SPS academic recognised as a future research and innovation leader

Dr Jennifer Hiscock, Reader in Supramolecular Chemistry in the School of Physical Sciences, has been awarded a Future Leaders Fellowship as part of UK Research and Innovation’s flagship scheme – which invests in outstanding individuals across the UK.

This funding will support Dr Hiscock to develop her career while tackling two global health threats simultaneously. Her exciting and ground-breaking research focuses on the development of novel molecular weapons for deployment in the fight against antimicrobial resistant bacterial infections and cancer, and the grant will enable her to continue to address these challenges.

“It is my hope that I can use this fellowship opportunity to not only fulfill my research aims, but also to inspire the next generation of interdisciplinary scientists to accomplish their aspirations. I would like to thank UKRI for supporting this work and all of my mentors that have enabled me to get this far.”

Dr Jennifer Hiscock

The Scheme and the fellowships have long been used to support up-and-coming researchers in universities. Sir Mark Walport, Chief Executive of UK Research and Innovation, explains: “The Future Leaders Fellowships are UKRI’s flagship talent programme, designed to foster and nurture the research and innovation leaders of the future. We are delighted to support these outstanding researchers and innovators across universities, research organisations and businesses.”

Dr Hiscock is one of 90 UKRI Future Leaders Fellows in a milestone year for the scheme as it will now extend to fellows based directly in businesses. Helping to foster new research and innovation career paths will increase the movement of ideas and people between the business and academic sectors; breaking down barriers and developing new ways of working.

Kirsty Grainger, Director of the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships, said: “The Future Leaders Fellows represent some of the most brilliant people working in the country. We’re supporting researchers from every background – from the arts to medicine, and the social sciences to engineering – helping them become the research and innovation leaders of the future.”

UKRI’s initiative aims to support the creation of a new cohort of research and innovation leaders who will have links across different sectors and disciplines. Awardees will each receive between £400,000 and £1.5 million over an initial four years. The grant supports challenging and novel projects, and the development of the individual, and can pay for team members’ wages, equipment and other needs.

For more information about the scheme see the UKRI website.

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