About

As Head of PGR Delivery Support, I manage postgraduate research student experience across the University. I work closely with College Research Committees, the Union of Students PGR representative, Registry teams and colleagues within the University Research and Knowledge Exchange Office, to support the work of PGR supervisors and candidates toward successful outcomes at the doctoral level. I manage the training of PGR supervisors, benchmark PGR activity across the sector and support development of processes that enhance the PGR experience.

Teaching responsibilities

I supervise professional doctoral (EdD) and PhD candidates. I contribute to PGR training, including research design, research ethics and preparation for viva voce. I also provide training for new and existing supervisors within the University. 

Professional interests

PGR experience and development/doctoral supervision and training/professional doctorates/teacher education and science education.

Research interests

• PGR experience and support for PGR development
• Supervision of postgraduate research
• Science Education: scientific literacy and public understanding of science, transference of attitudes to science beyond formal education. 
• Learning and Teaching strategies

Membership of professional bodies

Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Qualifications

• PhD Freshwater Ecotoxicology (Profundal Reservoir Communities), University of Leicester
• Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE Secondary), University of Leicester
• BSc Biological Sciences, University of Leicester

Recent conferences

Radford, N., Bielmann, C. & Apel, S. (2022) Supporting the needs of PArt-time Postgraduate Researchers: Connections across a Region. Vitae International Researcher Development Conference 2022 (online)

UKCGE - UK Doctoral vivas and examinations, 26 November 2021 (online)

Radford, N. (2021) Solutions for Supporting Students to make an Effective Transition to Postgraduate Studies. Inside Government, Higher Education Postgraduate Forum, online invited presentation, 2 December

UKCGE - UK Research Supervisors Survey Launch Event, 8 October 2021 (online) 

Photiou, M., Radford, N. & Lynch, P. (2021) Supporting Community Belonging and Building Sustained Cohort Identity Among PGR Students. UKCGE Annual Conference, 2 July(online) 

Experience in industry

Prior to joining the university, I gained extensive experience as a secondary science teacher and led a successful whole school improvement project that achieved sustained increases in pupil attainment and improved innovative teaching and learning by creating a culture of shared learning and practice across the school.

Recent publications

Dent, M. & Radford, N. (2020) Celebrity Scientists: Inspiration or just entertainment?  Science Teacher Education no.88 September 2020, www.ASE.org.uk pp41-46

Radford, N. (2018) There’s No Ethics Here! Research Intelligence, 136, pp17-18