Professor Sarah Metcalfe has been appointed as the new Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research & Knowledge Exchange, taking up the role in January 2024 once her interim appointment as Provost for the University of Nottingham in Malaysia concludes.

Professor Metcalfe has worked at the University of Nottingham since 2003, with roles including Head of School, APVC for Research and Knowledge Exchange for the Faculty of Social Sciences and lead of the Developing Sustainable Societies Global Research Theme.

In her most recent appointment as UNM Provost, Professor Metcalfe has been responsible for the leadership of UNM and its 5,000 students and published UNM’s Strategic Plan to guide its research and teaching to 2026.

Sarah has worked at higher education and research institutions across the UK and overseas. Her research and teaching spans climate change, air pollution and human-environment interactions across a range of timescales. Her current research is funded by the Leverhulme Trust, the AHRC and NERC.

A global recruitment competition will be launched shortly to appoint the next Provost for the University of Nottingham in Malaysia prior to Sarah’s departure.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Shearer West said:

“I am delighted to appoint Sarah as the new Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research & Knowledge Exchange for the University of Nottingham. I am confident that she will continue the work to deliver our new research strategy with the same passion she has shown for our operations in Malaysia.

“Following the achievement of the University’s excellent REF2021 results, which placed us 7th in the UK for Research Power, I look forward to Sarah working with our next Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research & Knowledge Exchange Professor Tom Rodden to implement the Research Strategy which represents the ideas of many colleagues across our community to enhance our research quality and performance.”

Professor Sarah Metcalfe said:

“I am really looking forward to taking up my new role as Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research & Knowledge Exchange and supporting Professor Tom Rodden. At the same time, I will miss my colleagues at UNM where I have truly enjoyed being part of our community in Malaysia and building on our strengths in education and research to make a real difference in Malaysia and the wider region.”