Birmingham staff member recognised for work supporting early career and international researchers
Dr Hanan Fara received Vitae ICE Newcomer of the Year Award
At this year’s Vitae Impact, Culture and Engagement (ICE) award, Dr Hanan Fara from the University of Birmingham was the recipient of the Newcomer of the Year Award. The award recognises individuals early in their researcher development careers who have made a significant impact in a short period.
Dr Fara is the Researcher Training and Development Officer in the University of Birmingham’s College of Medicine and Health. She was recognised for her work in creating the Early Career Researcher (ECR) Hub, a new internal intranet site dedicated to supporting ECRs, as well as for launching the Meet International & Network Together (MINT) Network for international researchers to help enhance their sense of belonging.
Hanan is dedicated to championing individuals from underrepresented backgrounds, whether in terms of race, gender, or socio-economic status, and strives to foster a positive research culture.
Dr Tim Giles, Researcher Training and Development Manager in the University of Birmingham’s College of Medicine and Health, said: “I'm delighted that Hanan received this award from Vitae, it's thoroughly deserved as Hanan is a fantastic colleague and passionate about researcher development.
“She is dedicated to championing individuals from underrepresented backgrounds, whether in terms of race, gender, or socio-economic status, and strives to foster a positive research culture for all researchers within the College of Medicine and Health.”
At the awards ceremony in September, Dr Fara received her award, as well as £250 in prize money to help facilitate the continued development of her work. Dr Fara and her team plan to use the prize money to expand their MINT Network across the University to improve the experience of international researchers.
This recognition motivates me to continue creating spaces where researchers can thrive and grow.
Dr Hanan Fara said: “Receiving this award is truly an honour. It's a testament to the collective efforts of my team in building a more inclusive research culture and supporting researchers on their development journey. I’m incredibly grateful to my manager, Dr Tim Giles, for believing in me and nominating me for this award, and to my mentor, Dr Holly Prescott, whose unwavering support has guided me through my PhD and into my current role.
“This recognition motivates me to continue creating spaces where researchers can thrive and grow. It also wouldn’t have been possible without the amazing collaboration of my colleagues across the University of Birmingham.”