5 May 2026 | By: Dr Farhana Chowdhury, Researcher Development Manager, and Dr Chris Emmerson, Senior Researcher Development Manager | 4 min read
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What is The Research Space, and how is it changing how researchers work together? Take a trip inside Newcastle University’s central home for research training, development, and support.
Contents:
- Navigating the research labyrinth
- The challenges facing researchers
- The answer - The Research Space
- How was TRS built?
- One year review – what are we seeing so far?
- What has the team learned?
- What’s next for TRS?
- Closing thoughts
Navigating the research labyrinth
Research careers are shaped by thousands of decisions including: what skills to build, which opportunities to pursue, where to find support, and how to connect with peers.
Yet at many universities, the information and guidance researchers need sits across multiple systems, teams and websites. Newcastle University was no exception. Before 2024, training materials, policy guidance, development programmes and community groups were all available, but scattered. For busy researchers, especially those new to the institution or the UK, simply locating the right information could be a barrier to progress.
The challenges facing researchers
Through consultations, focus groups, and research across boundaries, researchers repeatedly reported three consistent challenges:
Scattered information slowed people down
Training and guidance existed, but they were distributed across multiple systems, SharePoint sites and web pages. Knowing that something existed was no guarantee of being able to find it. This led to unnecessary time lost and distrust in the existing systems.
Development opportunities were hard to compare or track
Workshops, programmes and events were promoted through a mix of emails, newsletters, Teams channels and personal networks. Communication was complex and difficult to track.
Community connections were uneven
Some groups and disciplines had strong peer networks; others did not. Researchers wanted more ways to connect across boundaries, particularly around shared interests such as leadership, writing or funding.
The answer – The Research Space
The Research Space (TRS) was developed as a practical response to these challenges: consolidate what is spread out, make opportunities more visible and remove friction from how researchers navigate their own development.
Launched in May 2025, TRS is Newcastle University’s central online space for researcher development: a place where researchers can find what they need, explore opportunities and connect with colleagues across disciplines and career stages.
‘As an early career researcher who is new to the university and the UK, having a reliable space to access training and research information is invaluable! Being able to access The Research Space has helped to foster a sense of belonging in the uni's research ecosystem.’ – Research community member
Rather than build a new system from scratch, the project team worked with researchers and professional services colleagues to consolidate existing resources into a single, coherent space.
Because these needs were so clear, and because improving development pathways is central to a positive research environment, TRS was identified as one of five initial top-priority projects within the University’s Research Culture programme
How was TRS built?
TRS sits within tools that researchers here already use daily: Microsoft Teams and modern SharePoint.
This meant:
- no new logins or systems to learn
- content could be updated quickly and consistently
- community spaces could grow organically inside familiar platforms
The project brought together researchers, research managers, librarians, digital specialists and colleagues from the Organisational Development team. Every section, from funding guidance to leadership resources, was shaped with input from the people who use it.
A true collaboration between disciplines, resulting in a centralised platform for all.
TRS brings together a structured library of research development guidance, peer-led spaces for discussion and knowledge sharing, and resources tailored to different career stages and topics across the research lifecycle. The platform is updated weekly, informed by user feedback and responsive to gaps identified by researchers themselves.
One year review – what are we seeing so far?
One year in, TRS is still evolving, but several changes are already visible.
Strong early uptake
In its first year, TRS has grown to well over 1100 members from across the research community. This number alone does not demonstrate impact, but it does indicate demand for a central, coherent entry point into research development and guidance.
Opportunities are more visible across the institution
Feedback suggests that bringing guidance together has reduced the time researchers spend searching across systems. Colleagues report a clearer sense of where to start, how to navigate complex topics and a better view of programmes and events from multiple teams.
New connections are emerging
Researchers are increasingly using TRS for peer support, information sharing and informal collaboration across disciplines and career stages.
‘The Research Space has become a great point of connection for our research community. A place where events, opportunities and people come together in a way that feels open and accessible. It’s helped make the wider research landscape feel more navigable and more human.’ – Research community member
TRS doesn’t solve every problem, but these comments do show that it’s making significant strides in reducing friction and creating a sense of belonging within a large, international research community.
What has the team learned?
Across the first year, three key themes have emerged:
- researchers favour clarity over quantity; curated content outperforms long lists
- community development requires active facilitation, not just digital space
- when a resource or tool meets a genuine need, researchers engage with it; uptake has been far higher than expected
Iteration matters. Developing TRS through regular updates rather than a single ‘finished’ launch has allowed the platform to evolve alongside researcher needs, keeping content relevant and the space dynamic. These insights will shape the next phase of TRS, one that extends beyond the digital platform.
What’s next for TRS?
In 2026, we are expanding TRS through a series of in-person initiatives shaped by conversations with researchers.
‘TRS Presents...’ will be a programme of talks, workshops, and networking opportunities delivered by internal experts. Topics will range from project management and research leadership to navigating research careers.
Importantly, ‘TRS Presents’ was created not only to share knowledge but also to provide a physical space for the research community to come together, engage with one another, and explore relevant topics in a shared environment. The aim is to complement the digital space with in-person connection, supporting dialogue, collaboration and a stronger sense of collective research culture.
Closing thoughts
The Research Space is still young. It is not a complete solution to the complexities of research careers, nor does it remove all the challenges of navigating a large institution.
But it has begun to make development opportunities easier to find, communities easier to access and guidance easier to follow.
Goals for TRS are simple. To further improve congruity so researchers can spend more time doing what matters: advancing knowledge, building skills and supporting one another, and responding to emerging needs and opportunities through collaboration. For colleagues at other institutions exploring similar approaches, one of our biggest lessons has been the importance of engaging our research community from the outset – not just as users, but as co-creators. Designing something with researchers, rather than for them, ensures it reflects real needs and creates a sense of shared ownership that sustains its impact over time.
If you have any questions or thoughts, feel free to contact the team: Dr Farhana Chowdhury, Research Development Manager, or Dr Chris Emmerson, Senior Research Development Manager.
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