Seven researchers from Swansea University have been chosen to participate in the 2025 Welsh Crucible programme. This initiative annually invites 30 researchers from across the country to engage in residential skills labs and workshops aimed at enhancing research impact, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and building international research careers.
The selected researchers represent a range of disciplines, highlighting their academic excellence and innovation. Their involvement signifies their potential to contribute significantly to research advancements both within Wales and internationally.
The participating researchers from Swansea University include:
- Dr. Aimee Drane, an Associate Professor and Clinical Academic in Echocardiography at the Health and Wellbeing Academy, whose work focuses on how the cardiovascular system adapts to various environments and its disease susceptibility through evolutionary mismatch.
- Dr. Ana Sergio Da Silva, an Associate Professor and Programme Director for the MSc/PhD Medical Education at Swansea University Medical School, who investigates how evidence-based education contributes to developing a competent healthcare workforce for the future.
- Dr. Laura Cowley, a Research Officer and Data Scientist studying children's health, social care, and family justice through administrative data and statistical modelling. She is currently pursuing a Social Care Fellowship funded by Health and Care Research Wales.
- Dr. Marcos del Pozo Baños, a Senior Lecturer at Swansea University Medical School, focuses his research on mental health data science including self-harm prevention, suicide prevention, and mental health among children and young people.
- Dr. Katie Preece, a Senior Lecturer in Geography specializing as a volcanologist and geologist. Her work integrates field studies with petrology, geochronology, and geochemistry to study eruption histories and dynamics.
- Dr. Gemma Morgan, an Associate Professor in Criminology researching desistance, digital technology in criminal justice systems, and youth justice. She co-developed the My Journey app for supporting individuals transitioning from prison in the UK after receiving a Fulbright Scholarship.
- Dr. Fernando Maestre Avila, a Lecturer in Computer Science who explores Human-Computer Interaction methods with marginalized communities to ensure technology design amplifies their voices while reducing negative impacts.
Professor Helen Griffiths, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation at Swansea University stated: “We are immensely proud of Swansea University’s research community, and it is fantastic to see so many of our researchers selected for the 2025 Welsh Crucible."
“Their participation reflects our commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration and research excellence," she continued "and will provide invaluable leadership development networking opportunities as well as platforms addressing pressing local global challenges.”