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Dr Eugenie Regan appointed Vice President, Research Solutions at Springer Nature

10 June 2020

The article at a glance

Executive MBA (EMBA) alumna Dr Eugenie Regan heading up new division to provide services for global publisher’s research community. Dr Eugenie Regan …

Executive MBA (EMBA) alumna Dr Eugenie Regan heading up new division to provide services for global publisher’s research community.

Eugenie Regan from the EMBA class of 2018.
Eugenie Regan (EMBA 2018)

Dr Eugenie Regan (EMBA 2018) has joined academic publishing company Springer Nature, heading up its new Research Solutions department.

Dr Regan’s team is dedicated to supporting researchers improve the quality of their work and achieve immediate higher profile for their publications.

Joining after a successful tenure as Manager for the UN Environment Project World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC)’s Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool, Dr Regan is applying her skills to manage higher levels of revenue, a larger team and a greater number of business lines.

“Springer Nature endeavours to provide the best possible service to the whole research community,” says Dr Regan, based in Cambridge. “We help authors share their discoveries, enable researchers to locate, access and understand the work of others, and support librarians and institutions with innovations in data and technology.”

As an ecologist with a PhD from the National University of Ireland, Galway, with an extensive publishing history of her own research, Dr Regan was already familiar with her new industry and company from a client perspective.

“Having published with Springer Nature earlier in my career, I bring a deep understanding of our users and their perspectives,” continues Dr Regan. “I understand what’s useful to researchers because I’ve been in their position.”

Transitioning from research to strategy

Dr Regan undertook the Cambridge Executive MBA programme in 2018 to complement her scientific background with core business and leadership skills.

“One of my immediate tasks in my new role was something that I had serendipitously studied in detail in the EMBA,” says Dr Regan, a member of St Catharine’s College.

“Less tangible has been the confidence I have developed because of the EMBA – we had to juggle so much during the last two years – I’m not intimidated by large challenges now.

“Having come out the other side, I feel much more confident taking on big challenges and know that I can make it work.”

Transitioning from scientific research to roles with an entrepreneurial focus is a long-term ambition of Dr Regan’s, with the skills to do so developed and crystallised during her time on the Executive MBA programme.

“A key part of the EMBA experience for me was fuelling my entrepreneurial skills and ambitions. I am an excellent scientist but personally always found the world of science stifling. Whenever my entrepreneurial skills were nurtured in my career, I flourished. This current career move has been about embracing my entrepreneurial skills and spirit – and I know that this is where my future is.”

Empowering researchers in a global crisis

Starting a new role during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis has put Dr Regan in the unusual situation of not being able to connect with her new colleague face-to-face as soon as she would have liked. Working remotely for the time being, she speaks of challenges and opportunities within the publishing sector.

“My team have already pivoted many of our products in light of the current situation and there are opportunities here for us to offer digital solutions to universities and research institutes. “Researchers are working fast and need our support in their work. Their peers and users need access to the research as soon as possible, increasing the pressure on them to deliver. Barriers such as language and geography need to break down. This is where Research Solutions focuses. Thus, benefitting researchers but also society as a whole.”