As Professor of Inclusive Researcher and Academic Development, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, and University Lead for Equality Diversity and Inclusion (Gender and Sexual Orientation), my work within and outside the University aligns with my vision and commitment to create an inclusive work and study environment at Manchester and across the UK HE sector such that diverse people feel they belong, have equity of opportunity to thrive and achieve their full potential.

• As Faculty Academic Development lead I have ensured that the Faculty and University offers a continuum of professional development for early career postgraduate researchers through to senior academic leaders. I have developed and delivered high quality programmes, mentoring and coaching, supporting research excellence, inspirational teaching and learning, enhanced leadership capability and career reward and advancement.
• I play a leading role in addressing researcher inequalities and the development of an inclusive research culture challenging and reducing systemic biases. I successfully led the Wellcome/University of Manchester match funded Inclusive Research Transformation Programme (£1M). I also influence and shape researcher development and research culture nationally and internationally working with leading institutions, funders and network groups.
• As University gender equality lead I lead the delivery of University Athena Swan Silver action plan providing governance, monitoring and evaluation of impact of policies and initiatives to drive gender parity throughout the student and staff career pipeline and address barriers to access, progression and attainment.
• I promote accelerated intersectional progress through alignment of concordat, charter marks and standards action plans and I have led an “Inclusive Manchester” Campaign promoting inclusive leadership and collective action for all staff and students. This includes development and leadership of an interdisciplinary undergraduate credit bearing unit “Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: Your role in shaping a fairer world” open to all students at Manchester.

I hold an undergraduate honours degree in Biochemistry awarded by the University of Leeds (1992), a masters degree in Information Technology awarded by University of Nottingham (1993) and a PhD in Molecular Medicine awarded by the University of Manchester (2001). Pre-PhD I was a scientific officer for CRUK, Christie Hospital, Manchester and Pfizer Central Research, UK (1993-1997). My aspiration to be a group leader led me to pursue a BBSRC/AstraZeneca Industrial Case studentship to gain my doctorate. I have 7 years postdoctoral cancer research experience and was promoted to Research Fellow in the School of Pharmacy, University of Manchester leading on novel adenovirus delivered gene therapy treatments for solid cancers. 

In 2007 I was appointed as researcher development educator establishing the FBMH Research Staff Programme and Research Leadership Programme for Fellows). This role quickly grew into a centre (CARD) and the delivery of 5 large scale educator and researcher development programmes (Academic Clinical Fellows Programme, PGR Programme, Research Staff Programme, New Academic and Fellows Programme and Pedagogy Development Programmes) providing high quality, accredited professional development for our clinical and non-clinical community. In 2022 I successfullt transitioned Faculty PGR and Research Staff Development to the University Centre and in 2025 established the Faculty Academic Development Programme open to all, providing CPD across all 3 core goals (research, teaching and learning and social responsibility). 

Throughout my career I have been an advocate for equality, diversity and inclusion. I have championed research staff equality and played a significant role in the adoption of the Research Staff Concordat Pronciples and successful retention of the University HR Excellence Award (since 2011). Following significant intersectional Athena Swan gender equality  work at School, Faculty and University level I was appointed as University Academic Lead for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion leading on gender equality (2019), expanded to include sexual orientation equality (2021).

Externally I have a large portfolio of consultancy with leading international organisations, funders and institutions. I am the Aurora institutional national women's leadership programme champion and Advance HE advisory board member; national panel chair for the transformed Athena Swan Charter and REF 2029 People, Culture and Environment Pilot Panel Member.

• 2022 - Principle Fellow of Advance HE (formerly Higher Education Academy)
• 2020 - Team Coach, Certified
• 2015 - Executive Coaching and Mentoring Level 7 Award, Institute of Leadership and Management
• 2015 - Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy
• 2012 - Coaching and Mentoring Level 5 Award, Institute of Leadership and Management
• 2009 - Certificate in Training Practice, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
• 2001 - Ph.D in Medicine, University of Manchester.
• 1993 - M.Sc in Information Technology, Nottingham University, Nottingham UK
• 1992 - B.Sc Hons in Biochemistry, Leeds University, UK

Membership of External Committees and Professional Bodies

• Network of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Academic Leads invited member (NEDIAL), national network involved in designing, implementing and sustaining EDI interventions across higher education institutions
• Research Culture Enablers Network, national network committed to the promotion of research excellence through a positive and inclusive culture
• Aurora institutional champion and national role model facilitating action learning and providing mentorship to female academic and professional services colleagues across the UK
• Association of Commonwealth Universities Gender Equality Committee
• GM4Women coalition member, a network of change makers committed to actions to create a better future for women and girls across all sectors in Greater Manchester.
• Researchers14 Invited Member (national researcher development group representing 65% of UK research staff) advising UKRI and UUK on research culture and research staff concordat implementation.
• NIHR ARC-GM Stakeholder Advisory Group
• N8 Research Partnership University Representative on Postdoctoral Careers Working Group
• Vitae Researcher Development Member and Advisor for “What do Research Staff Do Next?” an international investigation into the career destinations of Research Staff.
• Corporate Member of the Association for Coaching
• Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
• Staff Development Forum (Supported by the Leadership Foundation)

Chairing of University and Faculty Committees/Strategy/Network Groups

• University Gender Equality Committee/Athena SWAN Self-Assessment Team (Chair since 2019)
• University Athena Swan SAT leads Network (Chair since 2021)
• University Women@Manchester Network (Co Chair 2022 – 2023, Senior Sponsor Since 2024)
• University Future Families Working Group (Co-Chair since 2024)
• Faculty Race Discrimination Task and Finish Group (Co Chair 2020 - 21)
• Faculty Research Staff Representatives Network (Chair 2012 - 2022)
• Faculty NAP Committee (Chair since 2016)
• School of Medical Sciences EDI committee, formerly Athena SWAN SAT (Co Chair from 2020 - 2022)

 Active Membership of University/Faculty Committees/Strategy Groups

• University Senate (Elected 2022 and 2025)
• University EDI Committee (Lead for Gender Equality since 2019)
• University Social Responsibility Governance Group (since 2019)
• University Race Equality Charter Self-Assessment Team (2021)
• University Gender Pay Gap Working Group (2019 - 2022)
• University Staff Survey Working Group (Research Staff Lead from 2017 - 2021)
• University Fellows Strategic Oversight Group (since 2023)
• University Research Staff Strategy Group (Faculty Lead since 2008)
• University New Academics Programme Committee (Faculty Lead since 2014)
• BRC Strategic Oversight Group, EDI Champion (since 2022, EDI Education and Training lead since 2023)
• Integrated Clinical Academic Training Operational Group (EDI lead since 2023)
• Faculty Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee (Professional Development Lead since 2012)
• Faculty Researcher Development Group (Research Staff and New Academic Lead since 2016)
• MRC and BBSRC Doctoral Training Management Committee, Equality Champion (since 2019)

Expert Reviewer

• Athena Swan Gender Equality Awards Review Panels, Advance HE
• National Teaching Fellowships and Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence Reviewer, Advance HE
• Gender Equality Grant Reviewer, Association of Commonwealth Universities
• Expert Review Panel for the “International Research Leaders Award” (a partnership project with Wellcome, Pasteur, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, MRC, BBSRC and Open University)
• Foundation and UG Degrees External Examiner, Lancaster University
• Peer Reviewer for Journals of Cancer Research; Gene Therapy; British Journal of Cancer, Clinical Cancer Research, Cell Science, Expert Opinions on Biological Therapy
• Research Grant Reviewer for Association of Commonwealth Universities Gender Equality Grant Scheme, .Breast Cancer Campaign, Association for International Cancer Research, Netherlands National Health Council

Invited Presentations and Workshops (last 5 years)

• Improving Gender Equality and Inclusivity, Twinning for Excellence in Adaptive Edge AI, University of Nis, Serbia 2025
• Accelerated intersectional progress through alignment of concordat, charter marks and standards action plans, OECD Global Science Forum: International EDI in Science Workshop: Promoting equity, diversity, and inclusive excellence in scientific research, 2024
• The Future Families Project. Parenthood initiatives in the UK and Brazilian HEIs, Oxford Brookes, 2024
• Gender Equality Challenges for Academic Careers, All Island Research Culture Conference, Ireland 2024
• Aligning Equality Charters, Advance HE Best Practice Event, 2024
• Creating Inclusive Future Leaders through Interdisciplinary Learning, Interdisciplinary learning and teaching conference, UK 2024
• Working towards an inclusive research culture through EDI education, engagement and empowerment of researchers, International Research Culture Conference, Warwick, UK, 2023
• A system-wide transformation programme to diversify our research talent pipeline and promote inclusive research practice and culture. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Conference: The Shoulders of Giants: Listening, Learning and Improving our Practice, UK 2023
• Building common ground with minorities to communicate science. 17th international conference of the Public Communication of Science and Technology network, Netherlands 2023
• Preparing PhD Students: Sharing Experience and Best Practices, Ministry of Health of Ukraine and Horbachevsky Termopil National Medical University, Invited Talk, 2023
• Diversity in STEM invited talk, Early Career Cardiovascular Scientists’ Symposium 2022
• Empowering and inspiring HE students to shape a fairer world, Advance HE EDI Conference 2022
• Embedding EDI in Research Practice and Culture, UK Research Integrity Office Conference Invited Talk 2022
• Putting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the centre of research and innovation practices and culture, UK Catalysis Conference Invited Talk 2021.
• Student SPIE Chapter Women in Science Event, International Society for Optics &Photonics Invited Talk, 2021
• Gender Equality Workshop - Advanced Biomedical Materials Centre for Doctoral Training Invited Talk, 2021
• Gender Equality at University of Manchester, Women in Science and Engineering, Society Invited Talk, 2020
• Celebrating Diverse and Inclusive Leaders, N8 partnership event organiser, speaker and chair 2020
• Research Culture in the UK, Life Beyond the PhD: Supporting PhD students to work collaboratively across disciplines and promote social progress, Cumberland lodge, Windsor, UK, Invited Talk 2019

Relevant Publications and Outputs (excluding 30+ publications as a cancer researcher)

• Cowen, RL, Williams, S, Marsh, M, Zhang, D, Chamberlain, N, Harris, D, & Dixon, M, 2024. Working towards an inclusive research culture through EDI education, engagement and empowerment of the research community. Exchanges: The Interdisciplinary Research Journal
• Edge, D Cowen RL, Carter J, 2024 Weaving gold from EDI straw: an intersectional approach, Times Higher Ed Campus
• Greco C, Lin C, Radhadkrishnan H, Finn G, Cowen RL, Gardiner, 2024, Experiences of the clinical academic pathway: A qualitative study in Greater Manchester to improve the opportunities of minoritised clinical academics. BMJ Open
• Harris D, Cowen RL, Ateeq B, Noronha Dutra Ribeiro F, Edge D, Rath S, Carbone S, MacKinlay A and Richards LA 2022 Connecting over Gender Equity Initiatives. The Academic Woman, Jul-Sep 2022 Edition
• Cowen RL, Adewumi B, MacKinlay A, 2021 Going beyond ‘fixing’ women to engage everyone as inclusive leaders to change HE culture, The Academic Woman, Jan-Mar 2022 Edition
• Cowen RL and Barrett K, 2019 Research Culture, Changing Expectations, https://www.researchers14.ac.uk/post/2019/02/01/conference-report-from-the-royal-society-event-research-culture-changing-expectations
• Cowen RL and Shinton S, 2019 Strengthening UK Research Leadership, https://www.researchers14.ac.uk/post/2019/01/30/strengthening-uk-research-leadership
• Cowen RL, Johnson D and Gracey J, 2019 Putting Social Responsibility at the Heart of the Institution: The Research Experience and Career Development of Early Career Researchers, In Research Impact and the Early Career Researcher, Routledge Books,

Awards

• Teaching Excellence Award, Institute of Teaching and Learning, University of Manchester, 2022
• Pandemic Pedagogy Teaching Awards (Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health), 2021
• Making a Difference Awards Team Member 2019 and 2020
• National Nic McNally Radiation Research Prize, British Institute of Radiology, 2007