Academic progression guidance pertaining to interdisciplinary science research

Durham University’s academic promotion framework explicitly accommodates and values interdisciplinary science research, recognising the distinctive contributions such work makes across research and education.

All academic staff are considered for progression through a structured academic progression process, assessed against institution-wide benchmarks. These benchmarks are intentionally designed to be inclusive of non-traditional, interdisciplinary, and collaborative forms of academic excellence. Researchers working across scientific disciplines are encouraged to evidence the unique reach, integration, and impact of their interdisciplinary outputs, with clear opportunities to frame their contribution beyond the scope of a traditional single field.

Promotion cases involving formal joint appointments across departments, common in interdisciplinary science contexts, are supported by a process that includes input from all relevant units.Durham University continues to strengthen its institutional support for interdisciplinary research, not only through promotion mechanisms but also through strategic investment, shared research infrastructure, and cross-departmental collaboration facilitated by the Faculty Research Committees and Research Institutes.

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