NERC Training Advisory Group (TAG)
The TAG will be the key source of advice to the NERC Executive on the strategic direction and success of NERC training investments, including NERC's role and strategy in meeting skills shortages and other training priorities, on driving up the quality, delivery of training, and on recommendations on the award of training funds. The NERC Executive will retain responsibility for how such advice is used.
The Training Advisory Group is comprised of the following members:
- Professor Jane Francis (Chair), University of Leeds
- Mr Jonathan Bates, NERC Ex officio
- Professor Terry Burke, University of Sheffield
- Dr Nigel Cassidy, Keele University
- Professor Phillip Donoghue, University of Bristol
- Professor Andrew George, Imperial College London
- Dr Hans Jensen, UKWIR Ltd
- Professor Rachel Mills, University of Southampton
- Dr William Morgan, University of Manchester
- Dr Phillip Newton, NERC Ex officio
- Ms Ellen Pearce, CRAC and Vitae
- Professor Simon Redfern, University of Cambridge
- Mr Simon Rhodes, HR Consultant
- Professor Katherine Whaler, University of Edinburgh
The Terms of Reference for the TAG and a specification for membership can be found in the following documents:
TAG Further Particulars (87KB)
TAG Person Specifications (23KB)
TAG member's biographies
Professor Jane Francis (Chair), University of Leeds
Dean, Faculty of Environment and Professor of Palaeoclimatology.
Jane's primary expertise is in past climate change, specifically the climate evolution of the polar regions in the geological past. Her research uses fossil plants as tools for climate interpretation and information about past floral biodiversity.
Jane has extensive experience with NERC strategies and NERC advisory boards (eg she was a previous member of SISB, NERC's Science and Innovation Strategy Board, as well as being a member of numerous other NERC boards). She also has extensive experience chairing university committees in her role as Dean, and external committees and councils involved with funding and management of professional bodies. Jane has extensive experience with students and postgraduate training and is responsible for research excellence in training at the University of Leeds.
Other interests/affiliations that may conflict with NERC business
None
Mr Jonathan Bates, NERC ex officio
Interim Director, People and Skills.
As NERC's Interim Director of People and Skills, Jonathan is responsible for the delivery of the People element of the NERC Strategy. He has responsibility for corporate HR strategy and also responsibility for the strategic aspects of NERC's significant investment in postgraduate training. His role is very much focussed on the people and skills needed by our community and what part NERC should play in developing these.
As a member of the NERC Executive Board, Jonathan has a particular responsibility for providing advice and guidance to the Chief Executive and fellow Directors on the way NERC manages people. Interacting with the community is a key part of Jonathan's role. Jonathan spends as much time as he can in the community and welcomes the opportunity to visit the organizations NERC supports. This interaction enables Jonathan to understand the issues facing those carrying out and managing research.
Jonathan joined NERC in 1975 and has had a variety of roles in NERC, including a period with the British Geological Survey.
Other interests/affiliations that may conflict with NERC business
None
Professor Terry Burke, University of Sheffield
Director of Research and Innovation in the Faculty of Science and Professor of Molecular Ecology.
Terry's research mainly focuses on three themes: ecological and evolutionary genetics; life histories and sexual selection; and molecular and quantitative genetics, especially in birds.
Terry is a current member of SISB (NERC's Science and Innovation Strategy Board) and he is the Director of the NERC Biomolecular Analysis Facility (NBAF). NBAF provides its users - a high proportion of whom are UK PhD students in ecology and evolution - with conception-to-publication support in molecular ecological laboratory techniques and data analysis (including new-generation sequencing, metabolomics and bioinformatics). Terry has extensive experience in all aspects of postgraduate training from both a research organisation and a research council perspective.
Other interests/affiliations that may conflict with NERC business
Director of NERC Biomolecular Analysis Facility
Member of NERC SISB
Dr Nigel Cassidy, Keele University
Director of Postgraduate Research & Research Training coordinator. Reader in Applied and Environmental Geophysics.
Nigel was originally an industrial electrical engineer, but he has since moved on to the field of environmental geophysics. His research involves the application of engineering and geophysical methods for the characterisation, investigation and remediation of environmental, geological, hydrological, archaeological, forensic and geotechnical problems. He spends most of his research time on the development of practical, non-invasive site investigation and numerical modelling tools for industry and academia.
Nigel is the Director of Postgraduate Research & Research Training coordinator (Environmental, Physical Sciences and Applied Mathematics (EPSAM) Research Institute, Natural Sciences Faculty, Keele University). He is an experienced Royal Society Industrial Fellow as well as being an expert in Near Surface Geophysics and Ground Penetrating Radar and other technologies. He also has extensive experience of Knowledge Exchange.
Other interests/affiliations that may conflict with NERC business
None
Professor Phillip Donoghue, University of Bristol
Director of the Graduate School, Earth Sciences and Professor of Palaeobiology.
Phillip's research interests lie in palaeobiology, more specifically the relationship between development and evolution, utilising palaeontological, developmental and molecular evidence.
Phillip has extensive experience of postgraduate training, from a student to a Directorate level, (now overseeing finance, recruitment, progress monitoring, support, training and completion). He also has extensive experience of boards and committees and in developing skills training (eg Masters level training and generic skills training for postgraduates).
Other interests/affiliations that may conflict with NERC business
None
Professor Andrew George, Imperial College London
Director of the Graduate School, Director of the School of Professional Development, and Professor of Molecular Immunology.
Andrew's research has sought to understand and manipulate the immune system in order to treat disease, in particular to prevent the rejection of transplanted organs. He has also used mathematical models to understand how the immune system functions.
Andrew is Director of the award-winning Graduate School at Imperial College, as well as being Director of the School of Professional Development. Until 2003 he was course organiser of the MSc in Immunology, and in 2000 and 2004 was given an Imperial College Award for Excellence in Teaching. He has also been Head of Science BSc courses for the Faculty of Medicine. Andrew is experienced with RCUK and other Research Council studentship schemes and has completed a BBSRC Research Leave Fellowship. He has significant experience in international studentship programmes and is a member of several prestigious boards and committees.
Other interests/affiliations that may conflict with NERC business
None
Dr Hans Jensen, UKWIR Ltd
Chief Executive Officer of UKWIR Ltd
Hans has been employed as an environmental specialist, environmental strategist, Head of Environment for RWE npower and as an environmental negotiator. He has been responsible for supporting PhD and Eng Doc programmes and providing technical and policy advice to large scale research programmes having been responsible for Research, Development and Innovation for RWE npower. He has also been responsible for managing research programmes, dissemination of findings and ensuring good value for investment. He has experience of developing skills and competences of recently qualified specialists through training and career development and of setting, managing and delivering research strategies for large organisations in the environmental sector.
Hans is an Executive Board member of several water boards and is a member of the management board of the Environmental sustainability knowledge transfer network (ESKTN).
Other interests/affiliations that may conflict with NERC business
None
Professor Rachel Mills, University of Southampton
Associate Dean in the Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences and Professor of Ocean Chemistry at the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton.
Rachel's research interests lie primarily in marine geochemistry although she also works in the broader biogeochemical context. Her research includes biogeochemical processes at the sediment-seawater interface, hydrothermal deposit formation and alteration, and the interactions between microbial and macrobiotic communities and sea floor mineral deposits.
Rachel has oversight of the Graduate Schools in the Faculty, including the Graduate School of the National Oceanography Centre which has significant numbers of NERC funded students. She has expertise in postgraduate training and skills development in the broad field of Natural and Environmental Science. She has wide-ranging experience of developing and implementing postgraduate strategy (including training) within a NERC collaborative centre (NOC) and across the University (Southampton) and beyond. She also has experience of working with other Research Council studentship schemes.
Other interests/affiliations that may conflict with NERC business
None
Dr William Morgan, University of Manchester
Postdoctoral researcher at the NERC National Centre for Atmospheric Science (NCAS), University of Manchester.
William's research interests lie in meteorology and atmospheric science. His research looks at the impact of aerosol chemical composition upon regional air quality and climate and the interplay between them. His research has focused mainly on airborne applications, in combination with ground-based field experiments and remote sensing techniques.
William has recent experience of NERC studentship training as a PhD student and as an early career postdoctoral researcher. He is familiar with NERC policies and strategies and is experienced with a NERC collaborative centre (NCAS). William is also a member of the NERC FAAM (Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements) aerosol working group.
Other interests/affiliations that may conflict with NERC business
Committee member of the North West Local Centre of the Royal Meteorological Society
Member of the Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurement (FAAM) aerosol working group
Dr Phillip Newton, NERC Ex-officio.
Director, Science Delivery.
Phil joined NERC in 1999 as the marine sciences manager, moving to Deputy Director of Science & Innovation, through to his current role as NERC's Director for Science Delivery.
Phil has a degree in chemistry (Bristol) and a PhD in environmental chemistry and oceanography (UEA). Formerly he was a NERC funded & Royal Society funded marine biogeochemist, and subsequently headed a marine research group within the French Atomic Energy Agency, focused on biogeochemical cycling in the sub-tropical Atlantic Ocean, Southern Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Prior to joining NERC, he spent five years in the private sector as an editor at Nature, with responsibility for the journal's environmental science content.
Other interests/affiliations that may conflict with NERC business
None
Ms Ellen Pearce, CRAC and Vitae
CEO, CRAC: the Career Development Organisation and Director, Vitae (which is managed and run by CRAC).
Ellen is responsible for the strategy, work and activities of Vitae. Vitae works with all UK higher education institutions to enhance the quality and output of the UK research base, through supporting the training and development of world-class researchers.
Ellen has extensive experience of postgraduate training and careers. She has also led many UK initiatives to transform the professional and career development of researchers. She has experience of experimental learning programmes, including training trainers and coaching and international training.
Other interests/affiliations that may conflict with NERC business
Director of Vitae which is funded by the UK Research Councils
Professor Simon Redfern, University of Cambridge
Professor of Mineral Physics.
Simon's expertise lies in experimental mineral physics. His research links atomic scale phenomena to physical properties in Earth materials. This includes learning from Nature to develop new materials, ranging from refractory oxides relevant to the problems of chemical and nuclear waste disposal, through biominerals in organisms, to structures of interest in materials chemistry more widely.
Simon has extensive experience of postgraduate training and serves on a wide range of boards and committees, many with NERC, but also within other Research Councils and international bodies. Simon has significant experience of advising research councils on budgets, prioritisation and the future directions of research.
Other interests/affiliations that may conflict with NERC business
None
Mr Simon Rhodes
Self-employed HR Consultant
Simon has a degree in Technology and an MPhil in Toxicology. He is a Chartered HR Professional (MCIPD) with over 30 years of experience in Specialty Pharmaceuticals, Biopharma, "Big Pharma", Animal Health and charity public/ private partnership. He has provided HR support for Commercial, Corporate and R&D functions in complex, growing, changing, matrix, transatlantic, European and "North:South" organisations and structures.
Other interests/affiliations that may conflict with NERC business
None
Professor Kathy Whaler, University of Edinburgh
Professor of Geophysics.
Kathy's expertise lies in geophysics, particularly geomagnetism (core and crust, including the magnetic field of other solar system bodies), electromagnetic induction and geophysical inverse theory. She is currently President of the International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy.
She has extensive experience of NERC advisory boards and strategies (eg she was previously a member NERC's Science and Innovation Strategy Board, as well as having sat on several other NERC boards, panels and committees). She has trained many postgraduate students, most with first degrees in physics or mathematics like herself. She has a good understanding of the current international research scene, for instance through membership of overseas research council programme review and international honours awards panels. She is interested in satellite missions and data, and is a member of an ESA Mission Review Group and chaired a recent review panel of Danish Space Science.
Other interests/affiliations that may conflict with NERC business
None