Emma Bowen

I joined Leeds University in 2022 as the Research and Innovation Manager for LAHRI where my role is to support development of funded research activities across the arts and humanities community at Leeds.   

Prior to this, I moved from life as a post-doctoral researcher in environmental sciences to a career in Research Development and have spent eight years at Newcastle and Durham Universities, supporting research in the disciplines of Science, Engineering, Social Science and Humanities.  I have worked with researchers at all career stages on a range of endeavours including fellowships, standard grants and larger doctoral-training and research centre programmes.  I am particularly drawn to working with those who are approaching research funding for the first time and enjoy being involved in early-stage research conversations with a longer-term view. 

Based within LAHRI, I am linked into the university Research and Innovation Service and work closely with Leeds Cultural Institute and the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures.  As part of LAHRI’s broader mission to support and advance Arts, Humanities and Culture research at Leeds, I hope to connect with all those researching in the arts and humanities wherever they might be found and welcome the opportunity to engage with those beyond the university. 

 Responsibilities 

• Supporting early development of funded research through the various activities that LAHRI offers 
• Providing tailored support for large, strategic and interdisciplinary funding proposals 
• Acting as the primary AHRC liaison contact for Leeds Research and Innovation Service and coordinating the AHRC Strategy Group 
• Representing LAHRI and contributing to cross-university networks relating to arts and humanities research 

Qualifications and Experience 

I have a background in STEM with a BSc in Biology from Cardiff University and a PhD in Environmental Engineering from Imperial College London.    

Before moving into Research Development, I spent nine years as a post-doctoral researcher on various research projects linked to remediation of pollution in the environment. I spent much of my time digging up polluted sediments, wading in dirty rivers, clambering over landfill and filling buckets with sewage sludge.