67 technicians from across the UK have been shortlisted for an acclaimed Papin Prize across ten categories.
In total, 328 nominations were submitted for the only UK awards dedicated to celebrating technical excellence and innovation in higher education and research.
Ten awards – including two new categories Apprentice and Sustainability – will be presented at the UK Higher Education Technicians Summit (HETS), taking place on Wednesday 9 July 2025 at the Leonardo Conference Centre in Leicestershire.
The Papin Prizes have continued to raise the visibility and recognition of technical professionals since they launched in 2015.
The shortlisted technical professionals and institutions are:
Apprentice
- Hannah Charlotte-Smith, Cranfield University
- Harry Watson, Queen’s University Belfast
- Oliver Wallwork, Henry Royce Institute, University of Manchester
- Rhiannon Denham, University of Nottingham
- Rebecca Stokes, University of York
Contribution to Infrastructure and Facilities
- Peter Lin, Brunel University of London
- Christopher Wilkinson, University of Cambridge
- Hayley Marhsall, University of Derby
- Miles Ratcliffe, University of Leeds
- Sue Gauntlett, University of Sheffield
- Andy Patrick, University of Sheffield
Contribution to Knowledge Exchange
- Isabel Saldanha, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
- Zachary Stavrou-Dowd, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
- Alberto Astolfo, University College London
- Piyal Samara-Ratna, University of Leicester
- Rob Moorehead, University of Sheffield
Contribution to Outreach
- Tony Davidge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute
- Tatiana McHardy, The Institute of Cancer Research
- Desart Ismaili, University College London
- Deborah Sym, University of Glasgow
- Helena Brown, University of Leeds
- Lorelei Robertson, University of Nottingham
Contribution to Research
- Simon Andrews, Babraham Institute
- Ines Figueiredo, The Institute of Cancer Research
- Robert Harniman, University of Bristol
- Lesley Morrison, University of Glasgow
- David Ashley, University of Leeds
- Steven Reynolds, University of Sheffield
Contribution to Teaching
- Ben Willetts, Aston University
- Kathryn Maskew, Loughborough University
- Christine Aldridge, Newcastle University
- Frances Cousins, University of Glasgow
- Michael Bayliss, University of Liverpool
- Jon Fullwood, University of Sheffield
Excellence in Sustainability
- Lynn Bjerke, Institute of Cancer Research
- Megan Williams, King’s College London
- Lucy Menage, King’s College London
- Eleanor Braithwaite, Loughborough University
- Linda Lightley, Northumbria University
- Ester Cecillia Santoso, Nottingham Trent University
- Ian Patmore, University College London
- Ed Brothwood, University of Hertfordshire
- Julia Byrne, University of Lincoln
- Jenna Lowe, University of Liverpool
- Lee Hibbett, University of Nottingham
- Richard Gammons, University of York
- Rebecca Sutton, University of York
- Jordan Liburd, University of Leeds
Best Newcomer
- Luke Knowles, Aston University
- Rita Dapaah, Babraham Institute
- Daniel Smith, King’s College London
- Holly Sutherland, London South Bank University
- Toby Hills, Norwich University of the Arts
- Willow Maxwell, University of Leeds
- Sally Schofield, University of Nottingham
Technical Team
- Lisa Jones & Nicola Hulme, Keele University
- NMES Engineering Education Team, King’s College London
- Fashion and Textiles Technical Tutors, Loughborough University
- Geography Technical Team, University College London
- Fashion Design and Innovation Technical Team, University of Leeds
- The Plant Growth Facilities Technical Team, University of Nottingham
The Professor Lord Bhattacharyya Lifetime Achievement Award
- Derek Davies, Francis Crick Institution
- Pauline King, Loughborough University
- Fred Hale, University of Bristol
- Jane Barker, University of Derby
- Jennifer Hibbard, University of Leeds
- Adrian Whitwood, University of York
- Yvette Hooks, Wellcome Sanger Institute
HETS 2025 is sponsored by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and Midlands Innovation. The Excellence in Sustainability award is sponsored by SocEnv.
Dr Kelly Vere MBE, Director for The UK Institute for Technical Skills & Strategy and Technician Commitment Programme Lead said:
“Many congratulations to all individuals and teams who have been nominated and thank you to the colleagues who took their time to nominate to raise the profile and status of technicians within the sector.
“The Papin Prizes recognise and celebrate the very best technical staff across the UK. Because the submissions are invited from people who work with technical staff, they also increase recognition and visibility of technicians,” she explained.
Shortlisted submissions will be reviewed by the Midlands Innovation Executive Management Group, comprising of Pro-Vice-Chancellors.
The awards will be presented at the 2025 UK Higher Education Technicians Summit which is taking place on Wednesday 9 July at Leonardo Conference Centre, Watling St, Burbage, Hinckley, LE10 3JA.