GW4 Crucible offers future research leaders a six-month leadership development programme and the opportunity to come together with their peers to consider new interdisciplinary and collaborative approaches to research and its impact.
Dr Alex Vickery, Research Associate at the School for Policy Studies is among the successful applicants from Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter universities who will explore the 2022 theme ‘Building Back Better: Interdisciplinary Approaches To Mental Health And Wellbeing Research’.
Alex obtained her BSC in sociology and MSc in Social Research Methods at Cardiff University’s School of Social Sciences. She then returned to Cardiff to complete a PhD after working as a mental health support worker for a year. Alex’s PhD explored men’s mental health help-seeking and everyday coping and management of distress.
She is now working as a postdoctoral researcher in the Centre for Research in Health and Social Care at the School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol. Her current research is a National Institute for Health Research School for Social Care (NIHR SSCR) early-career fellowship awarded study that is exploring older men’s mental health and wellbeing and their use of community support groups. Alex is keen to support wellbeing in both men and older adults and highlight the mental health experiences of different groups of individuals.
Alex said:
“I’m delighted to be selected for the 2022 GW4 crucible programme. I’m excited to explore interdisciplinary approaches to mental health and wellbeing and work with other early-career researchers from a broad range of interests and expertise.”
One in four people in the UK are affected by mental ill health each year, with growing concern this could worsen due to issues such as Covid-19, climate anxiety and racial inequalities.
By working with researchers in other disciplines, the aim is for GW4 Crucible participants to generate innovative, multifaceted responses to mental illness and mental wellbeing, enabling individuals and communities to ‘build back better’.
This year’s selected researchers have a broad range of interests and expertise, including psychology, epidemiology, mathematics, ancient history and drama.
They will take part in a hybrid programme which will include two in-person residential labs and four online masterclasses. Participants will benefit from career development skills training, networking opportunities, and enhanced visibility with senior academic staff and sector leaders across GW4 and beyond. At the end of the programme, they will then have an opportunity to compete for seed funding.
To date, GW4 Crucible has supported over 150 early careers researchers, many of whom have gone on to successfully apply for initiatives such as the New Generation Thinkers scheme and the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships scheme.
GW4 Director, Dr Joanna Jenkinson MBE, said:
“The GW4 Crucible programme is instrumental in helping to enhance the careers of our future research leaders, empowering them to collaborate with researchers in other disciplines and institutions to address global challenges while furthering their networks and leadership potential.
I am highly impressed by the breadth of expertise in this year’s cohort and look forward to seeing their innovative ideas.”