Dr Emma Francis

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.

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

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

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.

Paper mills not pills!!* Oops!

@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

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

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

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

Woo go Huner!

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

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

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

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

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

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

The INCLUDE Ethnicity Framework • Trial Forge SCOPE The INCLUDE Ethnicity Framework aims to help trial teams think specifically about which ethnic groups should be included in their trial for its results to be widely applicable, and what challeng...

Many funders, including @nihr.bsky.social, signpost researchers to the INCLUDE ethnicity framework to improve trial delivery for under-served groups says Prof Talia Isaacs: www.trialforge.org/trial-divers...

#UCLEqualities @uclbrainscience.bsky.social

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

Dr Natalie Marchant @uclpsychiatry.bsky.social explains “inclusive recruitment leads to better research understanding human conditions and diseases, and better treatment and care for all.”

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!

Eddie Nestor - 17/03/2025 - BBC Sounds The best topical guests and stories in London mixed with great music and your calls.

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:

<em>Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry</em> | ACAMH Pediatric Journal | Wiley Online Library Background Researchers use both subjective self-report and objective measures, such as official records, to investigate the impact of childhood adversity on psychopathology. However, it is unclear w...

Received the news that my PhD paper received enough citations to be considered a Top Cited Article #TheJCPP @acamh.bsky.social Read it here onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.... #TopCitedArticle #Wiley

Love this!

Let’s Talk About the Need to Invest in Women Researchers and Leaders Every International Women’s Day, there is a call to retain talented women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields, with strategies and proposals often given by influential o...

In honour of International Women's Day, I'm re-sharing a blog I wrote last year for @acamh.bsky.social about the need to invest in women researchers and leaders: www.acamh.org/blog/lets-ta...

#IWD25

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.

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...

Viva celebrations

Collage of photos with my PhD friends

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.

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

Thanks Sandy!

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.

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

theconversation.com/the-peer-rev...

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!