Welcome to my first research update as Interim Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange. 

I will be in post until 1 October 2023, when Professor Tom Rodden takes over as Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Exchange. 

Alongside my new role, I will continue with the support of my colleagues as Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Engineering. In the past five years, thanks to the support of wonderful faculty colleagues and staff across the university, we have worked hard on developing a strong people culture in Engineering and are committed to making engineering, and all STEMM subjects, accessible and inclusive. 

I’m determined to support and extend this ethos to all disciplines across our university. My career began at Nottingham and for the past 20-plus years I have seen real progress in the staff development and support offered to researchers. Research and Innovation, and colleagues at school and faculty level, working with former PVC Professor Dame Jessica Corner and latterly my predecessor as Interim PVC-RKE, Professor Neil Crout, have streamlined processes and better targeted support. But there are frustrations and there remains more to do. 

Read Professor Kingman’s full update 

The focus will remain on how we can better help our researchers deliver excellence.  Over the coming months I will share news of internal initiatives, investment, support and opportunities for researchers. I’ll celebrate your successes and recognition of colleagues and teams – please do tell me what is going well or ideas about how we can do better. 

And while a key priority will be on research culture and improving the environment for researchers, we will highlight how the university anticipates and responds to strategic opportunities and challenges, and what this means for you. 

My thanks and best wishes 

Sam 

Professor Sam Kingman
Interim Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange