Meet the team
Our team has a broad range of experience in interdisciplinary research development and can support you to make new connections. View the following information to find the right person to contact. To get in touch, email the Horizons Institute team at [email protected]
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Samantha Aspinall
Head of Interdisciplinary Research Development
Samantha is Head of Interdisciplinary Research Development at the University of Leeds. In the Horizons Institute, she leads on the Horizons Academy’s Global Crucible programme, an opportunity for University of Leeds and international colleagues to develop their interdisciplinary skills and ideas together.
Samantha is part of the leadership team of the Future Leader Fellows Development Network. She also sits on various UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) 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.
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Kuldip Banger
Business Support Officer
As Business 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, University of Leeds. She continues to be an University mentor and is a Mental Health first aider.
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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 The University of the Witwatersrand 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.
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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.
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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.
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 June 2026, Abi is on secondment to the Universities Policy Engagement Network (UPEN) as Head of Knowledge Mobilisation where she will delivering UPEN’s Place Programme.
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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 South Asian Arts UK.
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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 International Research at UKRI, Stuart is a researcher specialising in German literature and Jewish studies, and directs Praxis.
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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 University of Leeds.
With a background in higher education and third sector communications, Karis is also a former print journalist and sub-editor.
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Lauren Wray
Institute Manager
Pronouns: She/Her
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, leadership programme, and Interdisciplinary Assessment College 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 Changing the Story (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 UKRI Future Leaders Followship Development Network as Community Manager.
