Professor Dame Jessica Corner joined the University in January 2016 and has been reviewing the structures necessary to optimize successful delivery of Research and Knowledge Exchange as set out in Global Strategy 2020.

As a result Research and Graduate Services (RGS) and Business Engagement and Innovation Services (BEIS) will merge from 1 May 2016, creating a new Research, Enterprise and Graduate Services organisation.

By bringing together these key departments the University will increase operational effectiveness through closer working on impact, bids, and contracts.

The organisation will be led by Dr George Baxter, who will report in to the Chief Financial Officer, with a dotted line to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange.

Three new Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor roles will also be created, reporting directly to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange. Dr Richard Masterman will be APVC for Research Strategy, Policy, Performance and REF. The APVCs for Graduate School and Research Career Development, and Innovation, Impact and Business Engagement are yet to be appointed.

Professor Dame Jessica Corner, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange, said: “Our plans for research set out in the Global Strategy 2020 are ambitious and far reaching. By combining these departments into one integrated organisation and creating the new roles we will give ourselves the best, most supportive platform from which to achieve those ambitions.”