In this episode of PlaceCast, Rebecca Riley talks to Dr Conor O’Carroll about how research careers need to evolve to better support place-based policy and real-world impact.
Dr O'Carroll argues that traditional academic pathways, particularly the PhD as a route into academia, are no longer fit for purpose, with most researchers working beyond universities. The conversation highlights the need to move away from narrow publication-based assessment toward recognising skills, collaboration, and societal impact.
The episode emphasises stronger partnerships, placements, and cross-sector mobility as key to connecting research with local economies.
Overall, it calls for a more flexible, skills-focused research system that delivers greater value for people and places.
Placecast is a Local Policy Innovation Partnership (LPIP) Hub production based at City-REDI, University of Birmingham. Our new podcast is essential listening for those keen to explore the ins and outs of knowledge mobilisation for influence in central and local government, based on the view that it’s only through animating the power of place-based leadership that the wicked problems of 2026 can become more manageable.
Dr Conor O'Carroll is Director of SciPol Services Limited. As an independent consultant on research and higher education policy and funding, he focuses on researchers' career development with special attention to doctoral education and career assessment. He began his career as a physicist, graduating from University College Dublin with a BSc and MSc, and later pursued a PhD in Italy at the University of Pavia and the European Joint Research Centre, IPSRA.
He's a lead assessor for the EC Human Resource Excellence in Research Award and has worked on revising the European Researchers' Charter and Code. He's led European policy initiatives on open science and doctoral training, such as the development of the European Innovative Doctoral Training Principles and the European Framework for Research Careers.
Dr O'Carroll is an active researcher on national and European research policy, R&D, higher education, and researcher mobility policy, and is an accomplished commentator on R&D and higher education policy and funding. Recently, he led a year-long study on implementing the new European Charter for Researchers with 16 countries.
View Dr O'Carroll's LinkedIn profile.
Professor Rebecca (Bec) Riley is Co-Director of City-REDI, Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Regional Engagement, Director of the Local Policy Innovation Partnership (LPIP) Hub, and Professor of Enterprise, Engagement, and Impact at the University of Birmingham’s Business School.
Bec joined the University of Birmingham nine years ago to set up City-REDI, to build a distinctive local, regional, national and international research platform through the development of a Birmingham approach to understanding and facilitating growth in city regions.
Find out more about the LPIP Hub.