Dr Heather Sears

I am Assistant Professor in Research Capability and Development, located in the Doctoral College & Centre for Research Capability and Development at Coventry University. I lead ‘Team ReCap’ who develop and deliver the institutional programme of development activities for researchers from ‘PhD to Professor’.  

My first degree is in Biological Sciences (which included a year at the University of Lund, Sweden) from the University of East Anglia. I stayed at UEA to complete a PhD in microbiology, followed by two post-docs (UEA and University of Oxford) continuing to work on periplasmic nitrate reductases and authoring ten peer-reviewed papers. After a short period helping small businesses write European funding proposals, I helped establish the Higher Education Academy Subject Centre for Bioscience supporting good practice in all aspects of the bioscience student learning experience (and discovered I like working with people more than bacteria). 

Becoming a researcher developer (before the term had been invented!) ignited a passion for supporting researchers to be their best in whatever they do. After 12 years at the University of Leeds I moved to Coventry in 2016.   

LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/heatherjsears |Twitter @HJSears |ORCID