The King's Supervisory Excellence Awards celebrate best practice in supervision and highlight the important role that supervisors play in the doctoral student experience and in the academic success of our doctoral students. Our faculty winners were selected for innovative and collaborative practice and were nominated directly by those students that have benefited from their support. Congratulations to all our winners and nominees.
Professor Rebecca Oakey, Dean of Doctoral Studies
08 December 2025
Meet the winners of the 2025 King's Supervisory Excellence Awards and Doctoral Support Awards.
The King's Doctoral College is pleased to announce the winners of the Supervisory Excellence and Doctoral Support Awards 2025.
The Faculty Winners of the 2025 Supervisory Excellence Awards are:
- Faculty of Arts and Humanities - Professor Susannah Ticciati & Dr Shuangyu Li
- Dickson Poon School of Law - Dr Lerong Lu
- King's Business School - Dr Ylva Baeckström & Professor Kirk Plangger
- Faculty of Social Science and Public Policy - Dr Melissa Glackin & Dr Wei Yang
- Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences - Professor Lev Kantorovich & Dr Maria Eugenia Sanz
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine - Professor Alexander Hammers
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience - Professor Robert Hindges
- Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences - Dr Jonathan Richardson
- Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care - Professor Louise Rose
Professor Rebecca Oakey, Dean for Doctoral Studies said;
Selected from our Faculty Winners by a panel of judges the overall King's Supervisory Excellence Award Winner for 2025 is:
Dr Melissa Glackin, who is a Reader in Science & Environmental Education in the School of Education, Communication & Society in the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy.
During her time as a supervisor at King's she has provided consistent support to all her doctoral students, from before they had even registered, through any difficulties they encountered including return to study after interruptions. Her supervisory guidance has helped them to see the bigger picture, what to prioritise, and how to avoid taking on too much whilst keeping the highest standards for themselves and their research.
On reflecting on her own supervisory practice Dr Glackin said;
To be a good supervisor you need to be genuinely curious about your students - their beliefs, their goals, and what drives them. You need to create boundaries and deadlines to help them to progress but leave space for ‘real life’ to happen, and get in the way, as it always does. Students need to have well timed challenge to help them to make progress but not be overwhelmed. Working closely with fabulous colleagues has helped me to learn, reflect, and grow, which in turn benefits my students.
Dr Melissa Glackin
The shortlist for the King's Doctoral Support Awards were also announced, with three winners, and two runners-up.
Winners:
Angela Casey, was nominated for her continued support for all doctoral researchers in the School of Education, Communication & Society where she works as the Technical Manager (Operations). The nominations specifically mentioned her management of the move to a new home for doctoral researchers and for building a thriving doctoral community in the school.
Brittany Thomas is a Senior Postgraduate Research Officer in the Dickson Poon School of Law and was recognised by both students and staff for taking a leading role in the School of Law, supporting students thought events and training alongside pastoral and practical support.
Dr Masirah Zain is a Post-doctoral Research Assistant within the Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and was nominated for her ongoing mentorship and informal supervision alongside developing personalised microbiology training and support for GTAs.
Runners-Up:
Dr Esther Cavett is a Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Music in the Faculty of Arts & Humanities where she is a caring and innovative mentor and role model, supporting research alongside professional and personal development of early career researchers.
Sarah Double is an Operations Officer (Education) in the School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine & Sciences where she leads on postgraduate research support for the school and their DTPs and fosters a strong sense of community and belonging for all students.
Dr Nigel Eady, Director of Research Talent said;
Many staff who are not supervisors also play a crucial role supporting our doctoral students. Our winners and runners-up for the King's Doctoral Support Awards are nominated by students or staff for going above & beyond in helping and guiding doctoral students. Their hard work and dedication is key to build a thriving research community at King's.
Dr Nigel Eady, Director of Research Talent
The King's Doctoral College staff awards received over 250 nominations from doctoral students and staff across King's College London and the award winners were announced at a special celebratory event that took place on Friday 28 November.
Each staff award winner will receive £1000 for their own professional development, which is shared if two winners are selected within one faculty.
The King's Supervisory Excellence awards have been run annually since 2006 and the Doctoral Support Awards were added in 2023 in recognition the high level of support doctoral students receive from staff outside of their supervisory team and the impact they have on building doctoral student community at King's College London.
In this story
Reader in Science & Environmental Education
Professor of Christian Doctrine
Reader in Clinical Communication and Cultural Competency
Reader in Law, Director of Postgraduate Studies
Senior Lecturer in Finance
Professor of Marketing
Reader in Health Economics and Policy
Professor
Reader in Physical Chemistry
Head of the PET Centre and Professor of Imaging and Neuroscience
Professor of Developmental Neurobiology
Senior Lecturer in Host Fungal Interactions
Head of Division of Digital Health and Applied Technology Assessment and Professor of Nursing