School of Social and Political Science

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Dr Kirsten Jenkins is among 13 of Scotland’s most promising academics chosen for the inaugural cohort of the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s new Research Leadership Scheme.

Kirsten – a Senior Lecturer in Energy, Environment and Society at the University of Edinburgh – will receive support under the scheme as part of the next generation of research leaders. The RSE will equip the group with the skills to lead major interdisciplinary research bids that address critical scientific and societal challenges.

As part of a two-year pilot, the scheme will provide two small cohorts with structured support to build confidence, skills, and leadership capacity through a mixture of mentoring, seed-corn funding, training, and peer learning.

Building Scotland’s Green Future

The first cohort, which represents a variety of disciplines - from geography to molecular crop science, and public art and design to sustainable development - will work collaboratively around the theme of Building Scotland’s Green Future.

Kirsten, who works at the School of Social and Political Science, in Science, Technology and Innovation Studies, is one of two University of Edinburgh academics supported by the scheme. The other is Dr Annis Richardson, Senior Lecturer in Molecular Crop Science.

Kirsten said: “I am delighted to be joining this inaugural cohort alongside inspiring colleagues from across Scotland. I applied to the scheme to further enhance my research leadership skills as I work towards research that develops fit-for-purpose policy monitoring and evaluation processes, responds into practitioner needs, and forwards Scotland’s green future in a priority area: the Just Transition. My participation in the cohort will bolster my ability to achieve that and have meaningful impact”.

Supporting future research leaders

RSE Vice President, Research, Professor Anne Anderson OBE FRSE said:

“The strength of Scotland’s research sector depends on nurturing talented people, and empowering them to lead with confidence, creativity, and ambition. This new scheme is an important investment in that future. By bringing together researchers from diverse disciplines and supporting them to collaborate on some of the most pressing challenges of our time, the RSE hopes to help build the leadership capacity our country needs. I am delighted to see such an exceptional first cohort embark on this journey, and I look forward to following the positive impact they will undoubtedly make.”

The Research Leadership Scheme is funded by the RSE Foundation and Caledonian Research Fund.

Learn more about Kirsten and her research on her web profile.

Learn more about the Research Leadership Scheme and the first cohort on the RSE website.