Dr Eve Cosgrave
Head of Faculty Research
My passion for Newcastle University stems in part from completing my PhD here. My PhD focused on Parkinson's Disease and how mitochondrial dysfunction may play a role in neurodegeneration.
Alongside my lab work, I was actively involved in public engagement events and science communication. I loved my time as a PGR student and upon graduation, continued my research through a number of postdoctoral positions.
I was supported and encouraged to gain experience within and beyond the lab which helped me view research through lots of different lenses. I spent some time working with a Newcastle spin out company, ETherapeutics, which gave me invaluable insight into research in a commercial setting. I was also exposed to the role of research in shaping policy whilst undertaking a policy fellowship with the Academy of Medical Sciences. All of these experiences made me realise how many career routes a research environment has to offer.
What has benefitted me most throughout my career is being proactive and open to new opportunities.
I made the move from research to professional services when I accepted the role of Impact Officer in the Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering. The role made use of my transferrable research skills such as project management and the ability to adapt my communication style to suit a wide range of stakeholders. My first-hand experience of the challenges researchers face, particularly in the early stages of their careers, really helped me tailor the support I was able to provide teams as they worked to create impact from their research.
My current role is Head of Research for the Faculty of Medical Sciences. As part of the Professional Services Senior Management Team, my priority is to steer the Faculty through the significant challenges and opportunities Newcastle and the sector currently face. Within this role, I work alongside the wider University Research & Innovation Teams, as well as numerous professional services and academic colleagues.
One of the most rewarding aspects of the role is its diversity, both in the range of projects and activities I’m involved in, and in the breadth of staff I have the privilege to work with. Above all, I value the opportunity to collaborate with exceptionally talented individuals and to support activity that makes a tangible difference. The flip side of such variety is that the workload can be unpredictable and there is always more that could be done.
What has benefited me most throughout my career is being proactive and open to new opportunities. I have been fortunate to work in an institution that has supported my ambitions and recognised the value in the skills I have developed as a researcher. I feel I am in a role that can genuinely make a positive impact.