Project managing your research degree

James Woodhams

James is a researcher, theatre maker and project manager. He has projects managed across multiple types of events and projects, from long terms intervention projects, film and site specific theatre. He has also worked within Higher Education as a facilitator and teacher, leading sessions on producing and directing events. He is currently working at the University within the Innovation, Impact and Business department as the commercialisation manager for the new HASS faculty, helping research turn their research into sustainable funding.

Kelly Louise Preece

Kelly Louise Preece is the Researcher Development Manager for PGRs at the University of Exeter. She leads on the provision of professional development for PGRs across all  disciplines and campuses. Her route into researcher education has been a circuitous one. She started her career as a Dance academic in 2009, working at the University of Leeds and the University of Northampton before she ‘retired’ as a dancer and academic.

As the result of what her career consultant colleagues call ‘planned happenstance’, she ended up taking a role as a Researcher Development Manager at the University of Exeter in 2015. Since then, she has dedicated herself to educating and supporting researchers, and to developing structures and systems that support those struggling with their mental health in academia. In doing so, she is developing the next generation of emotionally intelligent, resilient, and self-aware academics.