Announcements

Professor Edwin Chilvers (FMedSci) has accepted appointment as Head of the National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI) and Chair of Medicine with effect from October 1 2018. Professor Chilvers’ term of office as Head of the NHLI will be for an initial period of five years.

Professor Chilvers is currently Head of the Respiratory Medicine Division at the University of Cambridge and Director of Graduate Education at its School of Clinical Medicine. He qualified in Medicine from the University of Nottingham, was a medical registrar at Hammersmith Hospital before winning an MRC Clinical Training Fellowship, followed by a lectureship and then a Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellowship at the University of Edinburgh.

Professor Chilvers has a distinguished career in respiratory research. His main research interests are in inflammatory cell biology and, in particular, the intracellular signals that regulate the activation and survival of white blood cells, with translational relevance to a range of inflammatory lung diseases including COPD, asthma and acute lung injury. He was elected a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences in 2007, currently chairs the research committee of the British Lung Foundation and was the immediate past-President of the British Thoracic Society. He was awarded a ScD by the University of Cambridge in 2016.

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Professor Mark Thursz, Professor of Hepatology, has accepted appointment as Interim Head of the Department of Surgery & Cancer with effect from 1 August 2018, until a permanent successor to Professor Jeremy Nicholson has taken up appointment.

Professor Thursz joined the College in 1991 as a research fellow and was appointed Senior Lecturer in 1997. He was promoted to Professor in 2006. He was previously Deputy Head of the Department of Surgery and Cancer and will retain his roles as Clinical Director of Integrative Systems Medicine and Digestive Diseases and Director of the NIHR Imperial Biomedical Research Centre at the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.

Professor Thursz’ research is focused on viral hepatitis and alcohol related liver disease. His early work on genetic susceptibility and natural history of viral hepatitis identified a number of factors which determine clinical outcomes. He is also renowned for his translational research in alcoholic hepatitis and has recently acquired an MRC Stratified Medicine award to explore novel biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis and risk of infection in this condition.

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Professor Deborah Ashby, currently Interim Head of the School of Public Health and Chair in Medical Statistics and Clinical Trials, has accepted appointment as Director of the School of Public Health with effect from 1 July 2018, for an initial period of 5 years.

Professor Ashby joined the College in 2008, and since then she has occupied a number of leadership positions, including Co-Director of the Imperial Clinical Trials Unit.

Her research focuses on clinical trials, risk-benefit decision making for medicines, and the utility of Bayesian approaches in these areas. Professor Ashby was awarded an OBE for services to medicine in 2009 and was appointed an NIHR Senior Investigator in 2010. She was elected to the Academy of Medical Sciences in 2012 and is President-Elect of the Royal Statistical Society.

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Mr Oliver Gooch has accepted appointment of Director of Music and Director of the Blyth Centre, with effect from 1 August 2018.

In this role he will be responsible for fostering musicianship and musical and visual art activity at the College, including conducting the College’s flagship Symphony Orchestra and supporting other student musical ensembles.

Mr Gooch is a former Associate Conductor at the Royal Opera House, Guest Conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Hallé, and Philharmonia and a Music Director for Raymond Gubbay Ltd. He has conducted orchestras around the world, including the Queensland Symphony, Tasmanian Symphony, New York Sinfonietta, Orchestra I Pomeriggi Milano, and has recently made a debut recording with the RTÉ National Symphony. Mr Gooch has also been involved in student music at the University of Cambridge, conducting both university orchestras, and leading three international orchestra tours and four European choir tours.

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The President’s Awards for Excellence in Education celebrate staff who have made outstanding contributions in teaching, research supervision and supporting the student experience.

PRESIDENT’S AWARDS AND MEDALS FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING 

Awards for Excellence in Teaching are presented annually to members of academic staff judged to have been most outstanding in the quality, organisation and presentation of their teaching.

The President’s Medal for Outstanding Contribution to Teaching Excellence is awarded to the following staff:

Dr Mirabelle Muuls, Imperial Business School 

President’s Awards for Excellence in Teaching are conferred on the following staff: 

Mr Andrew Brand, Dyson School of Design Engineering

Ms Valentina Cattane, Graduate School

Dr Adria Junyent Ferre, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Dr Bradley Ladewig, Department of Chemical Engineering

PRESIDENT’S AWARDS AND MEDALS FOR EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH SUPERVISION 

The President’s Awards for Excellence in Research Supervision recognise staff who have made exceptional contributions in the supervision, encouragement and support of research students.

President’s Medal for Excellence in Research Supervision is awarded to:

Dr Krysia Broda, Department of Computing

Professor Yun Xu, Department of Chemical Engineering 

President’s Awards for Excellence in Research Supervision are conferred on the following staff:

Professor Dan Crisan, Department of Mathematics

Ms Karen Makuch, Centre for Environmental Policy

Professor Ahmer Wadee, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

PRESIDENT’S AWARDS AND MEDALS FOR EXCELLENCE IN SUPPORTING THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE 

The President’s Awards for Excellence in Supporting the Student Experience recognise the importance placed by the College on the contribution of all staff (academic, professional and technical) to underpinning the College’s learning environment for students.

President’s Medals for Supporting the Student Experience are awarded to the following staff:

Mrs Clare Drysdale, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Dr Wayne Mitchell, Department of Medicine 

President’s Awards for Excellence in Supporting the Student Experience are conferred on the following staff: 

Dr Louise Blakemore, National Heart & Lung Institute

Dr Simon Bland, Department of Physics

Dr Michael Emerson, National Heart & Lung Institute

Dr Matthew Greetham, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Dr Colin Hale, Department of Chemical Engineering

Mr Anderson Santos, Department of Mathematics

Dr Mark Ungless, Institute of Clinical Sciences

Dr Julie Varley, Department of Mechanical Engineering

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The President’s Awards for Excellence in Research are annual awards to recognise staff members who have made outstanding contributions in early career research, research support, as part of a research team, and in research innovation and external collaboration.

PRESIDENT’S AWARDS AND MEDALS FOR OUTSTANDING RESEARCH TEAM

The Award for Outstanding Research Team celebrates the achievements of research teams at Imperial, recognising outstanding research that delivers impact, a team’s international standing and their beneficial contribution to Imperial.

President’s Medals for Outstanding Research Team are awarded to the following teams:

Dhillo Research Group, Department of Medicine

MRC Centre for Outbreak Analysis and Modelling, School of Public Health

President’s Awards for Outstanding Research Team conferred on the following teams:

Human Tissue Team, National Heart & Lung Institute

Qatar Carbonates and Carbon Storage Research Centre (QCCSRC) 

PRESIDENT’S AWARDS AND MEDALS FOR OUTSTANDING EARLY CAREER RESEARCHER

The Award for Outstanding Early Career Researcher aims to celebrate the academic excellence and development of Imperial’s early stage researchers. 

President’s Medals for Outstanding Early Career Researcher are awarded to the following staff:

Dr Kim Jelfs, Department of Chemistry

President’s Awards for Outstanding Early Career Researcher are conferred on the following staff:

Dr Marc Deisenroth, Department of Computing

Dr Eva-Maria Graefe, Department of Mathematics

Dr James Harker, National Heart & Lung Institute

Dr Jun Jiang, Department of Mechanical Engineering

Dr Marc Stettler, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

PRESIDENT’S AWARDS AND MEDALS FOR RESEARCH SUPPORT EXCELLENCE

The Award for Research Support Excellence aims to recognise the contribution of Research Support staff at Imperial, including the beneficial effects their support has given to Imperial research and the innovative approaches/good practice they bring to a project.

President’s Medals for Research Support Excellence are awarded to the following staff:

Andy Thomas, Department of Mathematics

President’s Awards for Research Support Excellence are conferred on the following staff:

Allison Hunter, Department of Life Sciences

Mica Tolosa-Wright, National Heart & Lung Institute

Sarah Willis, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Christian Wright, Faculty of Engineering

PRESIDENT’S AWARDS AND MEDALS FOR EXCELLENCE IN EXTERNAL COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIPS

The Award for Excellence in External Collaboration and Partnerships celebrates the achievements of academics at Imperial, recognising the development of lasting external collaborations, and the impact of their research inside and outside Imperial.

President’s Medals for Excellence in External Collaboration and Partnerships are awarded to the following staff:

Centre for Process Systems Engineering (CPSE)

President’s Awards for Excellence in External Collaboration and Partnerships are conferred on the following staff:

Professor Mark Girolami, Department of Mathematics

PRESIDENT’S AWARDS AND MEDALS FOR EXCELLENCE IN INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

The Award for Excellence in Innovation and Entrepreneurship celebrates the achievements of academics at Imperial, recognising unique activities breaking new frontiers, the effective and appropriate exploitation of research, and realised or prospective economic or social impact. 

President’s Awards for Excellence in Innovation and Entrepreneurship are conferred on the following staff:

Dr Stefan Leutenegger, Department of Computing

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The President’s Awards for Excellence in Societal Engagement recognise and reward staff, students and community partners who have delivered excellence in schools engagement, community engagement, engagement with research and/or patient engagement.

The President’s Medal for Excellence in Societal Engagement

For individuals or teams who have made exceptional contributions to societal engagement.

Winner: Dr Annalisa Alexander, Student Recruitment & Outreach

The Achievement Award for Societal Engagement

For staff who have taken the initiative to deliver high-quality engagement activities with the public, schools, community groups and/or patients.

Team Award winner: Imperial Patient Experience Research Centre (PERC), School of Public Health

Individual Award winner: Dr Sunday Popo-Ola, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Team Award highly commended: The Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) team, Department of Surgery & Cancer

Individual Award highly commended: Priya Pallan, Academic Partnerships

Individual Award highly commended: Dr Nathan Green, School of Public Health

The Leadership Award for Societal Engagement

For staff who have demonstrated an on-going commitment to societal engagement; bringing enthusiasm and innovation to this area and actively supporting other staff and students to get involved.

Winner: Dr Roberto Trotta, Centre of Languages, Culture and Communication

Highly commended: Juliet Allibone, Department of Medicine

The Inspirational Partner Award for Societal Engagement

For individuals or teams outside Imperial who have made outstanding contributions that inspire and support us in the achievement of one or more of our societal engagement aims.

Winner: Fran Husson, Patient and Public Representative at the Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance

Student Award for Excellence in Societal Engagement

For undergraduate or postgraduate students who have taken the initiative to deliver high-quality engagement activities with the public, schools, community groups and/or patients.

Team Award winner: The Dean’s Student Advisory Panel, Imperial College Business School

Individual Award winner: Dr Ishita Marwah, National Heart & Lung Institute.

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Professor Jonathan Weber FMedSci, FRCP, FRCPath, has accepted the appointment of Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, with effect from 1 May 2018, for an initial period of 5 years.

Professor Weber has been the Acting Dean of the Faculty since 1 October 2017. Since 1991, he has been the Jefferiss Professor of Communicable Diseases and Genitourinary (GU) Medicine at Imperial and an Honorary Consultant Physician at the St Mary’s Hospital NHS Trust (now Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust).

He has held several senior roles at the College including Vice-Dean (Research), Head of the Department of Medicine and Campus Dean for the St Mary’s Campus. Professor Weber was appointed Director of Imperial College Academic Health Science Centre (AHSC) in 2016 – a role which he will retain alongside his role as Dean. He was also the Director of Research for the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust from 2007 to 2017 and Director of the Imperial NIHR (National Institute for Health Research) Biomedical Research Centre from 2008 to 2017. He is an NIHR Senior Investigator.

Professor Weber’s research has focused on HIV/AIDS, and the biomedical prevention of HIV infection. More recently, he has been working on HIV vaccine development, leading the UK HIV Vaccine Consortium, a Wellcome Trust-funded collaboration. Since 2001, he has been running active research projects in Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique and South Africa.

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Professor Ian Walmsley FRS has accepted appointment as Imperial’s next Provost, taking over from Professor James Stirling CBE FRS from 1 September 2018.

Professor Walmsley joins Imperial from the University of Oxford where he is currently Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) and Hooke Professor of Experimental Physics.

He graduated from Imperial with first class honours in physics in 1980, and completed his PhD at the University of Rochester. Professor Walmsley became Assistant Professor of Optics at the University of Rochester in 1988, and held a number of roles there before joining the University of Oxford in 2001 as Professor of Experimental Physics. He became Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) in 2009, and was appointed to his current role of Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) in 2015.

Professor Walmsley was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2012 for his contributions to quantum optics and ultrafast optics. He has held a number of leadership roles in the Optical Society of America, currently serving as President. Professor Walmsley was a member of the EPSRC Physics Strategic Advisory Team and was on the Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics’ Science Advisory Board.

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Professor Sian Harding, Professor of Cardiac Pharmacology, has accepted appointment as Interim Head of the NHLI with effect from 15 January 2018, until a permanent successor to Professor Kim Fox has taken up appointment.

Professor Harding joined the College in 1980 as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the NHLI, and was promoted to Professor in 2002. She has held a number of leadership roles within the department and the Faculty, and is currently the NHLI’s Athena SWAN Lead.

Professor Harding’s research focuses on cardiac muscle cells in the failing heart, including characterisation of these cells derived from embryonic stem cells, and their use in cardiac repair, tissue engineering and drug discovery. She is Director of the Imperial BHF Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine Centre, and is an elected Fellow of the American Heart Association, European Society of Cardiology, British Pharmacology Society and International Society for Heart Research.

Read Interim Head of the National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI) in full