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Our team has a broad range of experience and can support you to build new relationships and networks.

View the following information about each team member’s role, to find the right person to contact. To get in touch, email the Horizons Institute team at horizons@leeds.ac.uk 

Samantha Aspinall, Head of Interdisciplinary Research Development

Samantha is Head of Interdisciplinary Research Development at the à½à½AV. In the Horizons Institute, she leads on the Horizons Academy’s Global Crucible programme, an opportunity for à½à½AV and international colleagues to develop their interdisciplinary skills and ideas together.  &²Ô²ú²õ±è;

Samantha is part of the leadership team of the . She also sits on various panels and is a panel member for the UKRI Future Leader Fellows (FLFs). Samantha previously sat on the Bioscience Skills and Careers Strategy Panel, Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Doctoral Training Panels and most recently, the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) PhD review Group.

Kuldip Banger, Business/Project Support Officer 

As Business/Project Support Officer at the Horizons Institute, Kuldip supports the Institute Manager with day-to-day operations, systems and processes. She also supports the team with interdisciplinary projects and manages the Global Crucible programme.

Kuldip has previously worked in two other northern Universities, before she moved to manage training for postgraduate students in her role within Organisational Development & Professional Learning, à½à½AV. She continues to be an University mentor and is a Mental Health first aider.

Kate Kellett, Research Manager

Kate is one of four research managers at Horizons Institute and works with academics in the development and support of interdisciplinary networks, to address key research challenges, and to facilitate links with external partners to foster collaborative working. Kate has a background in academic research, previously working on research projects linked to Alzheimer’s disease, Vascular Dementia and Cardiovascular disease. 

At Horizons, Kate leads on our Horizons Platform programme connecting researchers at Leeds with those from to build collaborative interdisciplinary research in areas linked to Climate, Sustainability or Inequality. Kate is currently undertaking part-time secondments to Policy Leeds and the Reimagine Ageing Network to build interdisciplinary and policy-engaged research at the University.

Poppy Leeder, Research Manager

Poppy works with academics to develop their interdisciplinary skills and confidence, enabling  them to more easily collaborate with partners to deliver their research. She also designs and delivers a range of different activities that support the creation and development of novel research ideas to tackle challenges currently faced around the world, build productive collaborations and networks, and grow interdisciplinary capacity and culture across the sector. She is a qualified coach and is keen to use these skills to further support interdisciplinary research development.

She has a background in Research Support and communication. Before joining the University, she worked for two of the UK’s Research Councils and was also a Regional Liaison Officer for a Member of the European Parliament.  

Abi Rowson, Research Manager

Abi is one of four research managers at the Horizons Institute. Abi supports new interdisciplinary networks across the University, facilitating programmes and events with internal and external partners and helping academic colleagues come together and respond to global research challenges. 
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Abi has held several successful roles in research management and development. As manager of the Wellcome-funded Centre for the Humanities and Health at King’s College London, she helped bring academics, medics, and artists together in an interdisciplinary research programme The Boundaries of Illness. From September 2023 Abi will be on secondment for one day a week to the Policy and Intelligence Team at Leeds City Council where she will be building on the collaborative research partnership between the two institutions.
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Inés Soria-Donlan, Research Manager

Inés is one of four research managers at the Horizons Institute. In this role, Inés supports academics to engage with each other and external partners in meaningful and inclusive ways, to spark groundbreaking ideas for tackling global challenges. 

With a background in supporting creative education and grassroots communities to lead transformative social change, Inés has worked nationally and internationally across the academic, cultural and development sectors. She was most recently Project Manager of Changing the Story, a four-year international, multi-disciplinary action research project that explored the role of creativity and civil society organisations on youth leadership. She is also Chair of .

Stuart Taberner, Director

Stuart has held different teaching, research, and managerial roles in the School of Modern Languages, the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures, and across the University. Most recently, he was Dean for Interdisciplinary Research, helping to stimulate new research collaborations involving colleagues from across the campus and beyond. 

Previously a Director of Interdisciplinary and à½à½AV Research at UKRI, Stuart is a researcher specialising in German literature and Jewish studies, and directs . 

Karis Welch, Communications Manager

Karis oversees the strategic communications of Horizons Institute, managing multi-platform engagement, developing content, and supporting the development of communications from affiliated bodies across the à½à½AV.  

With a background in higher education and third sector communications, Karis is also a former print journalist and sub-editor.  

Lauren Wray, Manager

Lauren is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Horizons Institute including coordinating budgets and evaluation and reporting. Lauren currently overseas the interdisciplinary mentoring programme and leadership programme, Interdisciplinary Assessment College and Insight Series, and is undertaking The Institute of Leadership and Management Level 5 Diploma in Coaching and Mentoring.

Prior to the Horizons Institute, Lauren was the Project Officer at  (CTS), where she led on the co-design and coordination of the CTS Youth Research Board, a group of 11 young international researchers and leaders. Lauren has also worked on Praxis with partners including the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), and was seconded to the as Community Manager.