Ten supervisors recognised with awards for outstanding research supervision

Professor Ben Lambert (Department of Statistics)

Professor Ben Lambert is an Associate Professor of Statistics and AI in Science and his research is focussed on developing computational statistical methods to uncover biological and epidemiological insights.

Ben is consistently described as an exceptional supervisor whose “very hands-on approach…without being obfuscating” enables students to build confidence, ask questions, and identify new research directions. Nominators highlight how he is “instrumental in [their] development,” proactively identifying gaps in training and “actively creat[ing] learning and development opportunities” through tailored courses, workshops, and sessions ranging from academic writing to HPC and programming in R and Julia. His willingness to “work through technical problems in real time rather than remaining at a high-level overview” and to “walk [researchers] through fundamentals…step by step” ensures deep understanding and lasting skills.

Equally, Ben fosters “an open, collaborative and supportive environment where students feel comfortable asking questions” and “never feel discouraged admitting that [they] don’t understand something.” Even when busy, he “always manage[s] to make time,” demonstrating genuine care for both academic progress and wellbeing. He brings together “people with very different backgrounds,” with initiatives such as the Bioinference conference and collaborative exercises, while his “genuine interest in [their] culture and food” helps international researchers feel “welcomed and respected beyond [their] research role.”

Nominators describe how Ben goes far beyond supervisory expectations: he is “generous with his time,” meets frequently, runs mock interviews with senior faculty, and provides “detailed, iterative feedback tailored to the job.” From solving coding challenges side-by-side to offering career advice, references, and personal support, his “persistent curiosity and willingness to share knowledge” underpin a level of commitment that, as one nominator states, “has exceeded all my previous supervision experiences.”

Dr Christopher Couzens (Mathematical Institute)

Dr Christopher Couzens is a departmental lecturer in Mathematical Physics based in the Department of Mathematics. His research is focussed on geometric aspects of string theory, black hole physics and holography.

Chris’s approach to research supervision is marked by a rare combination of clarity, generosity, and genuine care for students’ development. One nominator highlights that he consistently designs “challenging projects … adapted to [students’] level and developing their abilities,” ensuring that each researcher is stretched while remaining supported. His ability to “formulate research questions in a pedagogical and accessible way” enables students to build confidence and independence, while his encouragement “always acknowledging and valuing [their] contributions” creates an environment where they can thrive.

Another nominator describes Chris as “the go-to person for almost all students … when it comes to help with their research problems.” His breadth of knowledge and willingness to share it mean that his impact extends far beyond his formally assigned supervisees. Importantly, he recognises that “students need supporting and encouraging in different ways,” adapting his approach “in a way [they] have rarely seen.”

Chris also cultivates an inclusive, encouraging culture. As one nominator puts it, he is “extraordinarily generous with his time,” with “his door … always open,” and he pays particular attention to underrepresented voices, “valuing [women’s] work and contributions” and ensuring they are “heard.” His encouragement helps build confidence across the group, especially among early-career researchers.

What distinguishes Chris most is how far he goes beyond expectations: mentoring students for talks, organising outreach, supporting postdoctoral applications, and guiding students to mentor others. As one nominator concludes, even as an early career researcher, he “functions as a faculty member, and is a role model for how to be a force for good in a research group.”

Professor Heather Harrington (Mathematical Institute)

Professor Heather Harrington is a director at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics and Professor of Mathematics at the Mathematical Institute in Oxford.  Her research focuses on the problem of reconciling models and data by extracting information about the structure of models and the shape of data.

Heather’s supervisory approach is distinguished by a combination of intellectual rigour, personal attentiveness, and a deep commitment to her students’ development. Nominators say she “creates regular opportunities for people to develop both technically and professionally,” pairing structured weekly meetings with an open door ethos so that “problems rarely stay stuck for long.” Rather than providing solutions outright, she is praised for “asking exactly the right questions” that enable students to think independently and build confidence in their research judgement.

A defining feature of her supervision is her ability to open doors. Nominators say she is “brilliant at connecting people,” frequently directing students towards collaborators, ideas, and opportunities that enrich their work. This extends to encouraging early and ambitious engagement with the research community: she “pushes her PhD students to give academic talks… right from the start,” and ensures access to conferences, advisory boards, and even grant writing, experiences described as “a relatively rare opportunity.”

Heather also fosters a genuinely inclusive and supportive culture. Nominators say she is “very intentional about creating a positive and inclusive culture,” embedding values such as “communication, respect, diversity, trust, transparency, wellbeing and rigour” into everyday practice. Her weekly cross-institution meetings and efforts to connect groups internationally “create a strong sense of community.”

Above all, her care for students as individuals stands out. Nominators say she “goes well beyond the essentials of supervision by caring about people as whole people,” offering thoughtful support, celebrating achievements, and enabling sustainable working practices.  With one nominator stating that her “philosophy is that researchers in a healthy workplace can do more and better mathematics.”

Dr Isabelle Taylor (Department of Physics)

Dr Isabelle Taylor is a postdoctoral researcher in the Earth Observation Data Group in Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics.

Her research involves the development of tools for studying volcanic clouds of ash and gas with satellite data, and using these to learn about volcanic clouds, their hazards and the potential impacts on the environment and climate.

Isabelle is recognised for outstanding research supervision through her exceptional commitment to developing students’ skills, fostering an inclusive culture, and going well beyond the expectations of her role. Central to her impact is a “unified training programme for MPhys students,” in which she delivers “a series of introductory lectures… including introductions to AOPP computing systems, LaTeX, Unix systems.” This structured yet inclusive approach ensures that opportunities are extended “to all students in the group, not just her students,” demonstrating a deep commitment to equitable development.

Her supervision is characterised by sustained, thoughtful support. Nominators highlight how she “devotes a significant amount of time to helping MPhys students applying for PhD programmes with practice interviews” and provides “insightful feedback” on presentations and applications. Importantly, she creates opportunities for peer learning, “encouraging other postdocs, students, and researchers to attend these practice presentations,” building confidence and collaboration across the group.

Isabelle also cultivates a highly positive and welcoming research environment. She is described as “approachable, encouraging, and supportive,” and “often present in the office,” making time to speak with students informally several times a week. Her efforts to include everyone - from daily coffees to group activities - ensure that “everyone is invited… not just the students she is directly supervising.”

What distinguishes Isabelle most is her dedication beyond formal supervision. From “Interview Q&A” sessions to intensive one-to-one preparation, such as a “three-hour practice session” that helped a student succeed, she consistently invests in her students’ futures. Her supervision “combines support with challenge,” enabling students to become independent, confident researchers.

Professor James Newton (Mathematical Institute)

Professor James Newton is a professor in the Mathematical Institute of the University of Oxford and a tutorial fellow at Merton College. His research interests are in algebraic number theory, particularly (p-adic) automorphic forms and Galois representations.

James’s approach to supervision is defined by a combination of intellectual ambition, generosity, and sustained personal investment in his students’ success. Nominators describe how he sets “ambitious yet realistic research projects,” supporting students to achieve outcomes that are exceptional for their career stage, from early publications to securing prestigious postdoctoral positions. His guidance is “consistent, relevant, and concrete,” underpinned by weekly meetings, tailored advice, and carefully designed study groups and seminars that build both subject expertise and presentation skills.

He creates an environment in which learning is collaborative rather than hierarchical. As one nominator reflects, he has “a remarkable ability to make [them] feel that [they] are working through a problem together as equals,” often opening discussions with phrases such as “Oh, I’m not really sure, but…” before offering incisive insight. This approachability fosters confidence, ensuring no student feels diminished when tackling complex ideas.

His commitment extends far beyond formal supervision. Nominators highlight how he runs mock interviews and presentations, provides detailed feedback on grant applications, and “always notes [unanswered questions] down and promptly follows up…with a detailed explanation.” Meetings frequently run long as he ensures deep understanding, reflecting a willingness to go above and beyond.

Equally striking is the inclusive culture he cultivates. Nominators say he is “always present at teatime, lunch, seminars, and seminar dinners,” and actively removes barriers to participation, even covering costs where needed.

Through both academic leadership and personal care, including “quiet, human leadership that …. makes an enormous difference to the people involved”, especially in times of difficulty, he has built a supportive, thriving research community that inspires others to do the same. 

As one nominator states, “his positivity has shaped me as a researcher and as a person, and he is the supervisor I aspire to be in the future.”

Dr Kirsty Sands (Department of Biology)

Dr Kirsty Sands is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Department of Biology. Her principal research interest is microbial bioinformatics and analysing large genomic datasets.

Kirsty stands out as an exceptional supervisor through her sustained commitment to developing researchers, fostering inclusivity, and providing unwavering personal and professional support.

Nominators consistently emphasise her dedication to skills development. She is described as “an ever-present source of inspiration and motivation,” who supports students “from the basics… to the intricacies of analysing microbiomes.” Beyond routine guidance, she actively creates opportunities—encouraging conference participation, sourcing funding, and even dedicating “entire days… to work on [a] first-author manuscript” and explain processes such as peer review. Her hands-on approach, including “get[ting] into the lab to teach… new techniques,” ensures tailored, practical training that enables independence.

Kirsty also cultivates a deeply inclusive and collaborative culture. Leading a diverse, international team, she “ensures everyone can say their point of view” and builds strong global partnerships, particularly with colleagues in lower-middle-income settings. Her “welcoming attitude” sets the tone from the outset, creating an environment where researchers feel valued and able to thrive, while initiatives such as hosting visiting collaborators further strengthen equity and shared benefit.

What truly distinguishes Kirsty is her care beyond academic expectations. She provides compassionate, intuitive support, “always… talk[ing] with [researchers] and offer[ing] all the guidance… [they] hadn’t even realised [they] needed.” Nominators highlight her ability to ensure that after every interaction, “[they] feel positive, strengthened and valued.” For many, she has created not just a research group, but a “research ‘family’,” where no one feels alone.

Together, these qualities exemplify an outstanding, transformative supervisor.

Dr Milan Klöwer (Department of Physics)

Professor Sebastian Bonilla (Department of Materials)

Professor Sebastian Bonilla is an Associate Professor of Materials Science and a Tutorial Fellow at St Anne's College, leading the Electronic and Interface Materials Laboratory in the Department of Materials.

Sebastian is described an exceptional research supervisor whose impact is repeatedly defined by his students as thoughtful structured thinking with genuine personal commitment. Central to his approach is encouraging independence: he “supports students taking early ownership of their projects, allowing them to define and steer their research,” enabling them to develop confidence and leadership early in their careers. As one researcher states, “when I was hesitant to apply for my fellowship, he encouraged me to apply and believe I could succeed even when I did not believe it myself.”

Sebastian pairs this trust with extensive, hands-on support. He shares “code, data-processing tools, scientific writing tips, and records video tutorials,” and is “available to meet 1:1 at short notice,” creating an environment where students can progress quickly. One nominator says he goes “consistently… beyond expectations in responsiveness and commitment,” highlighting the reliability that underpins his supervision. Crucially, he goes above and beyond expectations: he “spent a weekend diagnosing a major instrument issue to avoid disruption” and took “time out of his holiday to give detailed feedback” so a student could submit their thesis on time. His dedication extends to career development, facilitating an internship that “led directly to employment,” where the graduate went on to develop “world-record efficiency solar cells,” and supporting others to organise international conferences and take on leadership roles.

Equally significant is his commitment to an inclusive, supportive culture. His group handbook explicitly prioritises “mental health, discouraging overwork, and supporting flexible working,” and he actively fosters a “non-judgmental environment with clear, constructive feedback.” He also demonstrates exceptional care for personal circumstances, for example “immediately encourag[ing]… flexible working” for a new parent.

Through this combination of encouragement, responsiveness, and extraordinary dedication, Sebastian creates an environment where researchers flourish—making him truly deserving of recognition for Outstanding Research Supervision.

Professor Susan Perkin (Department of Chemistry)

Professor Susan Perkin is Professor of Physical Chemistry and Fellow of Trinity College. She is the head of the Electrolytes & Interfaces Group at the Perkin lab, University of Oxford. They are an experimental research group exploring the physics and physical chemistry of liquids and soft matter.

Nominators describe Susan as an “exceptionally supportive supervisor” whose sustained commitment to her researchers’ development has a lasting impact on their confidence, independence, and success.

They emphasise her “timely, consistent, constructive, and encouraging feedback,” alongside her dedication to weekly one to one meetings that create “the time and space to explore… research passions” while ensuring guidance is always available. Her impact is tangible, with one researcher crediting her mentorship with helping them secure a prestigious Marie Skłodowska Curie Fellowship and a subsequent academic post.

Her supervisory approach actively builds both confidence and independence. Through regular discussion, she helps researchers “develop… scientific planning and critical thinking skills,” while also supporting resilience by “understanding that it often takes a few tries and offers lots [of] encouragement.” She balances close engagement with trust, giving researchers “lots of autonomy in managing [their] own research projects,” enabling them to grow into independent researchers.

Susan also creates a deeply inclusive and supportive research culture. Nominators highlight how she ensures “every member has an equal opportunity to contribute,” fostering a “friendly and collegiate and not at all intimidating” environment. Her care extends beyond research outputs to wellbeing, with regular check ins and shared celebrations of success.

Crucially, Susan goes far beyond formal supervisory duties as nominators describe how she “proactively identifies funding and fellowship opportunities,” fosters collaborations, and even revitalised community-building initiatives, stating that she “massively rebuilt the social environment in the building which suffered during the disruption of the pandemic”. Her leadership reflects genuine, sustained investment in both the professional success and wellbeing of her researchers.

Professor Thomas Adcock (Department of Engineering)

Professor Thomas Adcock is Professor of Engineering Science, Tutorial Fellow and Senior Tutor at St Peter's College. His research group looks at how engineers understand the ocean environment and how infrastructure interacts with this and seek to understand ocean hydrodynamics for applications such as marine energy—primarily offshore wind.

Thomas is described as an exceptional supervisor whose mentorship combines thoughtful, adaptive guidance with deep personal investment in his researchers’ growth. His approach is “far from a one-size-fits-all model,” demonstrating a “keen emotional intelligence” that allows him to tailor support—providing “gentle, steady scaffolding” for those building confidence, while granting “high-level autonomy to senior members.” His commitment is evident in his “rigorous” weekly one-to-one meetings and his habit of “championing students’ work in their absence,” results in him quietly strengthening their professional reputations.  As one nominator puts it; “I would not be in my current lectureship without his belief, time, and unwavering support.”

He cultivates independence by challenging researchers to think critically rather than simply execute, as one nominator states: “mentorship at this level isn’t about providing answers, but about asking the right questions.” By encouraging students to justify assumptions and lead responses to external critiques, he “accelerated [the] transition from a student to a peer in the global academic community.” His practical support is equally striking—offering extra tutorials, editing papers “line by line,” and preparing students through mock presentations and interviews that lead to major prizes and career success.

Beyond formal supervision, Thomas creates a deeply supportive and inclusive culture. He is “consistently approachable and responsive,” organizing “welfare walks” during lockdown and fostering cohesion through “away days… punting trips, and open research discussions.” He normalises failure, ensuring setbacks “never allow… personal doubts,” and, as one nominator describes, provides “pastoral care and career sponsorship that far exceeds any formal university mandate.”