RSE awards over £724K to boost Scotland’s vibrant research sector

We are pleased to announce that 72 exceptional research projects were selected at the spring 2025 Research Awards open call.

Over £724K will enable innovative research across a range of academic disciplines, with projects including charting the spread of marine invasive non-natives in Scotland, developing a multidisciplinary approach to evidence-led conservation of stained glass, rethinking criminal responsibility in the age of neurodiversity, and investigating minimally invasive robotic total hip replacements.

In this latest round, lead investigators represent 16 of the 19 Scottish universities; however, the reach of these awards extends beyond Scotland, with collaborators representing 38 institutions in total, including international institutions in the USA, Australia, Italy, Rwanda, Germany, Portugal, and Brazil.

The RSE’s Research Awards Programme runs twice a year in spring and autumn. It aims to support Scotland’s research sector by nurturing promising talent, stimulating research in Scotland, and promoting international collaboration.

RSE Vice President, Research, Professor Anne Anderson OBE FRSE, commented,

The RSE is deeply grateful for the continued support of the Scottish Funding Council, as well as the valued contributions from the RSE Scotland Foundation and the Caledonian Research Fund.

Recipients of Spring 2025 RSE Research Awards:

Small Grants

• Dr Timothy Armstrong, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig
  Aig an sgoil le amari: Identity and inclusion in Scottish Gaelic education
• Dr Bruno Brulon Soares, University of St Andrews
  Indigenous presence: Repairing museum documentation through collections care between Brazil and the UK
• Dr Davina Derous, University of Aberdeen, with collaborators Dr Andrew Brownlow, University of Glasgow and Dr Jo Moore, Moredun Research Institute
  Liver dysfunction in harbour porpoises: A step towards measuring resilience of a key species in our changing ocean
• Dr Samantha Donnellan, Edinburgh Napier University, with collaborator Dr Agnes Turnbull, Edinburgh Napier University
  New treatments to kill problematic bacterial biofilms
• Professor Susan Dunnett, University of Edinburgh, with collaborator Professor Kathy Hamilton, University of Strathclyde
  The role of the medical marketplace in creating and sustaining hope in people living with cancer
• Dr Jonathan Evans, University of Glasgow, with collaborator Dr Ting Guo, University of Liverpool
  International counterculture in the 1970s: Glasgow and Hong Kong
• Dr Sergio Garcia Quiles, University of Edinburgh
  A fast solution algorithm for a periodical multimodal routing problem
• Dr Maria Gardani, University of Edinburgh, with collaborator Dr Satu Baylan, University of Edinburgh
  Sleep after stroke: Developing a tailored intervention through expert involvement
• Dr Rebecca Giesler, University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI)
  Charting the spread of marine invasive non-natives in Scotland
• Professor Kristen Harkness, University of St Andrews
  Finding Ethel
• Dr Asha Hornsby, University of St Andrews
  Medicine on the move: Victorian ship doctors’ literary-critical perspectives on climate and health
• Dr Chunxiao Hu, University of Glasgow
  Miniaturised urine collection system integrated with a drainage bag for ICU patients
• Professor Craig Martin, University of Edinburgh
  Ivan Illich and the post-apocalyptic: Askesis in times of collapse
• Mr Iain Morrison, Robert Gordon University
  Enhancing climate literacy in Scottish secondary schools through newspaper-style educational posters
• Dr Ashley Morton, Edinburgh Napier University
  Mobilising sustainability-focused behaviours through emotional UX design (EmoShift)
• Dr Leping Mou, University of Glasgow
  Internationalisation or indigenisation: Liberal arts education curriculum in East Asia
• Dr Claire Moulton-Brown, University of Edinburgh, with collaborators Professor Thorunn Helgason, University of Edinburgh and Professor Sarah Reece, University of Edinburgh
  Source or sink: Unearthing microbial carbon cycling in afforested woodland
• Dr Steve Mullay, University of the West of Scotland, with collaborators Mr Kevin Lang, University of the West of Scotland and Ms Claire Brew, University of the West of Scotland
  ‘Keeping it Real’; Exploring a context-centred learning approach for preparing new nurses to address complexity in care
• Dr Elizabeth Orr, University of Edinburgh
  GLACIAL-GRIT: Quantifying the impacts of variable debris supply to mountain glaciers under a changing climate
• Dr Sintip Pattanakuhar, University of Strathclyde
  Integration of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation with technology-enriched rehabilitation
• Dr Anna Robb, University of Dundee
  The history of Scottish art education
• Dr Sarah Sholl, Edinburgh Napier University, with collaborator Dr Stacey Bushfield, Edinburgh Napier University
  Flexing of mentorship roles within experiential learning during university-business partnerships
• Professor Sanjay Singh, University of Dundee, with collaborator Dr Sophie Lythreatis, University of Bristol, UK
  Examining the relationship between leadership style and organisational success using cutting-edge biometric technology
• Dr Sarah Stanton, University of Edinburgh
  The effects of mindfulness and loving-kindness meditation on adult attachment orientations
• Dr Amer Syed, University of Edinburgh
  To B or not to B: The dilemma of reusable battery packs
• Dr Davide Vampa, University of Edinburgh, with collaborator Dr Alan Convery, University of Edinburgh
  Populist radical right politics in devolved contexts: The rise of Reform UK in Scotland in comparative perspective
• Dr Willem Vanderlinden, University of Edinburgh
  The conformational landscape of twisted human chromatin
• Dr Jasmin Wertz, University of Edinburgh, with collaborators Dr Bonnie Auyeung, University of Edinburgh and Dr Jessica Agnew-Blais, Queen Mary University London
  Identifying risk and protective factors associated with parental exhaustion in parents who are autistic or have ADHD
• Dr Jonathan Wild, University of Edinburgh
  The influence of Scotland on Charles Dickens’ life and work
• Dr Yudi Xiao, University of Strathclyde, with collaborators Professor Weijia Yuan, University of Strathclyde and Professor Min Zhang, University of Strathclyde
  CubeTherm: Harnessing heat for space power
• Dr Yanchao Yu, Edinburgh Napier University, with collaborator Dr Carl Strathearn, Edinburgh Napier University
  Building a cross-cultural dataset of emotional cues from physical interactions
• Dr Alessia Zinnari, University of Glasgow
  Leonora Carrington’s Mexican legacy between art and activism

Research Collaboration Grants

• Dr Cara Broadley, Glasgow School of Art, with collaborators Dr Iain Macdonald, Maynooth University and Dr Brian Dixon, University of Ulster
  Beyond the Lab: ExploriNg Design and public sector innovation in small countries (BLEND)
• Dr Catriona Cannon, University of Glasgow, with collaborator Professor Nicole Busby, University of Glasgow
  Closing the gap: The public sector equality duty between law and implementation
• Dr Paolo Gerli, Edinburgh Napier University, with collaborators Dr Morshed Mannan, University of Edinburgh and Dr Paul Oliver, Edinburgh Napier University
  Co-imagining data intermediation in Scottish creative industries
• Professor Adrian Hadland, University of Stirling, with collaborators Dr Tara Pixley, Temple University, USA and Dr Martin Smith-Rodden, Ball State University, USA
  Conflict journalism: New conditions, new threats
• Professor Nicki Hitchcott, University of St Andrews, with collaborator Dr Alice Karekezi, University of Rwanda
  Stolen children, lost mothers, absent fathers: the métis and their families under the Belgian Empire
• Dr Perla Innocenti, University of Strathclyde, with collaborators Dr Fiona Muirhead, University of Strathclyde and Mrs Susan Taylor, The Mitchell Library (Glasgow Life)
  STRIDE: Supporting communities, TRusted information, Inclusive spaces, heritage Discovery, and wEllbeing in Scottish libraries
• Dr Katherine Keenan, University of St Andrews, with collaborators Dr Kasim Allel Henriquez, University of Oxford and Professor Ana Gales, Federal University of São Paulo
  RAIZ Network: Advancing bottom-up research and data on antimicrobial resistance and antibiotic use in Latin America
• Dr Craig Kennedy, Heriot-Watt University, with collaborator Professor Michael Penman, University of Stirling
  Developing a multidisciplinary approach to evidence-led conservation of stained glass
• Dr Alice König, University of St Andrews
  New visions of ancient peace
• Dr Dawn Leslie, University of Aberdeen, with collaborators Dr Fransiska Louwagie, University of Aberdeen and Dr Colin Christie, University of Aberdeen
  Beyond English: Investigating multilingualism in North-East Scottish schools
• Professor Jemina Napier, Heriot-Watt University
  CEDARS: Collaborative Exploration of Domestic Abuse Research in Signing deaf communities
• Professor Stephen Reicher, University of St Andrews, with collaborator Dr Sara Vestergren, University of Limerick
  Creating a crowd studies network
• Dr Mette Sommer, Heriot-Watt University, with collaborators Dr Kate Rowley, University College London and Dr Dai O’Brien, York St John University
  Shaping deaf studies pedagogy across generations
• Professor Filipe Teixeira-Dias, University of Edinburgh, with collaborator Professor João Alexandre Oliveira, University of Aveiro
  Lightweight Armour Design for Blast Protection using Topology Optimisation and AI (LABP-TOP)
• Dr Kathryn Weston, University of Strathclyde, with collaborators Professor David Lubans, University of Newcastle, Australia and Professor Nigel Harris, Auckland University of Technology
  Co-design of scalable and sustainable health and fitness-enhancing interventions for Scottish school pupils
• Professor Richard Whitecross, Edinburgh Napier University, with collaborator Dr Ilona Cairns, University of Aberdeen
  Domestic abuse in Scotland: Towards a holistic understanding
• Professor Crispin Wright, University of Stirling, with collaborator Dr Aidan McGlynn, University of Edinburgh
  Responsible trusting without prejudice

Personal Research Fellowships

• Dr Kirstin Anderson, Edinburgh Napier University
  Inside voices: Harms, histories and memories of Scottish prisons     
• Dr Louise Kennefick, University of Glasgow
  Guilt on a spectrum: Rethinking criminal responsibility in the age of neurodiversity
• Dr Chun Hean Lee, University of Glasgow
  Advancing phase change modelling with a unified conservation-law framework
• Dr Gema Martin-Ordas, University of Stirling
  Curious minds: Causal cognition in bumblebees
• Dr Kirsteen Paton, University of Glasgow
  Build from below: Archiving tenants’ pasts, shaping housing futures
• Dr Shailendra Rathore, Abertay University
  BIEIF-RPM: Blockchain-Integrated Edge Intelligence Framework for Secure RPM

International Joint Projects (Stream 1)

• Dr Christopher Berry, University of Glasgow, with collaborator Dr Riccardo Buscicchio, University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy
  Gravity under the lens: Preparing for the era of space-based gravitational-wave astronomy
• Dr Liang Zhao, University of Edinburgh, with collaborator Professor Shoudong Huang, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia
  Minimally invasive robotic total hip replacement

Scotland-Lower Saxony Research and Innovation Scheme

• Dr Christian Calvillo Munoz, University of Strathclyde, with collaborator Dr Dirk Zapf, Leibniz University Hannover
  Hydrogen and CO₂ trade between Scotland and Germany: Opportunities, challenges, and pathways for collaboration
• Dr Gian Marco Campagnolo, University of Edinburgh, with collaborator Dr Kristina Brümmer, University of Oldenburg
  Improving data literacy in and through sport
• Professor Maria Grazia De Angelis, University of Edinburgh, with collaborator Professor Michael Fischlschweiger, TU Clausthal
  Advancing materials for the energy transition with molecular precision synthesis and in silico design
• Professor Catherine Dwyer, SRUC, with collaborator Dr Lisa Jung, University of Veterinary Science Hannover
  Exploring the positive impacts of positive animal welfare following a one welfare approach
• Professor Daniel Friedrich, University of Edinburgh, with collaborator Professor Stefan Holler, HAWK University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Goettingen
  Towards effective heat zoning through waste heat integration and large-scale thermal energy storage
• Professor Ross Galloway, University of Edinburgh, with collaborator Professor Gunnar Friege, Leibniz University of Hannover
  Developing and evaluating more authentic physics laboratory experiences
• Professor Ian Ganley, University of Dundee, with collaborator Professor Franziska Richter Assencio, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover
  Establishing autophagy models of Parkinson’s Disease to advance new therapeutic approaches
• Professor Leonhard Lades, University of Stirling, with collaborator Professor Johannes Lohse, Leuphana University of Luneburg
  Acceptability of environmental policies – lessons from Scotland and Lower Saxony
• Professor Ki Hoon Lee, Edinburgh Napier University, with collaborator Professor Stefan Schaltegger, Leuphana University of Luneburg
  Digital sustainability for sustainable supply chains: Enhancing corporate sustainability strategy
• Dr Amina Moss, University of Stirling, with collaborator Professor Iordania Constantinou, Technische Universität Braunschweig
  Microfluidic encapsulation for carotenoid stability under climate stress
• Professor Richard Neilson, University of Aberdeen, with collaborator Professor Marcus Bentin, University of Applied Sciences Emden/Leer
  Challenges and potentials of recycling and decommissioning of offshore structures in the North Sea
• Professor Brian Peterson, University of Edinburgh, with collaborator Dr Federica Ferraro, Technische Universität Braunschweig
  Improving fire safety through predictive modelling and advanced experiments
• Dr Lars Schewe, University of Edinburgh, with collaborator Professor Andreas Tillmann, TU Clausthal
  Scalable optimisation algorithms for energy and traffic networks
• Dr Marcia Vera Espinoza, Queen Margaret University, with collaborator Professor Cordula von Denkowski, Hochschule Hannover
  CONNECT-WELL: Adapting methods to assess social connectedness and well-being among young refugees in Scotland and Lower Saxony
• Dr Michael Wamposzyc, Edinburgh Napier University, with collaborator Professor  Johannes Nehls, University of Applied Sciences Osnabrück
  Critical media literacy – education strategies for design