Skip course menu sidebar
Press Enter to open widgets. Press ESC to close.

Six new research projects led by early-career researchers at University of the West of Scotland (UWS) are now underway with funding released as part of the University's annual Crucible leadership and development programme.

Designed for early-career researchers, the Crucible programme encourages researchers to put their roles into a wider societal context, share perspective and build relationships which may lead to interdisciplinary collaborations and think creatively and understand the skills and attitudes that can make their work more innovative.

Last year, the three Crucible labs took place online due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with 30 early career researchers from across the University taking part.

After the final lab, Professor Milan Radosavljevic, Vice-Principal of Research, Innovation and Engagement, announced that funding was being made available to fund new research projects.

The projects had to be interdisciplinary, innovative and sustainable. Participants were invited to form multi-disciplinary collaboration groups to pitch their research to the University’s four Deans and Professor Radosavljevic in November.

The successful projects are:

Project Title: Vulnerable groups, complex needs and temporary hotel housing during COVID-19: staff voices on impact, training and policy implications

Dr Karen Cooper (Protracted Crisis Research Centre), Dr Shadi Whitburn (Protracted Crisis Research Centre), Dr Caroline Miller (HLS, Adult Nursing and Healthcare) and Martin Murray (HLS, Adult Nursing and Healthcare)

Project Title: Can handedness and Vitamin D levels predict the development of dementia?

Dr Bianca Hatin (ESS, Psychology and Social Work), Dr Andisheh Bakhshi (CEPS, Physical Sciences), Dr Nicola Douglas-Smith (ESS, Psychology and Social Work), Dr Hannah Lithgow (HLS, Exercise Psychology) and Dr Rhoda Macrae (HLS, Mental Health Nursing and Integrated Practice)

Project Title: Empowering Syrian Refugee Women in Protracted, Fragile Crisis Situations through Enterprise Education in Jordan

Dr Dina Sidhva (ESS, Psychology and Social Work), Dr Robert Crammond (BCI, Management Organisations and People) and Dr Kalia Kaparounaki (ESS, Psychology and Social Work)

Project Title: An investigation into the experiences of domestic abuse helpline staff during COVID-19 lockdown

Dr Zara Brodie (ESS, Psychology & Social Work), Dr Roxanne Hawkins (ESS, Psychology & Social  and Dr Chloe MacLean (ESS, Sociology)

Project Title: A High-Impact Community-based Lifelong Learning Experience in Sustainable Management for Historic Built Assets

Dr Amanda Simpson (ESS, Psychology), Dr Junseo Bae (CEPS, Engineering) and Dr Michael Bowry (CEPS, Physical Sciences)

Project Title: Creating of advanced materials-based point-of-care devices for Health and Environmental Rapid Test (HERT)

Dr Carlos Garcia Nunez (CEPS, Physical Sciences), Dr David Thompson (HLS, Biological Sciences and Health) and Dr Cristina Rodriguez (CEPS, Engineering)

All six projects will run between December/January to June/July of this year.