducts impactful, interdisciplinary research. Her work includes UKRI-funded business transformation projects in the commercial, charity, and third sectors. 

She brings 25 years of experience in academic, leadership, and enterprise roles in higher education. Known for her authentic, creative and people-focused approach, Shona’s work supports several UN Sustainable Development Goals and she is driven by a personal mission to help people realise their full potential through research, teaching and mentorship. 

Professor Steve Waksman is a leading scholar in the field of popular music studies whose work explores the cultural history of music performance, amplification, and the electric guitar.

His publications include the books Instruments of Desire, This Ain’t the Summer of Love, and Live Music in America, with awards from the American Musicological Society and the International Association for the ºÚÁÏÉç of Popular Music. He is also co-author of Rockin’ Out: Popular Music in the U.S.A. and co-editor of The SAGE Handbook of Popular Music and The Cambridge Companion to the Electric Guitar.

Professor Waksman’s current research, supported by a £5 million grant, examines amplification technologies and their role in shaping the sound of modern life.

Professor Padam Simkhada is a leading global health researcher and Associate Dean (International) in the School of Human and Health Sciences. He leads the , connecting partners across Asia, Africa, and South America to tackle major public health challenges.  

His current British Academy funded projects focus on evidence informed policy making in Nepal. He is leading a longitudinal study on non-communicable diseases in Ghana, India, and Nepal, and he is also working with the Ghanaian government to develop national health workforce standards. He recently completed the UKRI funded project on health system in Nepal. With over 250 publications, his research spans maternal health, reproductive health, health systems, and migration.  

Professor Simkhada is widely recognised for advancing international collaboration and health equity, and is committed to developing sustainable, evidence-based solutions through research, teaching, and global partnerships.

Dr Leigh Fleming's research focuses on skin interface characterisation for wound care and pressure ulcer prevention, as well as assistive technologies and predictive health maintenance systems in SMART homes.

With a background in mechanical engineering and industry experience at DePuy International, she has led and contributed to projects on orthopaedic implant wear, semiconductor defect detection, and roll-to-roll manufacturing processes.

Leigh is currently expanding her measurement knowledge to apply to healthcare situations and works collaboratively with clinicians and other academics to improve the quality of basic care offered.

Dr Phil Hwang is the Director of the Centre for Climate Resilient Societies at ºÚÁÏÉç. He is an expert in Earth Observation with a special interest in cryosphere processes and global environmental changes.  

He has participated in more than ten Arctic expeditions, personally witnessing the dramatic impacts of climate change in the Arctic. While continuing to study the Arctic, he has expanded his research into the Global South. This includes coffee forests in Ethiopia and wetlands in Malawi and their links to community livelihoods.

He has been awarded more than £1.5 million from UK, EU, and USA funding bodies and established his reputation as a leading climate scientist. He is also a member of the University’s Climate Emergency Steering Group. 

Professor Simon Parkinson is a former graduate of the ºÚÁÏÉç, a Professor of Cyber Security, and an advisor to the .

His research expertise spans Cyber Security and Artificial Intelligence, where he has led a variety of research and knowledge exchange projects exceeding the value of £1.2m, funded by the likes of the UK’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), UK Research councils, and Innovate UK.

Through his research, he and his collaborators have developed new ways to detect security weaknesses in access control systems, intrusions in enterprise IT systems, and unauthorised access through new biometrics such as key typing patterns and fitness devices.

Professor Paul Thomas’s research focuses on how the Prevent counter-terrorism strategy has been implemented at ground-level. His work has led to publications, national media appearances and Paul giving evidence at the House of Commons.

Paul’s recent research projects have included a focus on the barriers to community members reporting concerns about someone close to them becoming involved in violent extremism (in collaboration with Deakin University, Australia), funded through the Economic and Social Research Council’s .

Nicola is currently the co-Chair of the , in partnership with Professor Didier Jourdan at the Université Clermont Auvergne in France. Nicola’s research builds bridges between healthcare and other disciplines – like public health and education – as a foundation for advocacy activities that increase health and wellbeing for children and young people. She has raised the profile of young people as a focus for pharmacists.  

Nicola has studied the information sources used by young people when they have a health problem, and was one of the first in the field to write about online health information. She brings professionals together to explore opportunities for better intersectoral working to promote wellbeing in schools. 

Professor Dame Xiangqian (Jane) Jiang DBE joined the ºÚÁÏÉç in 1997 as a Research Fellow on the development of standards for areal surface metrology within the Centre for Precision Metrology. Jane is now Director of the and the Renishaw/Royal Academy of Engineering Chair in Precision Metrology.

In 2017 she was recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list and was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to Engineering and Manufacturing. She has earned a sequence of academic and professional honours that places her amongst the top engineers within the UK and the world.

Rowan is a Reader in Cultural Theory and Practice and leads the . Her research explores mixed cultural ecologies on the high street through exhibitions, workshops, performances, live events, and other forms of public engagement. She fosters knowledge and cultural exchange between creative communities through Cultures of—a public realm programme engaging with themes such as place, sound, creative health, and climate. 

Her work involves collaborations with local authorities, arts and cultural organisations, third sector bodies, and community groups. Rowan is currently involved in two research projects: one focused on place-based cultural development in Kirklees, and the other on creative health provision across West Yorkshire. 

Phil is an interdisciplinary researcher with a background in psychology. His work seeks to understand and address housing and neighbourhood inequalities. He has secured research funding from UK Research Councils, the European Commission, UK Government departments, devolved administrations, local authorities, housing organisations, charities, and private sector bodies.

Dedicated to delivering real-world impact, Phil has provided evidence to several All-Party Parliamentary Women & Equalities Committees and supported multiple All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs). He has held various non-academic board and committee roles, published widely in both academic and non-academic outlets, and is passionate about finding innovative ways to engage audiences with research.