University appoints senior leader for interdisciplinary research
The University of Sussex has appointed Professor Alan Lester to a new role of Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Interdisciplinary Research.
Professor Lester, a geographer, has spent the past three years as Sussex’s Director of Interdisciplinary Research, heading up Sussex Research - a structure designed to foster cross-campus collaborative research.
Reporting directly to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research, this new senior role reaffirms the University’s commitment to interdisciplinarity, which has been one of its guiding academic principles since it was founded.
Just like the newly appointed Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellors for Equalities and Diversity , Professor Lester will split his time 50/50 between his new role and his teaching and research commitments.
As Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Interdisciplinary Research), he will continue to manage Sussex Research and its six research funding schemes:
He will also provide strategic research input to the Research Management Group; facilitate interdisciplinary research collaborations across schools; and facilitate management of the University’s major strategic research programme investments.
Professor Michael Davies, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research), says: “Coming together around big challenges, whether that be sustainability, neuroscience or digital humanities, gives our research a much greater impact.
“That requires breaking down the barriers between academic disciplines, which is what we’ve done at Sussex from the start.
“Alan has already made fantastic progress in reinventing this interdisciplinary spirit for Sussex in 2016 and beyond. I am looking forward to working closely with him in his new role to take this to the next level.”
Professor Lester says: “It has been exciting and enjoyable to establish Sussex Research with Michael Davies’ guidance and dedicated and inspiring colleagues in the Professional Services team.
“I am looking forward to the next steps in building further upon Sussex’s interdisciplinary research reputation.”
back to news listPosted on behalf of: University of Sussex
Last updated: Monday, 12 December 2016
