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
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) 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.
2) What is research culture and how the heck do I make change happen?
Thursday 16 April 2026, 13:00–14:00
We will hear from Emily Ennis, Research Culture Manager (University of Leeds), on operationalising culture change as research professionals. With major investment from Wellcome Trust and Research England, and REF2029’s emphasis on research culture within Strategy, People, and Research Environment, the sector is asking: what actually is research culture, and how do we make change happen at community, institution, and sector level?
This presentation offers a snapshot of how the University of Leeds is effecting culture change, including industry best practice shaping their approach. Dr Emily Ennis will explore the operational and strategic foundations of research culture work, and insights from collaborations across finance, HR, researcher development, research offices, funders, consortia, and more. While senior leaders may set the tone, real change relies on those delivering it on the ground. This talk will reflect on what these roles mean professionally and personally, and how we can collectively make HEIs and research organisations better places to do research.
