Celebrating the vital contributions of our technical staff

Our #TechTeamBath campaign is part of Research Culture month and spotlights the indispensable roles technical staff play in advancing research and teaching.

Introduction

Across our faculties and departments, more than 160 technical professionals contribute their expertise to the University’s success. From research technicians and instrument specialists to purchasing coordinators and teaching technicians, their roles are as diverse as they are essential.

You can meet some of our outstanding technical staff through a series of short films below. Hear from Nathan and Susanna in the Department of Psychology, James in the Department of Health, and Laura and Josh in the Department of Chemistry, as they share insights into their work. You’ll also hear from leaders across the University on why technical teams are so highly valued.

Our #TechTeamBath campaign is part of our wider commitment to supporting the visibility, recognition and career development of our technical staff.

Find out more about this work and the technician commitment.

Meet Nathan and Susanna

Nathan Taylor is the Specialist Virtual Reality (VR) Technician in the Department of Psychology, where he manages labs, equipment, and supports experimental design. Choosing a technical path over lecturing, Nathan now stays closely connected to research by helping others bring their experimental ideas to life.

Susanna Martin is Psychology Technical Manager at the University. An academic background in psychology and neuroimaging led her to discover a love for supporting others’ research. Susanna thrives in dynamic, hands-on environments, often balancing technical problem-solving with student guidance.

Meet James

James Hickman, Exercise Physiology Laboratory Technician, works in the Department of Health, where he plays a key role in supporting undergraduate teaching and managing research laboratories. James' lifelong interest in sport led to him studying human life sciences and sport science at university. Before joining the University of Bath, James worked in applied practice as an exercise physiologist, nutritionist, and strength and conditioning coach. He now uses this experience to give students real-world insights into careers in health and sport sciences.

Meet Laura and Josh

Laura Michelson-Cooney is a teaching and research technician in the Department of Chemistry department where she plays a key role in supporting and delivering teaching, as well as contributing to research. She also trains students and researchers on specialist equipment and supports them to design experiments.

Josh Byers works in the Department of Chemistry as teaching and research technician, where he supports teaching by preparing equipment and materials for lab sessions, and advises students. Bringing together technical expertise with interpersonal skills, Josh enjoys seeing students grow in confidence in the lab and as they progress through their degree.

Watch our technician highlights video

Leaders across the University explain why technical teams are so highly valued and critical to the delivery of excellent research.