Building Research Careers in Health and Social Care
13:00 - 16:00 | 30 April 2026 | Future Skills Room, Main Building, Kingston University, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 2EE
Join our next SWL Research Network Café and learn how to raise your visibility and build your collaborative networks across health sectors.
Join this informal network café for an opportunity to come together with colleagues who have expertise in building research careers in health and social care, share learning and explore how to raise your visibility and build your own collaborative networks.
Hear directly from our expert speaker how nurses, Allied Health Professionals and social workers can step into research roles and explore how research careers can be made more inclusive and accessible.
Connect with peers and system partners to support your own research journey.
About this session
This network café is hosted by Kingston University.
The session is organised by Professor Priscilla Harries, professor of occupational therapy and head of the graduate research school and researcher development. Professor Harries has prepared a welcoming and practical space for health and care professionals, VCSE colleagues and community members to learn, share experiences, and collaborate.
What to expect:
- Informal café style networking session – to connect with colleagues and system partners to share ideas
- Practical insights – Learn about clinical and practitioner academic career pathways, developing an area of interest/specialism/research, how to be more visible and influential and how research careers can be made more inclusive and accessible
- Space to explore – Collaboration with communities, leadership opportunities and mentoring
This session is open to anyone interested in research career pathways, whether you are already involved, considering stepping into a research role, or simply want to understand more about the process.
Meet the organisers:
Professor Priscilla (Cilla) Harries is Head of the Graduate Research School at Kingston University London and a Professor of Occupational Therapy. With more than three decades of experience in applied health research, she leads university‑wide researcher development, supervises doctoral candidates, and chairs key committees on research ethics and staff development. She also serves as NIHR Academic Career Development Lead for ARC South London, where she supports capacity building across the health and care research system. Her work focuses on strengthening research leadership, fostering inclusive research cultures, and supporting researchers at all stages of their careers.
Session Themes
Please note there will be flexibility in the agenda to allow for discussion, questions, and emerging areas of interest.
- Why does Research matter?
- Clinical and Practitioner Academic career pathways
- Develop an area of interest/specialism/research
- Be visible/influential/impactful
- Seek out collaborative communities and grasp leadership opportunities
- Give and receive coaching and mentorship
- How do we make research careers more inclusive and accessible
About South West London Research Support Network
The South West London (SWL) Research Support Network, established by the NHS South West London Integrated Care System, is a collaborative initiative to empower local communities and voluntary organisations to conduct their own research.
Through a series of relaxed network meetings, members can engage in mutual learning opportunities with a diverse group of researchers and community members. This informal setting encourages open dialogue and the sharing of ideas, making it easier to change insights into various research methodologies and best practices.
In addition to exchanging knowledge with experienced community members and researchers, members will also have the chance to network with peers, which can lead to the formation of collaborative relationships and partnerships, that leverage the strengths and expertise of all involved.
Find out more on the South West London Research Support Network page.
