Faculty colleagues celebrated at ‘truly special’ Partnership Awards
The Partnership Awards recognise staff successes across teaching, research and innovation, equality and inclusion, and wellbeing.
The Faculty of Biological Sciences (FBS) held its annual Partnership Awards ceremony on Thursday 30 April, honouring the exceptional people who make FBS such a remarkable place to work and study.
The awards, part of the University-wide Leeds Partnership Awards, aim to celebrate the outstanding contribution of students and staff.
From inspirational teaching to world-leading research, and from championing inclusion to nurturing wellbeing, this year’s faculty nominees and winners reflect the full breadth of what makes the FBS community thrive.
A total of 54 winners took home awards across 23 categories at the evening celebration event.
Professor Aysha Divan, Interim Dean, Faculty of Biological Sciences, said:
This has been a truly special Partnership Awards. It is one that has reminded me just how extraordinary the people of FBS are.
“Across every category, we have seen examples of dedication, innovation and compassion. Whether pushing the boundaries of research, transforming the student experience, or making this faculty a more inclusive and supportive place for everyone, our nominees and winners embody everything we stand for. I feel privileged to be part of such an inspiring community.”
Recognising the best of the faculty
The FBS Partnership Awards have grown to recognise the full range of people who contribute to university life. The faculty’s dedicated research and outreach categories, introduced to celebrate FBS’s world-leading scientific work and its impact beyond the university, once again attracted a very high standard of nominations.
Professor Andrew Macdonald, Pro-Dean for Research and Innovation, Faculty of Biological Sciences, said:
Year on year, these awards never fail to inspire, but this year felt particularly special. The quality and range of nominations we received was really high, and it speaks to the strength and depth of our faculty and research community.
“We have people here doing genuinely world-class work: tackling global health and sustainability challenges, driving innovation, and passing that knowledge and passion on to the next generation of scientists. Our research and innovation categories exist to make sure that work gets the recognition it deserves, and I couldn’t be prouder of everyone nominated.”
The winners
The FBS winners are as follows:
Student of the Year
This award goes to someone who has made a significant and lasting impact on the learning culture, or personal or cohort learning or development within their subject, department, school, or faculty, significantly enhancing the overall experience for those undertaking study at the University of Leeds.
- Matthew Brookes, School of Biomedical Sciences
- Beck Verona, School of Biology
- Mali Pawlukiewicz, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology
Postgraduate Researcher of the Year
This award goes to someone who has made a significant and lasting impact on the learning culture, or personal or cohort learning or development within their subject, department, school, or faculty, significantly enhancing the overall experience for those undertaking study at the University of Leeds.
- Foteini Bifsa, School of Biomedical Sciences
- Alex King, School of Biology
- Nicholas Smith, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology
Apprentice of the Year
This award goes to someone who has made a significant and lasting impact on the learning culture, or personal or cohort learning or development within their subject, department, school, or faculty, significantly enhancing the overall experience for those undertaking study at the University of Leeds.
- Joe Millar, Technician
- Lisa Bilella, Professional Services
Academic Rep of the Year
This award goes to those who have consistently engaged with their peers and various University staff and structures in their faculty to drive positive change and effectively represented the views of those they represent, leading to an improved learning experience at the University of Leeds.
- Third Year Pharmacology Student Reps (Alex Turner, Laura Ghilardi), School of Biomedical Sciences
- Sunny Bedi, School of Biology
- Mariya Dantata, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology
- Isaac Stollery, Taught Postgraduate
Student Leader of the Year
This award goes to those who have made a consistent and significant contribution to enhancing and developing their group or initiative that improves the experience for those undertaking study.
- Nafisa Anjuman Disha
- The FBS Faculty Officers (Latifakhon Ismoilova, Emily Gill Boniaszczuk)
LITE Student Scholar Award
This award goes to those who have made a meaningful impact on education and the student experience at Leeds through pedagogical research. This award is for individuals whose work demonstrates positive change and strong collaboration with staff, fellow students, and other partners in line with Leeds Partnership Values.
- Latifakhon Ismoilova
- Decolonisation and Inclusion in Group Work Student Partners (Alex Holmes, Charlotte Haigh, Libby Johnstone, Daisy Murphy, Laiba Mehmood, Phoebe Tetteyfio, Mariia Tyshchenko)
Academic Personal Tutor or Supervisor of the Year
This award goes to individuals who have significantly impacted their tutees, contributing to their success and improving their experience at the University of Leeds.
- Alex Holmes, School of Biomedical Sciences
- Barry Causier, School of Biology
- David Brockwell, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology
Teacher of the Year
This award recognises those who have consistently shown innovative teaching methods that enhance education, boost engagement, or significantly improve the learning and experience of those they teach at the University of Leeds.
- Grace Roberts, School of Biomedical Sciences
- Beth Dyson, School of Biology
- David Starns, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology
Technical Staff Member or Team of the Year
This award recognises those who have delivered or designed innovative ways to enhance teaching, learning, and engagement using their subject area skills, knowledge, and expertise, including lab management, research contributions, or project support for those undertaking study.
- Sally Boxall, School of Biomedical Sciences
- Jennifer Hibbard, School of Biology
- Robert Seth, School of Biomedical Sciences
- FBS Teaching Technicians (Chris Jones, Janet Tingle, Heather Kesby, Brendan McDermott, Jillian Daniel, Joseph Doyle, Megan Clarke, Christodoulos Bogdanos, Gary Webster, Isobel Drake, Eliah Chitiyo, Eden Legese, Chandni Patel, Neha Johnson)
Student Education and Experience Award
This award recognises those who have contributed significantly to supporting individuals undertaking study at the University of Leeds and made a meaningful impact on their experience or journey.
- Ruth Norman, School of Biomedical Sciences
- Chris West, School of Biology
- Victoria Easton, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology
- FBS Student Operations Team (Jane Thorn, Rebecca Pearson, Max Ragan, Daniel Smithson, Nicola Staff, Jojie Armitage, Lucy Sanderson, Adam Cochrane, Gill Davenport)
Professional Services Staff Member or Team of the Year
This award recognises those who have shown consistent commitment to improving working culture, team performance, or supporting and improving the experience of those undertaking study at the University of Leeds.
- FBS Timetabling (Jameel Pickles, Matthew Przysiecki, Sofya Loren)
- Katie Baxter, Student Education
- Nicola Turner, Research
Student‑Staff Partnership of the Year
This award recognises partnerships that have worked collaboratively to deliver or enhance the education or experience of those undertaking study at the University of Leeds or Leeds University Union.
- FBS Skills Support and Comms Interns (Abi Kajendran, Tilly Lightfoot, Chaithra Rajesh Balakrishnan, Nabah Hashemi)
Equality, Diversity and Inclusive Practice Award
This award recognises those who have contributed to work that has made a significant impact in advancing or supporting equality, diversity, and inclusive practice at the University of Leeds or Leeds University Union.
- Jojie Armitage, Student Operations Team
Mentorship Award
This award recognises those who have provided mentorship and made a significant impact on another person’s learning, professional development, or experience at the University of Leeds or Leeds University Union.
- Elaine Martin, School of Biomedical Sciences
- Liz Duncan, School of Biology
- Richard Bayliss, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology
Wellbeing Award
This award recognises those who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to providing wellbeing support or significantly improving or delivering wellbeing practice at the University of Leeds or Leeds University Union.
- FBS Student Support Team (Rachel Hezelgrave, Faye Priestley, Lisa Bilella, John Barker, Natasha Wood, Natalie Aspinall)
- Clare Tweedy, School of Biomedical Sciences
Research Group of the Year
This award recognises a research group that has excelled in a significant manner, such as through outstanding publications, impact, innovation, or contributions to securing major research funding.
- Muench Lab Group (Stephen Muench, Lina Yan, Kasia Hammond, Ruth Skrzypek, Tasnim Zulkifli, Sean McMillan)
Outreach Activity Award
This award recognises projects, teams, or individuals who have made outstanding contributions through engagement with local organisations, community groups, residents, or charities on behalf of the Faculty or University.
- Rebecca Motley, School of Biomedical Sciences
- Stefan Kepinski and Tim Benton, School of Biology
Early Career Researcher of the Year
This award recognises an outstanding early career researcher who has excelled significantly, for example through publications, the development of new techniques, or contributions to securing major research funding.
- Suruchi Roychoudhry, School of Biology
- Jessica Swanson, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology
Impact Award
This award recognises outstanding achievement, innovation, and creativity in developing and delivering ambitious impact plans with the potential for significant economic, social, or cultural impact from research.
- Individual Award: Sheena Radford, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology
- Impact Award for Sustainability: Amelia Lesiuk, Technical Manager
Culture Award
This award recognises individuals or teams who have made a positive impact on research or teaching culture within the Faculty, including support schemes, initiatives, campaigns, or wellbeing activities.
- FBS ECR Career Development Group (Anisha O'Hagan, Emily Churchill, Miriam Hurley, Emma Wroblewski, Esther Lewis, Jessica Swanson, Upasana Sykora)
International Collaboration Award
This award recognises individuals or teams working with a global focus who have demonstrated excellence in developing international collaborations, research proposals, outputs, or impact.
- Josie South Lab (Josie South, Gabrielle Baillargeon, Emma Baker, James Hodson, Danai Kontou, Ffion Anthony, Charlotte Clay, Georgie Musson, Tamuka Chapata)
- Amanda Bretman, School of Biology
Industrial Partnership Award
This award recognises a team that has delivered significant impact through working with industrial partners, including academic excellence, collaboration development, and impactful research outputs.
- Stefan Kepinski, School of Biology
- Christian Tiede, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology
Special Recognition Award
This award recognises outstanding contribution and achievement, with recipients selected at the discretion of the Faculty .
- Vicky Mays, Faculty Operations Director
- Chris Randall, Interim Pro-Dean for Student Education
