From Lab to Life: Training Researchers for Impact

Expectations on researchers are changing. Alongside scientific excellence, there is growing pressure to show how their work delivers benefits beyond universities and academic journals.

The Translating Research into Impact program responds to this shift by supporting early career researchers (ECRs) and PhD candidates to build the skills and confidence to achieve real-world outcomes.

Delivered by the NSW Decarbonisation Innovation Hub’s Land and Primary Industries Network and the Southern Queensland and Northern NSW (SQNNSW) Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub, the fully funded program will train participants in research translation, stakeholder engagement and communication.

The NSW Decarb Hub commissioned the program to build workforce capability and strengthen research-to-adoption pathways in support of NSW’s 2035 and 2050 net zero targets.

Following a competitive selection process, 23 ECRs from 10 universities have been chosen to take part, starting with a hands-on workshop at Southern Cross University’s Gold Coast campus on 26–27 February 2026.

Battle-tested tools

The Translating Research into Impact program was co-designed with an Impact Advisory Panel comprising academics, industry leaders, impact specialists and researchers. Their expertise helped shape a program grounded in practical experience.

Stephen Summerhayes, Research Innovation and Impact Lead with the Food Agility CRC and a member of the Advisory Panel, said ECRs want to make a positive difference, but research excellence alone is not enough.

“Much great research never sees the light of day. No one knows it exists, its value or how to use it,” he said.

“‘Go for impact,’ they say. But research innovation is a contact sport.

“ECRs need new ways of thinking and camaraderie. They need battle-tested tools to trial their ideas and develop impact literacy, to take accountability for their work and build connections with stakeholders.

“This training program is for those who don’t want to be bystanders.”

Translating Research into Impact participants (L-R): Charles Sturt University PhD candidate Stepheine Ukoji (left) discussing crop responses to frost stress in wheat and Southern Cross University researcher Karina Griffin, who works on blueberry rust and pest and diseases in avocados.

Rethinking engagement

The support provided by the program extends beyond the Gold Coast workshop, with interactive online sessions delivered over three months.

Key themes include understanding personal motivators, building impact literacy, mapping research impact networks, communicating research safely and effectively, and learning from real-world case studies. Participants will also gain access to practical templates and a research translation toolkit.

Project Lead Rebecca Lollback, SQNNSW Innovation Hub Lismore Node Manager, said the program encourages researchers to reflect on how their work is used outside universities.

“In academia, there is a lot of value placed on publications and grants,” she said.

“But imagine if we also focused on different questions. Who will your research help? How are you communicating with them? What problems will it solve? What will change? Why should people care?

“Our program aims to help ECRs change the way they think about their work and, as a result, important research will be shared with people who can directly benefit from it.”

Next-gen change-makers

The Translating Research into Impact program was open to researchers working across agriculture, decarbonisation, drought and climate resilience. Almost 50 nominations were received from partner universities, highlighting strong demand for structured, impact-focused training for ECRs.

Southern Cross University researcher Karina Griffin said she is looking forward to developing her communication skills.

“I’m really excited that I’ve been selected for the program,” she said. “I’m passionate about science, and last year I started being more strategic in posting about my research online, but I still have a lot to learn.

“I think this program will help me level up my professional public profile.”

Charles Sturt University PhD candidate Stepheine Ukoji said the program aligns closely with her goals.

“I have always been committed to producing research that speaks clearly to farmers and end-users, beyond academic jargon,” she said. “This opportunity aligns strongly with how I hope my work contributes to agriculture and climate-resilient food systems.

“I’m looking forward to learning, contributing and translating research into meaningful impact.”

Congratulations to the Translating Research into Impact program participants:

Stepheine Ukoji (CSU), Nani Gopal Das (CSU), Michael Reading (SCU), Reid Emery (SCU), Karina Griffin (SCU), Rehan Gunawan (UNSW), Gavesha Gunasekara (UNSW), Krish Singh (WSU), Kai Zhao (WSU), Paola Pisetta Raupp (WSU), Scarlett O’Grady (UoN), Michela Skipp (UoN), Javad Jafaryahya (UTS), Boyuan (Bryan) Zheng (UTS), Mehak Fatima (UoW), Ishara Mudiyansege (UoW), Allan Ruto (UNE), Hanna Amoanimaa-Dede (UNE), Katherine Polain (UNE), Asmita Amgai (UniSQ), Mohammed Hussain Seyar (UniSQ), Mahdiyeh Razeghi (Maddy) (UniSQ), Martyna Kotowska (MQ).