101 jobs that change the world

Research and innovation needs a diverse range of researchers and innovators, but also many people working with them to drive progress.

The range of skills and talents to foster the world-class innovation system the UK needs is huge, but often under-recognised.

We launched our 101 jobs campaign to highlight some of the many roles that contribute to the success of the research and innovation system.

We are sharing profiles of the people who work, often behind the scenes, in a wide variety of roles. Together they represent the many fulfilling career paths in research and innovation beyond the traditional image of a researcher or innovator.

Our 101 jobs profiles offer a glimpse into the lives of the varied people who are working across the research and innovation system, some in remote or unusual locations. Their jobs are essential to the creative, dynamic research and innovation system we need, and they really do change the world.

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101 jobs in action

Sarah McLaughlin

Mid and East Antrim Agewell Partnership

Jacob Ward

Cloud Systems Engineer, Science and Technology Facilities Council’s Scientific Computing Department

Lucy Trew

Manufacturing science and technology apprentice, Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult

Heather McConnell

Research Technician, Scottish Association for Marine Science

Kieran Bullivant

Advanced Engineering Technician, Manufacturing Technology Centre

Maciej Pawlikowski

Head of Digital Content Unit, Cambridge University Library

Donna Wyatt

Microtarget Fabricator, Central Laser Facility

Zi Parker

Head of the Doctoral College, Queen Mary University of London

Josh Misselbrook

Meet Josh Misselbrook a Livestock and Field Technician

Citizen science

Homes under the microscope. A citizen-led project to investigate airborne microplastics in the home

Jess Wade

Writing female scientists into Wikipedia, one page at a time

Recycling human hair

Meet Sanne Visser, material design PhD researcher, Design Museum

Hannah Price

Instrument scientist, Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements (FAAM)

Maria Maclennan

Lecturer in jewellery and silversmithing, Edinburgh College of Art

Unusual jobs in research

Meet five people who do important and unusual jobs behind the scenes in research

Hong Lin

Senior Technician, Reading University

Kay Callow

Worked at the Medical Research Council's Common Cold Unit, Salisbury

Working in crafts and science

Meet three skilled craftspeople who have creative jobs in science

Laura Gerrish

Mapping specialist, British Antarctic Survey

101 jobs that change the world

In our 101 jobs that change the world videos, you'll meet the people who work, often behind the scenes, in fulfilling and interesting roles beyond the traditional image of a researcher or innovator

Diana Scarborough

Multimedia artist, working in collaboration with the British Antarctic Survey and the University of Cambridge's department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology

Joe Woodgate

Postdoctoral researcher at Queen Mary, University of London

Emma Meehan

Senior Science Technician, STFC Boulby Underground Laboratory

Bruce Griffith

Farm manager at the Rothamsted North Wyke Farm Platform in Devon

Chris Stone

Laboratory Manager at the Advanced High Voltage Engineering Research Centre, Cardiff University

Merryn Kent

Research administrator, University of Exeter

Terri Adams

Design and Fabrication Facility Manager, University of Oxford

Jeff Benson

Instrumentation Engineer at the National Oceanography Centre (NOC)

Dr Celia Yeung

Technology Associate at the Quantum Computing and Simulation Hub, Oxford

Fiona Travers

Senior Public Engagement Officer, The Royal Observatory Edinburgh

Gary Brannan

Keeper of Archives and Special Collections, the Borthwick Institute for Archives at the University of York

Alice Purkiss

National Trust Partnership Lead, University of Oxford

Niklas Meyn

Wind Turbine Structural Engineer

Rui Gonçalves

Research Assistant, Oxford Bee Lab

Alison Ryder-Cook

Survey Interviewer, National Centre for Social Research

Nigel Fisher

Conservator of Wytham Woods, University of Oxford

Anna Lawton

Health Safety and Biosafety Advisor, The Pirbright Institute

Amanda Solloway MP

Science Minister, UK government

Dr Ruth Weir

Entrepreneurship Advisor, University College London

Ian Patmore

Fieldwork Technician, UCL Geography Department, London

Ivy Nandongwa

Program Administrative Assistant, African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya

Paul Cesar

Infrastructure Manager, STFC RAL Space building R100

You and your job

Lucy Booth

Head of Intellectual Property, University of Oxford

Sarah Matthews

Senior Data Manager, Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC)

Richard Dale

IT Support Analyst, the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS)

Fleur Hughes

Network Manager, the STFC Air Quality Network (SAQN) at University of York

Dimitrisz Sopisz

Grounds and Gardens Supervisor, Queen Mary University of London

David Street

Electrical Engineer, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology

Fiona Gilzean

Head of Horticultural and Controlled Environments, Rothamsted Research

Mazharia Rahman

Finance Assistant, School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science Department at Queen Mary University of London

Helen Hague

Head of Farms, Rothamsted Research

Hannah Ladd-Jones

Engagement Officer, Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland (MASTS)

Andrew Christie

Agronomist and Agri-Technologist, The James Hutton Institute

Dr Julia Miskelly

Genomics Core Technology Unit Manager, Queen’s University Belfast

Albane Imbert

Head of the Making Lab, The Francis Crick Institute