We’re proud to introduce you to two new Research Impact and Engagement Managers for the UK Data Service: Sophie Gawryla (left) and Eve Little (right).
What were you involved in before you started your new role?
Sophie
Before joining Jisc, I worked in further and higher education as both a lecturer and assessor, supporting science apprentices and teaching a broad range of subjects including mathematics, engineering and digital literacy. A large part of my role involved explaining complex topics in new and creative ways – something I hope to bring to my current role.
Prior to that I studied Meteorology, which led me to living and working in Texas researching tropical storms.
Eve
My most recent professions were two part-time roles at the University of Leeds. One involved using learning analytics to identify and support ‘at-risk’ students as well as evaluating the impact of this to inform future development.
The other role was as a Research Assistant on a participatory study for Leeds City Council’s Public Mental Health Team. This project explored volunteer wellbeing using creative methodologies like filmmaking, board games, and art workshops.
I am excited to bring this blend of analytical and creative experience to my new role with the UK Data Service.
What attracted you to the role?
Throughout my academic and professional journey, I have always sought roles that drive social change and make a real difference to communities.
Participatory research has been key for me in championing these changes, providing a platform to amplify voices and promote positive impact. I am particularly interested in how research impact can unfold and how people, data, researchers, and policy interact to shape outcomes.
What attracted me to this role is the opportunity to work across all these levels to understand, and enhance, how research and data can make a difference in society.
It sounds like a cliché, but the reason I have always loved meteorology is the amazing – and sometimes humbling – impact the weather can have on our lives. That appreciation for how data connects to the real world has stayed with me throughout my career.
What drew me to this position was the opportunity to work at the intersection of data, research and impact, and how I could play a part in communicating how these elements come together to drive societal change.
How has it gone so far?
The collaboration and communication within the team has been incredibly encouraging.
A lot of impactful work was already underway (check out the recent Data Impact blog posts on mental health and understanding hunger), and it has been great to join a team so clearly driven by some ambitious goals.
Whilst it is still early days – and there is a steep learning curve – I am thoroughly enjoying the role and cannot wait to get stuck in!
It has been great so far!
I have felt incredibly welcomed by the team and have already started to get involved with some exciting projects.
I especially enjoyed attending the UK Census user conference, where we connected with colleagues, learned from experts, and explored how data can support research impact.
Sophie and I are also working on putting together a ‘Top 10 list of interesting blogs’ that have caught our interest, so stay tuned to hear more…
Overall, it has been a great start, and I cannot wait to see what comes next.t wait to see what comes next.
What are you excited about getting involved with?
Much of my previous work focused on finding creative ways to engage diverse audiences.
Through collaborations with policymakers, academic partners, and community members (including many for whom English was a second language), I have learnt how important it is to adapt communication approaches to different needs.
I am excited to bring this creativity and experience to the role and using them to find innovative ways to engage stakeholders and ensure that research impact is accessible and meaningful to all.
Having primarily worked with numbers – whether that be studying the weather or teaching mathematics – I am now excited to explore the stories those numbers can tell and, just as importantly, those they cannot!
I have always been inspired by the research carried out using UK Data Service data, so I am particularly looking forward to collaborating with Eve on inventive and engaging ways to demonstrate how this research is shaping policy, practice and public opinion on a national scale – and we already have a few ideas up our sleeves!.
Why do you think impact is an important area to focus on?
Impact can push us to think beyond data, publications and citations, challenging us to translate findings into meaningful change.
By focusing on impact, we can ensure that research helps shape policy, practice, and society in ways that make a tangible difference.
It is about ensuring that the time, resources, and passion that go into research have a purpose that extends beyond the academic world.
Impact is important because it ensures research and innovation do not remain within academic or professional circles – it needs to reach the people and systems they were ultimately designed and funded to benefit.
In data-heavy environments it is easy for this bigger picture to get lost, so I think focusing on impact helps researchers to step back, ask why their work matters, and communicate that value clearly.
It is also a valuable tool to ensure resources are being used effectively and in ways that genuinely make a difference.
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