Researchers announce prestigious policy and parliamentary placements
Two researchers from the University of Birmingham have been selected for highly competitive national policy and parliamentary programmes.
Eleanor Watson and Katie Reilly
Eleanor Watson, a PhD Researcher has been awarded a UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Policy Internship. Eleanor’s doctoral research explores suicide prevention following domestic abuse within policing contexts, with particular attention to how research can support the development of effective organisational practices and policy frameworks. The UKRI Policy Internship enables doctoral researchers to work directly with policymakers, applying academic research to real-world policy challenges and contributing evidence-based insights to government decision-making. Eleanor will undertake her internship with the Ministry of Justice.
“I’m really looking forward to gaining first-hand experience of the policy environment and understanding how academic research can inform decision-making in practice. The UKRI Policy Internship is a valuable opportunity to broaden the impact of my research beyond academia.”
The scheme is designed to develop researchers’ policy skills while strengthening links between research institutions and government, offering participants direct exposure to the policymaking process.
In a separate achievement, Katie Reilly has been selected for the Royal Society Pairing Scheme and matched with a UK parliamentarian. Katie’s research sits within the environmental sciences, focusing on the relationships between environmental change, place, and policy, and how scientific evidence can inform responses to complex environmental challenges. The Royal Society Pairing Scheme brings together researchers and policymakers to promote mutual understanding between science and public policy, supporting the effective use of research evidence in parliamentary and legislative contexts.
Being selected for the Royal Society Pairing Scheme is an exciting opportunity to learn more about how Parliament works and how research evidence is used in policy discussions. I’m looking forward to sharing my research perspective and developing a deeper understanding of the policymaking process
Participants in the scheme spend time in Westminster, observing parliamentary activity and engaging directly with policymakers, while parliamentarians gain insight into current research and scientific expertise.
Both appointments highlight the University’s commitment to research excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration, and policy impact, demonstrating the important role researchers play in supporting evidence-based decision-making.