In her role as Deputy Director, Kirsty will work with the Director of RIS and in collaboration with the PVC (Research & Enterprise), to advise and contribute to the further development of the University’s research strategy and its implementation.

Kirsty brings a wealth of experience to the University having spent 20 years working in strategy and funding roles in the research and innovation sector.

Most recently this was within UKRI, where she was the Head of Strategy: Careers and Culture, and the inaugural Director of UKRI’s flagship Future Leaders Fellowships (FLF) scheme.

Prior to this Kirsty worked in a number of different roles at the research councils, including as a Senior Policy Manager at the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), and as the Associate Director: Research and HR Directorates at the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). She has also worked as a Senior Research Policy Advisor at the University of Oxford.

As well as a wealth of experience in the research policy and funding environment, Kirsty is widely regarded as a mentor and sponsor. She has a passion for delivering positive research culture and was instrumental in securing a 10% increase to doctoral student stipends, and in the harmonisation of doctoral funding policy and practice at UKRI.

Professor Sarah Hainsworth, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise at the University of Bath says:

I very much look forward to Kirsty joining the RIS team. She brings a wealth of experience from her previous roles that will benefit Bath in its strategy of delivering high impact research.

Kirsty Grainger, Deputy Director of Research and Innovation Services (RIS) at the University of Bath says:

I am excited to be joining the University of Bath and very much looking forward to getting to know and working with RIS colleagues, and the wider community of colleagues across the University and beyond.

We look forward to welcoming Kirsty to the University and the RIS Senior Management team.