A number of BSMS staff won awards at the University of Sussex’s Research Impact and Research Culture awards, which took place on Wednesday 12 July at Bramber House.
The Sussex Research Culture Awards are an exciting new initiative to recognise, reward and celebrate contributions to strengthening and growing the positive research culture at Sussex. The Sussex Research with Impact Awards are presented annually to colleagues who have made an outstanding difference to the world beyond the academy through the impact of their research.
The BSMS award winners were:
- Bobbie Farsides, Professor of Clinical and Biomedical Ethics: Academic Impact Champion for going above and beyond during the pandemic.
- Dr Rich Gorman, Research Fellow: Emerging Impact (Early Career Researcher) for engaging with patient groups about new genomic medicine technologies through creative methods.
- Dr Seb Shaw, Lecturer in Medical Education (Research Methods): Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Research
- Arran Pack, PhD student: Adam Weiler Doctoral Impact award, in the Clinical Sciences category.
- Dr Simon Mitchell, Senior Lecturer in Systems Biology of Cancer Research: Research Impact Award in the category of Emerging Impact
- Heike Rabe, Professor of Perinatal Medicine: Impact on public policy for Reducing risks of preterm deaths and improving their development outcome with delayed cord clamping.
Commenting on his award, Dr Seb Shaw said: “I was thrilled to be awarded the inaugural University of Sussex Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Research Culture Award for my impacts on research culture across the university and more broadly within the fields of medicine and medical education. It is so validating to receive this recognition for my efforts to empower neurodivergent people to undertake meaningful research in these areas.”
Dr Seb Shaw pictured at the awards on 12 July 2023
Prof Heike Rabe said: “For me, this award means my work of three decades has received an important acknowledgement from the University of Sussex and encourages me to continue.”
Prof Bobbie Farsides said: “I was delighted to be given this award, and the most valuable thing to me was that I was nominated by two wonderful colleagues in the Department of Sociology – Dr Ulla McKnight and Dr Eleanor Kashouris. We came to work together in difficult circumstances that none of us would have chosen, but it was my privilege and pleasure to work with them and watch as they advanced their project and achieved their personal goals. At this point in my career my priority is supporting the next generation, and I’m grateful to the University of Sussex for recognising that this is important work.”
Dr Rich Gorman said: "Receiving an award for our work using creative methods to engage patient groups about new genomic medicine technologies is really gratifying. It highlights the importance and value of embedding co-production in research.”
Dr Simon Mitchell added: “I’m very grateful for this award and feel very lucky to work alongside an amazing team of haematology researchers. BSMS is a fantastic place to do impactful research.”
Prof Malcolm Reed, Dean at BSMS, said: “It was fantastic to see so many BSMS colleagues recognised for their research and impact at the awards ceremony. BSMS has developed a strong reputation for making an impact in all areas the school focuses on, and all of the winners thoroughly deserve their awards for their fantastic contributions.”
In addition to the individual awards, the Centres of Excellence were also announced, which included the Centre of Global Health Research, part of the Global Health and Infection department at BSMS. The Centres of Excellence are the University of Sussex’s flagship pillars of research strength.
Find out more about the awards here >