Humanities researchers recognised at 2025 Research Staff Excellence Awards
25 Sep 2025
The Faculty took centre stage at this year’s Research Staff Excellence Awards, with four researchers recognised for their outstanding contributions to scholarship, impact, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Opening the ceremony, Professor Melissa Westwood, Associate Vice-President for Research, praised the “dedication, innovation, and collaborative spirit” of this year’s winners, highlighting their role in driving forward research that resonates both within academia and across wider society.
Research Staff of the Year
From SEED, Dr Matina Kapsali, Research Fellow based in the Geography Department, was named Research Staff of the Year. A leading voice in urban feminist geographies, Kapsali’s work has introduced new frameworks such as transversal solidarities and critically examined philanthrocapitalism’s role in urban governance. Alongside securing major research grants and publishing in top journals, Kapsali has nurtured a thriving research culture by founding a Feminist Reading Group and mentoring colleagues through collaborative workshops.
Best outstanding contribution to research impact
Dr Patty Doran, Research Fellow in the Department of Sociology in SoSS, received the award for Outstanding Contribution to Research Impact. Doran’s leadership in organising the Age-Friendly Futures Summit brought together over 300 policymakers, practitioners, activists, and researchers from 20 countries. Their work has strengthened links between research and public policy, advancing global debates on age-friendly cities.
Reflecting on the award, Doran shared: “The research impact award reflects years of building and sustaining cross-sectoral collaborations spanning from Manchester City Council to the World Health Organization. For me, researching age-friendly cities means bringing together community members, third-sector organisations, local and regional governments, and national and international policymakers to understand how research can be conducted and implemented to reduce inequalities and create healthier futures.
Both the interdisciplinary research environment nurtured within the university and the social responsibility agenda that supports genuine partnership-building with wider community partners are vital to achieving impact through our work delivered as part of Manchester Urban Ageing Research Group."
Best outstanding interdisciplinary research
SEED researcher, Dr Lei Li, was recognised for Outstanding Interdisciplinary Research for their innovative work on green infrastructure. Li’s NERC-funded project, ‘Maximising Ecosystem Services in Urban Environments’, has been cited over 700 times and shaped urban greenspace policy through collaborations with local councils and international partners.
Speaking on the award, Dr Lei Li, noted: “It has been a privilege to work within such a supportive research community at The University of Manchester.I’m especially thankful for the support from PPEM, the NERC-funded MEASURE project team, and everyone who contributed their time and insights to my work. I look forward to continuing to learn and grow through future collaborations."
Best outstanding output
Dr Jack Benton, Leverhulme Early Career Fellow in the Geography Department in SEED, received the Outstanding Output award for his publication record and contributions to urban health research. With 21 peer-reviewed articles in just four years, Benton’s work has informed both academic debate and policy, including the MRC’s evaluation framework for health interventions.
Benton credited Manchester’s collaborative research environment for his success: “My work aims to advance understanding of how cities can be designed to promote health and wellbeing, and I look forward to building on this momentum in the next stage of my research as part of my Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship."
From advancing feminist geography to shaping age-friendly policies, influencing urban health frameworks, and integrating ecology with planning, the Faculty of Humanities awardees demonstrated the breadth and societal relevance of Manchester research.