A Professional Research Investment and Strategy Manager (PRISM) is someone in a research organisation who works to enable the delivery and growth of large research investments.
The PRISM network is a grassroots organisation that brings the widely dispersed PRISM community across the UK together, and engages with funders and employers to drive a cultural shift towards better progression, recruitment and recognition for PRISMs.
The PRISM network works to address three interlinked key challenges around PRISM roles:
The PRISM network is a grassroots organisation that brings the widely dispersed PRISM community across the UK together, and engages with funders and employers to drive a cultural shift towards better progression, recruitment and recognition for PRISMs.
The PRISM network works to address three interlinked key challenges around PRISM roles:
- Career progression & professional development
- Recruitment & job security
- Recognition & belonging
It's free, including events
The PRISM Network connects you to a vibrant community of peers, offers training and development opportunities, and advocates for better recognition, progression, and job security in PRISM roles. By joining, you gain support, resources, and a collective voice to help shape the future of research investment management.
Notice board
Research Professional Futures funding announcement
The PRISM Network warmly welcomes the newly funded Research Professional Futures (RPF) project, a £4.5 million national initiative supported by Research England’s RED Fund. The programme launches in January 2026. Read more here
Upcoming events
All events are members-only events. Membership and events are free - join here. Signup links are in the newsletter. 1) PRISM Network Strategy 2025-2030
Thursday 29 January 2026, 14:00-15:00Hear an overview of the network’s new strategy to support research strategy and investment professionals, including a summary of the latest PRISM survey results that highlight key themes, needs, and opportunities identified by members across the sector. We will set out the goals that members have helped us to shape, and the ways in which we will go about achieving them over the next five years. Attendees will have the opportunity to contribute ideas to strengthen the final strategy and to explore the ways in which they can contribute to improving PRISM careers and progression as part of the network.
2) Translating EDI Strategy into action with the EDI Hub+
Thursday 12 February 2026, 13:00-15:00 (rescheduled from 5 November 2025)Join Jen Jennings and Lisa Hill of the EPSRC-funded EDI Hub+ to talk all things PRISM and EDI! The hub was funded in 2024 to drive systemic change in the Engineering, Physical and Mathematical Sciences (EPMS) research and innovation system so that it is equitable and inclusive for everyone – irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disability, or socio-economic status. Jen and Lisa will introduce the resources and activities of the Hub+, and explore how PRISMs in the UK could use the Hub’s resources to drive EDI in the projects and programmes they manage. We'll also explore how PRISMs can benefit from the resources of the Hub+ to promote and support our own career progression, professional development, recognition and belonging.
3) UKRI’s approach to sustainable research – SPARKHub
Thursday 26 February 2026, 13:00-14:00Join this session to hear from Martin Farley, UKRI’s associate director of environmental sustainability. In late 2025 UKRI announced a new environmental sustainability strategy. Part of this strategy outlines how they aim to support the sector with guidance on how to achieve more sustainable research practices through their co-funded website, SPARK Hub (short for the sustainable practice and research knowledge hub). Having been recently soft launched, this session aims to introduce the resource and get feedback on the approach from the PRISM Network.
Last edited: 27 January 2026