Dr Kay Guccione
- Head of Research Culture & Researcher Development (Research Services)
email:
Kay.Guccione@glasgow.ac.uk
pronouns:
She/her/hers
Biography
In July 2022 I took up the post of Head of Research Culture & Researcher Development, and in 2024 became Co-Director of the Lab for Academic Culture, at the University of Glasgow.
Since finishing my postdoc (Molecular Biology) and starting my career as a Researcher Development Professional in 2010, I have developed specialisms and research interests in mentoring, research supervisor development and research community building – anything that revolves around a good quality conversation, and the making of a positive research culture.
In 2018 I was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship in recognition of my impact in this area, and this is where my work at UoG focuses. I am a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a Masters qualified Leadership Coach. I am a trustee on the UK Council for Graduate Education Executive Board and have recently worked with them to develop a Recognised Associate Supervisor Award.
Contact me to:
- Find out more about the work of the Research Culture & Researcher Development Teams, how we work, or our areas of expertise, and how we link to other key portfolios and teams;
- Discuss the portfolio of development initiatives for PGRs, Research Staff, and Research Supervisors and Managers;
- Discuss our work to build and maintain a positive research culture, and what this means at the University of Glasgow.
- Discuss a research collaboration, or joint PGR Supervision.
Research interests
Read it today:
- The Hidden Curriculum in Doctoral Education - blog and book series
- The Supervising PhDs blog
- Thriving in Part Time Doctoral Study
- Coaching and Mentoring as a mechanism for Academic Development
- How graduates perceive the ‘value’ of their Doctorate, and what makes doing a PhD ‘worth it’ to the individual? Read paper 1, and paper 2 on this topic
Papers in preparation (contact me for further information)
- Finding the Boundaries of Practice in Postgraduate Peer-Mentoring.
- The unique contribution of Research Staff to PhD Supervision: a model for Supervisory development.
- Enacting Ethical Practice as a New Postgraduate Researcher
- Using a 'Feasible Utopias' Approach to Imagine Cultures of Creativity and Experimentation in Doctoral Education
Grants
- 2024 Student Experience Strategy (Co-Lead) English Language Support for Doctoral Writing, building community and confidence. £120,968
- 2023 Wellcome Institutional Funding for Research Culture (Lead) An inclusive framework for research leadership: testing a new model for creating culture change £3,025,942.
- 2020 AdvanceHE Small Development Project (Co-I) Peer Networks: Evaluation of effectiveness and identification of best practice. £4,000
- 2019 Visiting Scholar in Doctoral and Supervisor Development. University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia. £8,500
- 2018 (Co-Investigator) Mental health and wellbeing of international doctoral students in the UK: An investigation of supervisors’ understanding and existing support provision UKCISA £9,774
- 2018 Senate Fellows' Fund (PI) A photo elicitation initiative supporting transiting to PhD £1000
- 2017 Senate Fellows' Fund (PI) Defining the boundaries of PGR-Peer Mentoring for researcher wellbeing £1000
- 2017 Advance HE 2 x Case Study Grants (PI): (1) Aren't they all Leaving Anyway? What's the value of mentoring for Early Career Researchers? (2) Can I speak to you in confidence? How can PGR tutoring play a role in creating cultures of good doctoral supervision. £1,630
- 2016 HEFCE Catalyst Fund: (Co-I) Raising Awareness, Raising Aspiration: A Targeted Personal Tutoring Support Programme for Narrowing Gaps in Student Achievement and Ambition (The University of Sheffield, King's College London and the University of Portsmouth) £500,000
- 2016 Advance HE Small Development Project (PI): Trust me! Academic leadership behaviours in creating ‘quality’ doctoral supervision relationships. £4,966
- 2014 Advance HE Small Development Project (PI): More than lucky? Exploring self-leadership in the development and articulation of research independence. £5,604
- 2013 Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF, University of Sheffield) (Co-I), Industrial Knowledge Forge programme, £21,500
- 2012 EPSRC Enterprise & Entrepreneurship Fund (University of Sheffield) (Co-I), Industrial Knowledge Forge researcher-industry career pathways programme, £76,873
- 2011 Research Councils UK Roberts' Fund for Researcher Development (University of Sheffield) (Co-I). Establishing ‘Think Ahead’ researcher development in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry & Health. £94,739
Teaching
My teaching is research education focused, and can be understood as having strategic impact on the enhancement of doctoral student learning and doctoral learning environments, and in parallel, on the enhancement of academic practice through the development of supervisors, research leadership, and through the career structures and policies which enable this development.
In 2018 I won a prestigious National Teaching Fellowship in recognition of my international reputation and strategic impact. I was also the first winner to gain this recognition in the field of Researcher Education.
In 2019 I was awarded Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. This recognises "those who can demonstrate sustained and effective strategic leadership of higher education practice, with extensive impact on high-quality learning, beyond their institution".
Professional activities & recognition
Prizes, awards & distinctions
- 2018: National Teaching Fellowship (AdvanceHE)
- 2018: Paul Webbley Award for Research (UK Council for International Student Affairs)
- 2019: Senate Award for Sustained Excellence and Leadership in Learning & Teaching (University of Sheffield)
Editorial boards
- 2023: Higher Education Research and Development
- 2022: Studies in Graduate and Postdoctoral Education
- 2020: Teaching in Higher Education
Professional & learned societies
- 2022: Member, Association of Research Managers and Administrators
- 2019: Principal Fellow, Higher Education Academy
- 2016: Member, European Association for Research into Learning & Instruction (EARLI)
- 2016: Member, Society for Research in Higher Education
- 2014: Member, Association for Coaching