In this guest blog, Claire Spangler, from the InFrame Wellcome Project team, discusses the Seek, Find, Celebrate campaign – a project that aims to recognise and thank the people who contribute to our thriving research culture.
Research is often discussed in terms of metrics like publication counts or grant income. However, at the heart of every discovery is a community of people. Research truly thrives when we feel part of an engaging, fair, and collegiate environment where we help one another succeed.
To honour those who help create these collegiate conditions, the Seek, Find, Celebrate campaign is now open for nominations! This campaign is an informal way to thank the people who contribute to our research culture. It is not a competition, and there are no qualifications or judges. We simply name and thank everyone who is doing a great job!
Recognition Beyond Job Titles
At its core, InFrame views leadership as a network of skills and collegiality rather than a specific job title. This means anyone can be a leader in our research culture, including technicians, PGR students, professional staff, and management teams.
Why Recognition Matters
Recognition makes a huge difference to both the person being thanked and the person doing the thanking.
- For the Nominee: For many, it is the first time their extra effort has been formally or publicly noticed. It validates the unseen work our colleagues do when going above and beyond their job descriptions.
- For the Nominator: Taking a moment to nominate someone lets us hit the pause button in our busy days and look for the good around us. It is a moment of reflection that turns our focus toward collegiality and reminds us of the wonderful support networks we rely on every day.
It is easy to understand why a simple nomination matters by reflecting on the experiences of those who were nominated in the past. One 2025 nominee shared:
I was so touched by the nomination. I love making a difference and often find myself going beyond my remit, but it can feel as though this isn’t noticed. Being nominated showed me that it is, and I’m really grateful.
This reflection really highlights how the quiet, day-to-day acts of support and collegiality are what truly sustain our research community and make it a nice place to work.
There is also a third group positively affected through this campaign, the observers:
- Observers: those watching from the sidelines, who have not yet nominated or been nominated.
Culture is built by what we celebrate, and when we see others being thanked, it reinforces that Edinburgh is a place where being a good colleague matters!
I personally fall into this third category: I joined the University of Edinburgh and began working on the InFrame project in November 2025. When I learned about this campaign, I was struck by it immediately. In comparison to some of my past jobs, this level of open recognition and gratitude was genuinely heart-warming, and it made me both glad in my decision to come to UoE and excited to engage with Edinburgh’s culture! Even though I was not the one nominating (yet!) or being nominated, simply witnessing the process was comforting, endearing, and motivating! For a newcomer, it made a huge difference to see that collegiate behaviour and ‘going the extra mile’ are both seen and actively celebrated.
How to Get Involved
We invite all doctoral and postdoctoral researchers, academic staff, and research professional colleagues to take a moment and tell us who has had a positive impact on you:
- Nominations are just 100 words.
- The process is open to everyone, from technicians to supervisors to PIs, etc.
- The deadline is Friday, February 28th, 2026.
By taking a few minutes to submit a nomination, you are helping us build a more supportive and equitable research culture for everyone!
What Nominations Look Like
Not sure what to write? Last year, we received hundreds of heartfelt nominations. Here is a snapshot of the 2025 Padlet to give you a sense of the variety of contributions. (Also, viewable here: Seek, Find, Celebrate)
As a token of our appreciation, all nominees also received a digital badge to add to their email signature, showcasing their contribution to our research community. You may already have noticed some of these badges appearing in colleagues’ emails!
Future Showcases and Events
We are committed to sharing these stories of good practice across the University. We will be showcasing the 2026 nominations and the ‘collegiality hotspots’ we find at several upcoming events.
Please keep an eye on the InFrame LinkedIn for more information!
