Meet the Team

Dr Chris Croly

Public Engagement with Research Manager

Chris joined the team in May 2015. Having spent 14 years working as a historian Chris has researched and published on many different aspects of Aberdeen and Scotland’s history. During this time Chris came to realise that there is both a huge public appetite in finding out about research as well as a really important role that engaging research with the public plays in helping to shape, influence and direct research.

Both research and engagement are intimately linked; each benefits greatly from the other. Chris brings to this role a love of research and engagement, of putting projects together, and of bringing research and researchers together with different and new audiences in innovative ways. 

Rachel Elliott

Public Engagement and Explorathon Officer

Rachel works jointly between CPD services team and PERU and has project managed EXPLORATHON - European Researchers' Night since 2020. As well as the delivery of Explorathon, Rachel supports staff across the University to develop their public engagement ideas and deliver their engagement.

She previously worked at OPITO, the skills body for the energy sector, and the Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce, where she managed the Scottish Government funded Developing the Young Workforce programme for the North East.

Rachel has also worked for a North East MSP.

Charlotte Lever

Engagement and Events Coordinator

Charlotte joined the PERU team in September 2024. She was previously working for a local social enterprise in online child protection; delivering a project in schools in Aberdeen.

Previously Charlotte spent a few years working within the Knowledge Transfer team within UHI – University of the Highlands and Islands- as an Events Officer. Prior to that she spent many years working in a variety of Events and Comms roles within British Council. She is looking forward to bringing all these different experiences to the role of Events and Engagement Coordinator.