Dr Kirsty Ross

Dr Kirsty Ross

Industrial Liaison Officer

Email
ksrh1@st-andrews.ac.uk

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Biography

I am a senior public engagement professional (PEP) with a background in academic STEM research & a strong track record for knowledge exchange working across 3 research-intensive universities in Scotland. I transitioned to a full-time PEP role in 2015. Since then, I have supported implementational, operational & strategic goals in knowledge exchange (KE) to bring in £172,500 in KE income.

The breadth & diversity of my experience enable me to see the lifecycle of KE; from initial upstream conversations between partners, establishing outcomes & outputs for evaluation, through productive delivery partnerships, to the closure of projects.Ìý

By investing in my relationships with partners, I've built considerable trust that has allowed me to deepen & strengthen our partnerships. This is critical to my role enabling postgraduate researchers to undertake KE internships in sectors as diverse as venture capital, clinical trial management, policy engagement, & industrial research in locations round the globe.Ìý

Strong partnerships can grow from a single conversation. The plethora of relationships I have enables those I work with to explore and extend their own PER/KE practice. I've developed multiple innovative engagement platforms and training opportunities for researchers including:

  • Science Sketch-a-nory (supported by the Institute for Physics) co-creates artworks in collaboration with freelance artists.
  • Co-development of a KE project with Canon Medical at the request of researchers to compensate for COVID-19 lab closures.
  • Collaborating with Fife and Highland & Islands primary school teachers to develop research-inspired resources & CPD (STEAM Pebbles)
  • Quilts for Cancer (supported by the Royal Society of Chemistry) co-creates science-inspired quilts with members of the public for the benefit of patients receiving treatment for pancreatic cancer.
    • This latter project also involved researchers from five other HEIs across the UK & Ireland in its successful delivery.Ìý

I have been the evaluation lead for an Erasmus+ grant and marketing lead for European Researchers’ Night, a Marie SkÅ‚odowska-Curie Action project. I also lead academic research investigating the impact of PER practice on individual researchers’ personal and professional development. Evaluation is key to ensuring that the lessons of experience are learned, changes implemented, and previous mistakes are not repeated.Ìý

Selected publications

  • Open access
    Shaw, J., Young, G., Cranston, M., Thomas, S. & Ross, K. S., 25 Feb 2026, In: Journal of Open Humanities Data. 12, 7 p., 33.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • O'Donoghue, J. E. & Ross, K. S., 16 Jan 2026, Inclusive and accessible chemistry for further and higher education: developments and opportunities for students with disabilities. Essex, J. (ed.). London: Royal Society of Chemistry, p. 172-195 24 p. (Advances in chemistry education series; vol. 14).

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

  • Open access
    Ross, K. S., Melo Czekster, C. & Cornwell, R. M., 9 Aug 2024. 1 p.

    Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster › peer-review

  • Open access
    Ross, K. S., Ardati, A. A., Cranston, M., Ng, P., Olaleye, M., Shaw, J., Thomas, S., Young, G. & Zhang, Y., 1 Aug 2024. 1 p.

    Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster › peer-review

  • Open access
    Cornwell, R. M., Ross, K. S., Gibeily, C., Guthrie, I., Li, P. H., Seeley, L. T., Kong, Y., True, A., Barnes, A., Nimmo, E., Len, G., Oprea, I., Lin, B., Sasi, A., Chu, V., Davidson, C., Ulasavets, D., Renouf-Bilanski, G., Dmitrieva, M. & Leung, Y. & 9 others, Ye, Z., Brown, S., Vaidya, M., Hynes, J., Mullner, C., Agarwal, P., Johnston, P., Thorley, C. & Melo Czekster, C., 19 Jun 2024, In: Access Microbiology. 6, 6, 13 p., acmi000710.v3.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • Open access
    Cornwell, R. M., Melo Czekster, C., Gibeily, C., Ionescu, D., Harper, S., Kennedy, M., Sutherland, E. J., Simpson, M. C., Easton, E., Vaughan, R., Jones, C. E., Lynch, R., Yong, E., Athukoralage, J. S., Hogrel, G., Zickuhr, G. M., Hynes, J., Williams, R.-J., Ross, K. S. & Kruger, L. & 9 others, Woods, R. E., St Agatha's RC Primary School, Aberdour School, Getting Better Together Shotts, 8th Fife (ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø) Cub Scouts, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Botanic Garden, Nuffield Research Placements, Thornton Primary School & Greyfriars Primary School, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø, 24 Apr 2023, University of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø.

    Research output: Other contribution

  • Open access
    Essex, J., Ross, K. & Birnie, I., 1 Jul 2023, Chemistry in Action!, 122, p. 25-29 5 p.

    Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article

  • Open access
    Martin, C. (Performer), Hay, R. (Producer), Hamilton, I. (Producer) & Ross, K. (Producer), 4 May 2023

    Research output: Non-textual form › Digital or Visual Products

  • Open access
    Güven, J. (Performer), Hay, R. (Producer), Hamilton, I. (Producer) & Ross, K. (Producer), 23 Aug 2023

    Research output: Non-textual form › Digital or Visual Products

  • Open access
    Ferreira Monteiro, M. (Performer), Hay, R. (Producer), Hamilton, I. (Producer) & Ross, K. (Producer), 19 Oct 2023

    Research output: Non-textual form › Digital or Visual Products

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