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The event, Protective or Precarious? The role of research centres in supporting ECRs in an uncertain higher education sector, funded by the Spotlight Small Grant Scheme: Society and Culture, was held on 21 May 2026 at the ÉñÂí¸£ÀûӰƬ Main Campus from 9:30 to 13:30.

Following the Heart of Research project and Response to the Research Centre Review at Warwick, this is another project focusing on university research centres as important structures that not only foster collaboration, support innovation and connect universities with wider society, but also cultivate inclusive research culture through working with Early Career Scholars, including doctoral students.

The event included four main sessions. Following welcome talks by Evan Zheng (DEAR Centre Doctoral group representative, ÉñÂí¸£ÀûӰƬ) and Fabienne Peter (Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor in Research Executive, ÉñÂí¸£ÀûӰƬ), Emily Henderson (Director of DEAR Centre) first presented research insights regarding ECR involvement in research centres from the Heart of Research project. This presentation revealed that research centres often involve ECRs in centre operations and membership. However, ECRs are primarily temporary workers, taking on roles such as support staff and project research assistants.

After this evidence-based sharing, the Research Centre Perspectives Panel, featuring three research centres at Warwick and chaired by Paul Warmington (Visiting Professor, DEAR, and Director of Research, Centre for Race, Education and Decoloniality, Leeds Beckett University), continued the discussion by sharing examples of ECR involvement in practice. Rebecca Plimmer (ECR) and Jackie Hodgson (Centre Co-Lead), representing the Centre for Operational Police Research, identified a series of approaches used to involve ECRs in centre activities and operations, including profiling research projects; advertising funding and publication opportunities; acting as a point of contact for local forces looking to collaborate or partner; and supporting PGRs and ECRs inquiring about PhD opportunities or visiting scholarships within COPR. Their annual ECR symposium was considered a highlight of the year, bringing together 25 attendees and showcasing the work of 12 ECRs at the 2026 symposium.

Richard Dhillon (ECR) and Rick Wallace (Centre Lead), representing the Centre for Television Histories, discussed the protective structure their centre provided for ECRs, including enhancing their visibility within the research community and helping them develop their academic identity. Richard Dhillon particularly mentioned the TV Club in the centre, which allows ECRs to engage socially with peers and senior academics in a low-stakes environment. They noted that protective and precarious conditions co-exist in centre practices, as there is no stable funding infrastructure for the centre.

The final represented centre was the Centre for the Study of Women and Gender (CSWG). Mara Silva Hope (ECR) and Khursheed Wadia (Centre Co-Lead) discussed ECR involvement in the centre through event organising committees, with the centre providing resources for ECRs to develop their ideas into research and events. Mara especially noted the friendly community within the research centre.

After a brief break, the Institutional Stakeholder Panel, chaired by David Amigoni (PVC Research & Innovation, Keele University), brought together perspectives from institutional leaders and research centre stakeholders. Kristen Clements (Co-Chair of the Loughborough University), David Leadley (PVC Research, ÉñÂí¸£ÀûӰƬ) and Richard Thomas (PVC Research & Enterprise, University of Leicester) discussed research centre management within their institutions. Viewing research centres as important university infrastructure, they acknowledged their significance in increasing institutional visibility, fostering internal and external collaboration and networks, and developing research culture. They also identified practical challenges in resourcing and managing research centres, including the lack of specialised research centre support roles and the complexity of research centres, which can range from a single academic to large laboratory groups. One particularly important point raised was the changing funding environment facing universities.

Following the two panels, participants actively contributed to the interactive workshop session, where they reflected on initiatives and activities they had encountered that involved ECRs in research centres. Participants discussed which ECR groups these initiatives targeted, such as doctoral researchers, postdoctoral researchers and research assistants, and considered what made these activities feel inclusive or otherwise.

The open access Actionable Guide developed from the workshop will be organised and produced by the DEAR Centre as a resource for research centres. The event concluded with a networking lunch. Over 30 participants from 10 institutions and organisations attended the event. It was a pleasure to welcome Deepanshu Mohan from IDEAS at OP Jindal Global University to the event.