The Grants Academy provides support at all stages of the research cycle.
Working in partnership with researchers and Schools we offer expertise to help develop ideas and craft competitive grant applications that enable our researchers to deliver high quality, impactful research.
Liz has in depth experience of supporting research from the very early stages through to commercial benefit and impact realisation. Liz manages teams of specialist advisors in R&I covering grant preparation, commercialisation, impact and graduate studies.
Contact Me if you have any general questions concerning the Grants Academy or R&I supportive structures.
Dr Juliette Snow
Research Development Manager & Interim Research Development Executive: School of Biological Sciences
Juliette manages the R&I Research Development team; working across Schools the team provide support to colleagues at all career stages in planning and securing external grant funding and oversee delivery of the Grants Academy. Following her PhD Juliette worked at Unilever Research before joining Research and Innovation as a Technology Transfer Officer then moving to a Research Development role at Foresterhill supporting the School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition for over 15 years.
Contact Me for assistance with any general enquiries including how to access Research Development and Grants Academy support.
June Middleton
Research Development Executive: School of Geosciences, School of Engineering and School of Natural & Computing Sciences
June has worked in higher education for over two decades, firstly in an R&D role and then administrative posts in Faculties/Colleges before joining Research and Innovation in 2004. She currently supports the School of Geosciences, School of Engineering and the School of Natural & Computing Sciences in their quest to increase external income through research grants and consultancy.
Contact Me if you need support with your funding strategy and bid development and for support in contract negotiations etc.
Dr Anpu Varghese
Research Development Executive: EU & International
Anpu has a life sciences research background and manages the process of European bid/network development, grant writing & submission, grant agreement preparation and post-award project management of grants, with specific expertise in the Framework Programmes, currently Horizon Europe.
Contact Me for guidance and support on identifying and applying for funds, as well as project management of successful EU grants.
Wendy Rudland
Research Development Executive: EU & International
Wendy joined Research and Innovation in 2017 following over ten years working in Higher Education across industry engagement, cross institutional projects and student facing roles. After providing research development support across the arts, humanities and social sciences Schools Wendy now supports bid development, application submission and post-award project management for EU funding and the development of international research partnerships.
Contact me for guidance and support on identifying funding opportunities, bid development, project management of EU grants and developing international partnerships.
Emma Morrison
Interdisciplinary Research Development Executive
Emma has multi-disciplinary experience of working within higher education institutions and the third sector, including significant experience of fostering national and international partnership links, project management, and attracting and managing grant funding.
Emma currently supports the Schools of Divinity, History, Philosophy & Art History; Language, Literature, Music & Visual Culture. Emma is also providing support for SMMSN.
Contact me if you need support with identifying funding opportunities, bid development, the Fellowship application process, and research-related contracts.
Dr Anne McGavigan
Research Development Executive: School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition
Anne joined Research & Innovation in 2022 and provides Research Development support to the School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition - predominantly The Institute of Medical Sciences and The Rowett Institute. Following her PhD and postdoc positions, Anne worked at the Medical Research Council as a Programme Manager for various MRC Research Boards and on cross-Research Council strategic calls with EPSRC and BBSRC.
Contact Me for support and advice on funding opportunities, bid development and for support with research contracts.
Dr Hattie Gaw
Research Development Executive: School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition
Hattie joined Research & Innovation in 2024 and provides Research Development support to the School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition – predominantly the Institute of Medical Sciences, Institute of Dentistry and the Institute of Education in Healthcare and Medical Sciences. Following her PhD, Hattie worked in clinical trial co-ordination at the Tayside Clinical Trials Unit at the University of Dundee.
Contact Me for support and advice on funding opportunities, bid development and for support with research contracts.
Dr Sabine Freitag
Research Development Executive: School of DHPA, LLMVC, Human Geography and Archaeology
Sabine has a background in Environmental Sciences and during her PhD and post-doctoral positions in the UK she gained extensive experience in managing and working on several EU, commercially as well as Scottish Government funded projects.
Contact me for guidance and support with identifying funding opportunities, bid development, fellowship application process and support with research contracts.
Elspeth Spice
Research Development Executive: Schools of Law, Business,Education, Psychology and Social Science.
Elspeth joined Research & Innovation in 2023 having previously worked within Research Finance. With a background in Law and Business Management and having worked within Compliance for many years Elspeth has held positions as Data Protection Officer and Finance Manager for a number of businesses in the northeast of Scotland.
Contact mefor support and advice on funding opportunities, bid development and for support with research contracts.
Nele Beutels
Grants Academy Funding Officer and Administrator
Nele has supported researchers with their funding applications at the University of Leuven in Belgium for many years. She has a background in Early Modern History. After moving to Scotland, she worked at the University of Aberdeen’s Medical School, supporting the MBChB programme. She joined the Grants Academy in 2025.
Contact me for any Grants Academy queries including ResearchBites, Research Connect.
Dr Ann Lewendon
Commercialisation Manager
With a background in university research in enzymology and as a founder of a spin out company, Ann now manages the Knowledge Exchange and Enterprise team in Research & Innovation, which includes specialists to advise academics and students on a range of knowledge exchange activities, in particular working with industry, consultancy and the commercial exploitation of IP through licensing deals, joint ventures, company spin-outs and start-ups
Contact Me if you are interested in generating impact from your research through knowledge exchange or commercialisation.
Dr Chris Croly
Public Engagement with Research Manager
Chris worked as a historian for 16 years before moving into the University's Public Engagement with Research Unit. He works across all academic disciplines and has a passion for the University, its research and bringing this to the wider public.
Contact me for support and advice in developing public engagement plans and generating impact through public engagement.
Dr Barbara Gorgoni
Industry Partnership Development Officer
Barbara joined the Public Engagement with Research Unit, following a career in biomedical research. Her role is to develop and coordinate public engagement activities across the biomedical sciences and to train and support researchers who wish to develop their public engagement portfolio. Barbara's role, created as part of the Wellcome Trust Institutional Support Strategic Fund (ISSF), aims to promote a long-term culture change by strengthening and developing public engagement as a strategic aim within the University.
Contact me for support and advice in developing public engagement plans and generating impact through public engagement.
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