Join jobs.ac.uk as we gather sector professionals from across further and higher education to answer your questions, with our new series ‘Ask a Professional’.
This Q&A series will provide first-hand insight into the world of academia and professional services. Answering your burning questions specific to each role and institution.
Learn about what it takes to start in these roles, what an average day looks like, the skills needed to thrive, resources, stories and more.
Upcoming Q&A
Ask Associate Director Emily Walsh a question. Whether you’re curious about her day-to-day responsibilities, career journey, research interests, or advice for aspiring academics, submit your questions below!
The question form will be open from the 22nd to the 26th of June.
Ask Question Now
Ask an Associate Director – Emily Walsh
Emily Walsh is Associate Director for Mathematics and Statistics at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol), where she leads the Mathematics and Statistics cluster and champions maths outreach and widening participation. She is passionate about engaging young people with mathematics, with a long-standing collaboration with the Advanced Mathematics Support Programme (AMSP) and a history of delivering Royal Institution Masterclasses across the region.
Ask a Chief Reputation Officer – Joan Concannon
Joan was appointed as the University of York’s first Chief Reputation and Stakeholder Relations Officer on 1 August 2025, and she reports directly to the Vice-Chancellor.
Her portfolio includes reputation and brand management, stakeholder engagement, identifying opportunities to develop scalable quadruple helix partnerships to drive public, private, academic, and philanthropic income diversification with a specific focus on aligning with regional economic growth, investment and export opportunities and priorities.
Ask a Librarian – Matthew Shaw
Matthew Shaw is Librarian of The Queen’s College, Oxford, and a former librarian of the Institute of Historical Research at the University of London. He studied history at the University of York, where he was awarded a BA, MA, and DPhil.
He began his library career as a curator in the British Library’s Department of Manuscripts before joining the Americas section, and now has over twenty years’ experience in library services.
Ask a PhD Student
jobs.ac.uk have an extensive career advice section specifically for PhD students, supporting you before, during and after your PhD.
Our articles are written by academics who share their own experiences and practical tips about the PhD journey.
Read the article that answers your question and get ready to start your PhD application today!
Ask an FE Leader – Gabe Manthorp
Gabe Manthorp is the Assistant Director of Higher Education at Newham College London.
He is an internationally produced playwright with an MA in writing and a background in the creative and leisure industries.
Gabe has worked in FE, HE, and skills for over a decade, including current roles as Assistant Director: HE at Newham College; Quality and Standards Assessor with the OfS; and a range of consultancy and advisory positions across the sector.
Ask a PhD Supervisor – Iain Jackson
Iain Jackson is Professor of Architecture and Research Director at the Liverpool School of Architecture, spanning over 15 years of tenure at the University of Liverpool.
He writes on ‘the mechanics of research’ and guides students and researchers to develop the tools required to complete their projects. He also aims to help researchers, writers, and PhD students achieve their research ambitions and become great researchers and writers.
Ask a Scientist – Katie Sharrocks
Katie Sharrocks is a postdoctoral researcher at the Francis Crick Institute in London. She currently works on a project as part of a Crick-AstraZeneca alliance collaboration scheme, using single-molecule super-resolution microscopy to investigate Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor di/oligomerization in lung cancer.
Katie is passionate about communicating science in an accessible way so that as many people as possible have access to science and understand its significance in daily life.
Ask a Recruitment Specialist – Lucy Wide
Lucy joined the University of Derby in December 2022 as a Recruitment Assistant. In November 2023, she was promoted to her current role as Recruitment Specialist.
Before joining the University of Derby, Lucy studied Psychology at the University of Lincoln. After graduating, she began her career in recruitment, working for a care organisation for a couple of years. Seeking a new challenge and clearer opportunities for career development, she made the move to the University of Derby.
Ask a Lecturer – Christopher Strelluf
Christopher joined the University of Warwick as an assistant professor of linguistics in 2017 and is currently an associate professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies in Applied Linguistics.
Christopher is a sociolinguist with experience in the UK and US academic systems at undergraduate and graduate levels. Previous roles include assistant professor, visiting lecturer, and graduate teaching assistant. He was also previously an officer in the United States Army and is a current Senior Fellow of Advance HE.