Developing Practice - University of Liverpool

The Academy at the University of Liverpool

Almost everyone has a story to tell when it comes to personal and professional development. Listen to colleagues share stories of their own development in our Developing Practice podcast series; and gain an insight into their journey through the sharing of experiences, achievements and expertise.

  1. May 28

    Exploring academic identity with Dr. Catherine Queen

    In this episode, Catherine shares reflections on her journey into academia and her recent research on supporting academic identity development for early career colleagues on a Teaching & Scholarship track. Guest: Dr Catherine Queen Catherine is a Senior Lecturer in Planning and a dual Chartered Town Planner and Landscape Architect with 35 years’ professional experience. Her research activity investigates gendered aspects of planning and design with a focus on intersectionality including marginalised, stigmatised and peripheralized communities. She has achieved global impact through her partnership with Arup and the UNDP on the multiple award-winning Cities Alive: Designing cities that work for women report and she has been recognised throughinstitutional and national awards for both her pedagogy and professional practice. Reading List: Baxter, J. (2023) The role of Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in developing practitioner/academic identities, AdvanceHE blog at https://www.advance- he.ac.uk/news-and-views/role-scholarship-teaching-and-learning-developing-practitioneracademic-identities (Accessed 13/08/25)Bourdieu, P. (1988) Homo Academicus, Cambridge, Polity PressMcCune, V. (2021) Academic identities in contemporary higher education: Sustaining identities that value teaching. Teaching in Higher Education 26, no. 1: 20–35.https://doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2019.1632826Reay, D. (2019) Bourdieu and Education, London, RoutledgeSmith, S. & Walker, D. (2024) Scholarship and academic capitals: the boundaried nature of education-focused career tracks, Teaching in Higher Education, 29:1,111-125, DOI: 10.1080/13562517.2021.1965570Thomson, P. (2017) Educational Leadership and Pierre Bourdieu, Abingdon, RoutledgeWoon, A. (2024) How to Break the Promotion GlassCeiling for Teaching and Scholarship Academics, online HEPI blog at https://www.hepi.ac.uk/2024/07/22/how-to-break-the-promotion-glass-ceiling-for-teaching-and-scholarship-academics/The Academy’s Developing Practice Podcast is produced by The Academy, University of Liverpool. The role of the Academy is to promote and enable organisational excellence through the strategic development of the University’s people and practices. To find out more about the work of The Academy check out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/the-academy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music & FX: This podcast uses sounds from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://freesound.org/s/417560/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and music from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.purple-planet.com

    35 min

  2. May 27

    Secrets to Successful Working Relationships with Denise Chilton

    Guest: Denise has been supporting researchers and the academic community at the University of Liverpool for over 12 years so knows only too well the challenges faced within HEI. A career coach on the Prosper programme she has been providing group and individual coaching programmes for Post-docs and Early Career Academics since 2015 helping them to feel more confident, better manage their time, be more productive and develop their interpersonal skills. In 2017 she won the Northern Power Woman Mentor of the Year Award for her work supporting women in STEM.  Guest Host: Dr Selina Johnson, AHP Clinical Researcher and physiotherapist at the University of Liverpool. Selina specialises in endometriosis-associated pain and chronic pelvic pain. My research focuses on improving NHS pain care through mixed-methods studies, including evaluation of pain management programmes and co-produced approaches to support people living with pelvic pain. I am currently preparing a postdoctoral fellowship todevelop psychologically informed physiotherapy for endometriosis in secondary care, alongside qualitative research exploring physiotherapy practice and pain flare-ups. I work closely with clinical services, interdisciplinary researchers, and people with lived experience to deliver impactful, applied research. The Academy’s Developing Practice Podcast is produced by The Academy, University of Liverpool. The role of the Academy is to promote and enable organisational excellence through the strategic development of the University’s people and practices. To find out more about the work of The Academy check out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/the-academy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music & FX: This podcast uses sounds from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://freesound.org/s/417560/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and music from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.purple-planet.com

    39 min

  3. May 6

    Communicating with industry and kick starting knowledge exchange with Dr Jaque Durrant

    Guest: Dr Jaque Durrant, Knowledge Exchange & Commercialisation Trainer at Skillfluence. With a PhD in Music Education, he understands both the academic demands placed on those working in Higher Education and the need to communicate ideas and concepts effectively with diverse audiences. Jaque delivers knowledge exchange and commercialisation training to academic partners across the UK.  Guest Host: Dr Ritabrata Dobe, Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellow at the Department of Earth, Ocean and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool.   Ritabrata is a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellow looking at how natural hydrogen could be exploited as a source of sustainable fuel, providing a cost-effective way to accelerate the UK towards net zero emissions. Prior to arriving at Liverpool, Rita was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Bologna, Italy and gained his PhD at the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, India. The Academy’s Developing Practice Podcast is produced by The Academy, University of Liverpool. The role of the Academy is to promote and enable organisational excellence through the strategic development of the University’s people and practices. To find out more about the work of The Academy check out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/the-academy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music & FX: This podcast uses sounds from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://freesound.org/s/417560/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and music from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.purple-planet.com

    33 min

  4. May 1

    Making science labs more inclusive with Dr Gina Washbourn

    One of the most enjoyable parts of doing a science degree is getting stuck in doing practical work and seeing science in action in the lab. Yet these can also be the most stressful environments for learning and very challenging for many students. Today, I’m speaking with Gina Washbourn, a senior lecturer in Chemistry here at Liverpool, who is particularly interested in this issue and has done a lot of work on understanding what students find challenging in lab environments and how we can make these spaces more inclusive for all our students. So welcome, Gina, to our podcast.Guest Dr Gina Washbourn is a Senior Lecturer in Chemistry at the University of Liverpool. With a background in Medicinal Chemistry, her work now focuses on chemical education, particularly student skill development, assessment for learning, and the effective integration of digital tools to enhance learning. She has a strong interest in laboratory education, working to create inclusive and supportive lab environments that reduce student anxiety and build confidence in practical skills. Her teaching also incorporates principles of sustainability and responsible scientific practice within the chemistry lab curriculum. Gina is committed to student partnership in curriculum design and pedagogic research and is actively involved in outreach and science communication to promote engagement with chemistry beyond the university. The Academy’s Developing Practice Podcast is produced by The Academy, University of Liverpool. The role of the Academy is to promote and enable organisational excellence through the strategic development of the University’s people and practices. To find out more about the work of The Academy check out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/the-academy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music & FX: This podcast uses sounds from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://freesound.org/s/417560/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and music from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.purple-planet.com

    44 min

  5. Feb 9

    Staff Apprenticeships at Liverpool: The unique pathway that’s shaping the future of professional growth

    The Academy’s Developing Practice Podcast is produced by The Academy, University of Liverpool. The role of the Academy is to promote and enable organisational excellence through the strategic development of the University’s people and practices. To find out more about the work of The Academy check out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/the-academy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music & FX: This podcast uses sounds from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://freesound.org/s/417560/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and music from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.purple-planet.com The Academy’s apprenticeship page - https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/intranet/the-academy/apprenticeships/

    53 min

  6. Jan 5

    Filling the gap: Leveraging neurodivergence to promote equal learning environment for autistic students

    In this podcast I speak with Vanessa Marensi and her former student Amber who recently completed a collaboration exploring strategies for supporting Autistic students at university.   Their collaboration came about when Vanessa mentored Amber while delivering some teaching at Chester. Amber successfully presented her undergraduate research at local meetings and has since graduated with a Distinction in Pharmacology and has now begun a Master’s degree also at the University of Chester. Vanessa is now a lecturer in Pharmacology at Bangor University and an Honorary lecturer at the University of Liverpool. They worked together to identify strategies to improve the student experience and development of skills required in the workforce, bringing together educational and scientific research and Amber’s lived experience as a student with Autism.   A note on recording this podcast: In the first part of this podcast, you will hear me as the host referring to written comments Amber has submitted rather than hearing Amber’s voice directly. We wanted to make the podcast recording process as inclusive as possible considering Amber’s autism and social anxiety. Both Amber and Vanessa were sent questions in advance of our recording, and Amber sent very good responses in preparation. On the day, Amber had the option to write comments in the chat or join in live depending on how she felt. I was very happy to see Amber choose to speak up once she felt comfortable halfway through recording. It is so important to have her thoughts and ideas included in this episode, whether written or spoken. I hope you enjoy listening to what Amber and Vanessa has shared and that it prompts you to reflect on how you can make your own teaching practice more inclusive. The Academy’s Developing Practice Podcast is produced by The Academy, University of Liverpool. The role of the Academy is to promote and enable organisational excellence through the strategic development of the University’s people and practices. To find out more about the work of The Academy check out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/the-academy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music & FX: This podcast uses sounds from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://freesound.org/s/417560/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and music from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.purple-planet.com⁠

    23 min

  7. 11/28/2025

    Re-imagining Doctoral Supervision: Empowerment Practices Through Power Negotiation

    Dr. Qian Sarah Wang is the Academy of Future Education's (AoFE) Research Director (Member of the Senior Management Team), Ph.D. supervisor, and former Program Director of the MA in Global Education at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU). As a teacher-researcher, her research focuses on technology-enhanced teaching innovation, leadership education, and teacher professional development in the international context. Her research projects emphasize emotion and metacognition in teaching and learning (e.g., self-directed learning, reflective practice, emotion regulation), action learning (including work-based and work-integrated learning), and organizational learning (with interest in informal and incidental learning).  Cheng Cui is a second-year PhD candidate at the Academy of Future Education (AoFE), Xi’an Jiaotong–Liverpool University (XJTLU). She previously completed an MA in Global Education at AoFE. Her research focuses on doctoral students’ learning experiences and the key factors that shape the doctoral journey and professional development. Before joining AoFE, she gained several years of experience in the education sector, including roles as an international school teacher and an online English instructor.  The Academy’s Developing Practice Podcast is produced by The Academy, University of Liverpool. The role of the Academy is to promote and enable organisational excellence through the strategic development of the University’s people and practices. To find out more about the work of The Academy check out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/the-academy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music & FX: This podcast uses sounds from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://freesound.org/s/417560/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and music from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.purple-planet.com

    34 min

  8. 11/19/2025

    Research culture and researcher development with Kay Guccione

    Since starting her career as a Researcher Development Professional in 2010, Kay has developed specialisms and research interests in mentoring, research supervisor development and research community building – anything that revolves around a good quality conversation, and the making of a positive research culture. Kay has published work on Coaching and Mentoring for Academic Development, The Hidden Curriculum in Doctoral Education, the Value of the PhD, and the Part-Time Doctorate.  Reading List https://drhiddencurriculum.wordpress.com/blog-2/  https://supervisingphds.wordpress.com/   Guccione, K. (2025) A whole culture approach to doctoral education. In: Creaton, J., and Gower, O. (eds.) Prioritising the Mental Health and Wellbeing of Doctoral Researchers: Promoting Healthy Research Cultures Routledge: Abingdon-on-Thames  Elliot, D. L. , Bengtsen, S.S.E. and Guccione, K. (Eds.) (2023) Developing Researcher Independence through the Hidden Curriculum. Palgrave Macmillan: London.  Guccione, K., and Stefanatos, R. (2023) A beginner’s guide to supervising a PhD researcher. The Biochemist. 45 (5): 11–15.  Guccione, K. and Bryan, B. (2023) Worth doing but not worth having? The influence of personal aspirations and career expectations on the value of a doctorate. Studies in Graduate and Postdoctoral Education, 14(1)   The Academy’s Developing Practice Podcast is produced by The Academy, University of Liverpool. The role of the Academy is to promote and enable organisational excellence through the strategic development of the University’s people and practices. To find out more about the work of The Academy check out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/the-academy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music & FX: This podcast uses sounds from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://freesound.org/s/417560/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and music from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.purple-planet.com

    31 min
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Almost everyone has a story to tell when it comes to personal and professional development. Listen to colleagues share stories of their own development in our Developing Practice podcast series; and gain an insight into their journey through the sharing of experiences, achievements and expertise.

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