Cathal is Research Culture and Assessment Manager at the University of Manchester, a role that combines developing, delivering and evaluating strategic initiatives that promote a positive research culture with overseeing preparation for the University’s submission to REF 2029. Previously to this, Cathal worked at Staffordshire University as Research Policy and Governance Manager, which included managing the institutions submission to REF 2021. He was seconded to Research England as part of the REF 2021 panel secretariat for the assessment phase of the exercise, working across all main panels but in particular supporting sub-panels in Main Panel C (social sciences). He completed a PhD in nineteenth century urban history at Keele University in 2018, but his current research focusses on parenthood and academia.