Athena SWAN working group  

Professor Mark Brouard - Chair of Athena SWAN assessment team and Working Group. Joined the Chemistry Department in 1995. He became Head of the Physical and Theoretical (PTC) Section and a member of the Chemistry Management Board in 2011, prior to that he was Director of Graduate Studies.  He is married with two daughters.

Jenni Collins - Personnel Manager, has extensive knowledge of Human Resources (HR) policies and practices gained from over 30 years’ HR experience working in the Public sector in education and research. Worked while raising a family and now sole carer for elderly disabled parent.

Dr Stuart Conway - University Lecturer in Organic Chemistry and Fellow of St Hugh's College since 2008 moving from the University of St Andrews. He is married with two sons under five years old.

Dr Charlotte Dodson - Joined the department in 2011 for her second postdoc and is currently a Fulford Junior Research Fellow at Somerville College. She is married, and has spent the past four years trying to prioritise full-time work over the demands of an increasingly (and now severely) disabled mother. Her knowledge of healthcare processes, social services and other impenetrable statutory bodies continues to grow.

Dr Jonathan Doye - University Lecturer in Theoretical Chemistry and Tutorial Fellow in Chemistry at Queens College.  Joined the Department in 2006 as a University Lecturer, having previously been a Royal Society University Research Fellow elsewhere. He is married with three children, all of whom were under six when appointed, and so has lots of experience of juggling work and familial responsibilities. The ability to work flexibly, especially outside of term, has been particularly useful in managing childcare.

Dr Rhiannon Evans - Joined the Chemistry Department in 2010 for her first post-doctoral research position in the group of Fraser Armstrong. Completed Undergraduate studies in the University of Wales and gained her PhD from Cardiff University. Has insight in to the various levels of the department through position on Joint Staff Committee. Keen to learn about and promote efforts to make integration of work and home-life an easier transition for people at each stage of their academic career, but especially for those without college affiliation as a source of support.

Professor Stephen Faulkner - University Lecturer in Inorganic Chemistry and Keble College. Joined Oxford Chemistry in 2008, having previously been head of Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Manchester. Experienced in mentoring staff and students, and as a harassment adviser. Married with one young child, and balancing an academic career with caring for my family and the needs of elderly parents.

Dr Emily Flashman - Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellow. Joined Oxford Chemistry in 2004 as a postdoc. In 2009 Emily took maternity leave returning to commence her Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship in 2010 working part-time 4 days a week. She also holds a L’Oréal-UNESCO Fellowship for Women In Science (2011). Now successfully balancing establishing her own research programme with bringing up a child and another on the way.

Dr Nicholas Green - Director of Graduate Studies. Joined Oxford Chemistry in 2006 as Director of Studies after 15 years at King’s College London.  Duties include running admissions and outreach activities, designing and delivering the degree course, chairing all examination boards, chairing joint student consultative committee. He also has overall responsibility for graduate admissions, teaching and examination.  He teaches Physical Chemistry and runs a small research group.  Married with 1 mentally disabled child, currently in a residential school during the week.  Resident in London and commutes to Oxford daily.

Les Hill - Mechanical workshop supervisor and UNITE union committee member. Senior member of the departments support staff management team currently managing the Mechanical Engineering Facility with close to 30 years department service coupled with extensive union experience within the University including membership of joint negotiating committee that has covered multiple Athena relevant topics. Personal experience of work life balance issues raising a family with a working science based partner and more recently as a grandparent.

Dr Stuart Mackenzie - University Lecturer in Physical Chemistry, Tutorial Fellow, Magdalen College and PTCL Director of Graduate Studies. Joined the Department in 2008 after lectureships in Warwick and Cambridge. Supervises a research group of eight in Physical Chemistry. Married to an academic chemist with identical role and responsibilities to himself within the Department. Together they grapple with demands of their jobs as well as sharing school and childcare duties for their 5 year-old son.

Inga Pfeffer - second year DPhil student subject to the challenges of balancing research, college and personal life. Contemplating a potential career in academia. Role models, mentorship and the fact that gender imbalances and their causes are being assessed are really helpful in making decisions concerning my future plans.

Dr Grant Ritchie - University Lecturer in Physical Chemistry and Fellow of Worcester College. Appointed to a University Lectureship in 2006, having previously been a Royal Society University Research Fellow in the PTCL. He is married to a full time teacher with two children, 8 & 6 years old, and continues to juggle work and family life. The possibility for flexible working practice has been crucial in dealing with childcare issues.

Dr Angela Russell - Departmental Research Lecturer, RCUK Fellow in Medicinal Chemistry. Inspired by the female role models in the University of Oxford decided to pursue an independent academic career and was awarded a Research Councils’ UK Fellowship in Medicinal Chemistry between the Departments of Chemistry and Pharmacology in 2007. Has since received support and mentorship through both Departments in the early stages of building career. Is involved in outreach and public engagement promoting science, particularly for young students.

Dr Asel Sartbaeva - Went on maternity leave toward the end of her Glasstone Fellowship in June 2010. In that same year, was awarded a Royal Society University Research Fellowship, taken up immediately on returning from maternity leave. Has a place at the University subsidised nursery for her daughter, working full-time. While a Glasstone fellow benefitted from mentoring from a faculty member.

Jessica Gilbert - a 4th year student currently completing her Part II research project, she has firsthand experience of studying Chemistry as an undergraduate at Oxford. Also has in-depth knowledge of the tutorial system, teaching methods and the challenges facing female undergraduates with regards to achieving a good work-life balance.

Dr Kylie Vincent - RCUK Academic Fellow in Inorganic Chemistry Joined the Chemistry Department in 2002 as a postdoctoral researcher. Took up a Royal Society University Research Fellowship in 2007 and RCUK Academic Fellowship in 2008; received excellent support from the Department to grow research team and develop teaching and leadership experience. Gives many outreach talks in schools promoting chemistry and careers in science, particularly for young women. Received 2011 Science and Technology Woman of the Future Award  but still finds that managing an appropriate balance between work and home-life, even without children, is an on-going challenge.