Bright Ideas, Big Questions: Junior Research Fellows at Kellogg
Junior Research Fellows (JRFs) are early career researchers at the forefront of their fields, appointed on the strength of their original research and academic promise. As part of Oxford’s vibrant research community, they contribute fresh ideas, push disciplinary boundaries and help to connect cutting-edge scholarship with wider society – making them a vital part of the University’s, and Kellogg’s, intellectual life.
Last term, Kellogg College hosted a lively evening of ideas, innovation and inspiration, as three of our Junior Research Fellows took to the podium for a series of short talks designed to open a window onto their research – and the many ways academic work can help address real-world problems.
The event showcased the extraordinary range of disciplines within our community, from cutting-edge chemistry to climate ethics to heart repair after a heart attack.
Dr Christophe Ravaud
, a postdoctoral fellow at Oxford’s Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, shared his search for ways to help the heart heal after a heart attack. His work looks at how the body’s response to injury – particularly inflammation and scarring – can be managed to improve recovery. Christophe is working to identify new compounds that can encourage the growth of lymphatic vessels in the heart, with promising early results from a potential candidate called Kenpaullone.
Next came Dr Nim Benshalom, a Junior Research Fellow in Inorganic Chemistry, who challenged our thinking on materials science. He explored why traditional models based on crystal symmetry and X-ray diffraction – though hugely successful – cannot explain every property of a material. His work looks beyond the standard structure-function approach, asking how we can understand the behaviours of materials that don’t fit perfectly ordered patterns. Nim’s curiosity-driven research is matched by a passion for science communication and sharing the wonder of discovery with wider audiences.
Finally, Dr Alice Evatt, one of our Net Zero Fellows, asked a deceptively simple question: what do human rights have to do with net zero? Alice’s thought-provoking talk highlighted how climate action – however well-intentioned – can sometimes risk harming the very communities it aims to protect. From land grabs for carbon offsets to exploitative mining practices, she reminded us that researchers and policymakers have a duty to safeguard human rights alongside climate goals. Alice called for a sharper focus on international rights frameworks in climate research, making sure justice is not just an aspiration, but an enforceable standard.
Together, these three speakers demonstrated not just the depth of expertise within Kellogg’s academic community, but also how research of all kinds can make a difference in the world.
Our next Junior Research Fellows’ event will take place in Michaelmas Term, and details will be provided on the College website and in the newsletter in due course. Do come along for a chance to meet some brilliant researchers working to advance human knowledge and tackle global challenges.