Announcements

Professor Alan Spivey has been appointed as Assistant Provost (Learning and Teaching), with effect from 1 August 2017, for an initial period of two years. This is in addition to his role as Professor of Synthetic Chemistry in the Department of Chemistry.

Reporting to the Vice-Provost (Education), Professor Spivey will help to lead the delivery of the College’s new Learning and Teaching Strategy, engaging with senior leaders across the College. The main focus of the post will be the review of curriculum and assessment and the transformation of pedagogy across all taught programmes. He will be a champion for the Learning and Teaching Strategy, providing strategic leadership and helping teams within the Education Office work together to support Faculties and Departments in the delivery of Learning and Teaching.

Professor Spivey joined the Department of Chemistry as a Reader in 2003 from the University of Sheffield. He was promoted to Professor in 2008. He has held a number of leadership roles in the department and the Faculty, most recently Vice-Dean (Education) for the Faculty of Natural Sciences from 2015 – 2017. His research interests are in the area of synthetic and biological chemistry. In particular, his group is developing new synthetic concepts and methods and applying these to address medicinal and biological problems relevant to the molecular understanding of cancers, asthma and crop pesticide resistance.

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Professor Paul Robinson has accepted appointment as Head of the Department of Aeronautics in the Faculty of Engineering from 1 October 2017, for a period of five years. He succeeds Professor Ferri Aliabadi, who has been Head of Department since 2009.

Professor Robinson joined Imperial in 1988 as a Lecturer, becoming Professor of Mechanics of Composites in 2013. He has held many leadership roles within the department, including Director of Undergraduate Studies, Director of the Composites Centre, Director of Green Aviation, and most recently Deputy Head of the Department.

Professor Robinson’s research has been primarily focused on the susceptibility of polymer matrix composites to delamination. This activity has included the development and investigation of tests for characterising delamination resistance and the development of methods for predicting delamination growth in composite components due to static loading and fatigue. More recently he has been developing composites that exhibit a ductile failure process and other composites which possess controllable stiffness and shape memory.

John Neilson
College Secretary & Registrar

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VICE-DEAN (EDUCATION)

Professor Omar Matar has accepted appointment as Vice-Dean (Education) for the Faculty of Engineering from 1 August 2017, for a period of 5 years.

Professor Matar joined Imperial as a Lecturer in 1998, becoming Professor of Fluid Mechanics in 2007. He has undertaken many roles in the Department of Chemical Engineering, including Undergraduate Admissions Tutor and Director of Undergraduate Studies. He is currently the departmental Director of Research – a role which he will continue to hold in conjunction with his new role of Vice-Dean (Education).

Professor Matar’s main area of research interest has been in interfacial fluid mechanics, transport phenomena and multiphase flows. He currently holds a Royal Academy of Engineering/PETRONAS Research Chair in Multiphase Fluid Dynamics.

VICE-DEAN (RESEARCH)

Professor Mary Ryan FREng has accepted appointment as Vice-Dean (Research) for the Faculty of Engineering from 1 August 2017, for a period of 5 years.

Professor Ryan joined Imperial as a Lecturer in 1998, becoming Professor of Materials Science and Nanotechnology in 2012. She has undertaken a range of roles in the Department of Materials, including Associate Head of Department for Research, Athena SWAN Coordinator, and Director of Postgraduate Studies. Currently Professor Ryan is the Faculty Ambassador for Academic Women and she will continue in this post in conjunction with her new role of Vice-Dean (Research).

Her research interests are in the area of applied electrochemistry, nanomaterials deposition and toxicity, and materials degradation; with a focus on developing in-situ approaches to the study of interfacial behaviour in nanoscale systems. She is the Director of the Imperial-Shell University Technology Centre in Advanced Interfacial Materials Science, a member of the EPSRC Strategic Advisory Network and a Trustee of the National Heritage Science Forum (as Imperial’s representative). She was appointed a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2015.

John Neilson
College Secretary & Registrar

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Professor Emma McCoy has accepted appointment as the Vice-Dean (Education) for the Faculty of Natural Sciences with effect from 1 August 2017. Professor McCoy succeeds Professor Alan Spivey, who has served in this role since 2013.

Professor McCoy completed her PhD in Statistics at Imperial in 1994, after which she joined the College as a Research Associate. She was appointed Professor of Statistics in 2014 and was the first female Professor in the Mathematics Department at Imperial. Professor McCoy served as Interim Head of Department between July 2010 and September 2011, and has served as Deputy Head of Department since October 2011.

Professor McCoy is a Fellow of the Institute for Mathematics and its Applications and a Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society. She is also a member of the Royal Statistical Society’s Academic Affairs Advisory Group and the Royal Society’s Advisory Committee on Mathematics Education, as well as serving as the Mathematics subject expert for the Department of Education’s discussions on reform of the National Curriculum.

Professor McCoy’s research interests include Time Series, Wavelets and Causal Interference, with a particular interest in Transport Studies.

John Neilson
College Secretary & Registrar

Read Vice-Dean (Education), Faculty of Natural Sciences in full

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:
Separations Engineering and Technology (SET), led by Professor Andrew Livingston – Department of Chemical Engineering

President’s Awards for Outstanding Research Team are conferred on the following teams:
Engineering Alloys, led by Professor Fionn Dunne – Department of Materials
Digistain team, led by Professor Chris Phillips – Department of Physics

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 Robert Snelgrove – National Heart and Lung Institute
Dr Ben Britton – Department of Materials

President’s Awards for Outstanding Early Career Researcher are conferred on the following staff:
Dr Stamatia Giannarou – Hamlyn Centre for Robotic Surgery
Dr Heather Battey – Department of Mathematics
Dr Emma Robinson – Department of Computing

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:
Miss Angela Lonergan – Department of Chemical Engineering

President’s Awards for Research Support Excellence are conferred on the following staff:
Mr Martin Kehoe and Mr Simon Johnson (joint award) – Department of Physics

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:
Tribology Group, led by Professor Daniele Dini – Department of Mechanical Engineering
Carbon Capture Pilot Plant (CCPP) team, led by Dr Daryl Williams – Department of Chemical Engineering

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 Medals for Excellence in Innovation and Entrepreneurship are awarded to the following staff:
Dr Frederic Cegla – Department of Mechanical Engineering
Team of Professor Anthony Barrett, Dr Matthew Fuchter, Professor Charles Coombes, Professor Simak Ali – Departments of Chemistry and Surgery and Cancer

President’s Awards for Excellence in Innovation and Entrepreneurship are conferred on the following staff:
Dr Daryl Williams – Department of Chemical Engineering
Professor Anthony Kucernak and team – Department of Chemistry

John Neilson
College Secretary & Registrar

Read President’s 2017 awards and medals for excellence in research in full

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
Professor Austin Burt – Department of Life Sciences

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.

Rebecca Holloway – Student Recruitment and Outreach

The Collaboration Award for Societal Engagement
For staff who have delivered successful engagement activities through collaborating with other departments and/or external partners.

OPAL, led by Dr David Slawson – Centre for Environmental Policy

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.

Professor Sara Rankin – National Heart & Lung Institute

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.

Pint of Science, led by Praveen Paul and Michael Motskin

Student Award
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.

Beth Rice, Department of Physics

John Neilson
College Secretary & Registrar

Read President’s 2017 awards and medals for excellence in societal engagement in full

The President’s Awards for Excellence in Education celebrate staff who have made outstanding contributions in teaching, pastoral care, 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.

President’s Medals for Outstanding Contribution to Teaching Excellence are awarded to the following staff:

Dr Elizabeth Hauke, School of Professional Development

Dr James Moss, National Heart & Lung Institute

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

Professor Kevin Buzzard, Department of Mathematics

Professor Sue Gibson, Department of Chemistry

Dr Andrew McKeown, School of Public Health

Dr Emma Passmore , Department of Earth Science & Engineering

Dr Mike Streule, Department of Earth Science & Engineering

Dr Shivani Tanna, School of Public Health

 

PRESIDENT’S AWARDS AND MEDALS FOR EXCELLENCE IN STUDENT SUPPORT

Awards for Excellence in Student Support are presented annually to recognise the importance which the College places upon providing a supportive learning environment for its students as part of its academic mission.

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

Professor Jan Cilliers, Department of Earth Science & Engineering

Ms Photoulla Mikellides, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

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

Dr Martyn McLachlan, Department of Materials

Ms Esther Perea, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Ms Janette Shiel, Faculty of Medicine Centre

 

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 research supervision, encouragement and support of postgraduate research students.

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

Dr Vahid Shahrezaei, Department of Mathematics

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

Professor Bassam Izzuddin , Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Professor Nina Thornhill, Department of Chemical 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 Kate Ippolito, School of Professional Development

Dr Janet De Wilde, Graduate School

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

Professor Lesley Cohen, Department of Physics

Dr Andrew Phillips, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

John Neilson

College Secretary & Registrar

Read President’s 2017 awards and medals for excellence in education in full

Professor Michele Dougherty, FRS, has accepted appointment as Head of the Department of Physics with effect from 1 January 2018, for a period of 5 years.

Professor Dougherty joined the College in 1991 as a Postdoctoral Research Assistant, and was appointed Professor of Space Physics in 2004.

Professor Dougherty is Principal Investigator for the magnetometer instrument onboard the Cassini spacecraft on its mission to explore Saturn and its neighbourhood. Her innovative use of magnetic field data has had an enormous impact on our understanding of the moons in our Solar System. Michele also lead the European science team which made the case to the European Space Agency for a mission to Jupiter and its moons and has subsequently been selected as the Principal Investigator on the magnetometer instrument for this mission called JUICE, due for launch in 2022 and scheduled to go into orbit around Jupiter’s largest moon, Ganymede, in 2032. In recognition of her research contribution and leadership, she has received the Institute of Physics Chree medal in 2007, the Royal Society’s 2008 Hughes Medal, a prestigious Royal Society Research Professorship in 2014 and most recently the Royal Astronomical Society Gold medal in 2017.

Dr Weir will be Acting Head of Department from 1 July 2017 until 31 December 2017.

Dr Kenny Weir joined Imperial College as a lecturer in 1994. In the Department of Physics he held the role of Senior Tutor 1998-2002 and from 2005 has held the role of Associate Head of Department which from 2016 incorporated Director of Research. His research interests are in optical metrology, optical fibre sensors and biomimetics in photonics. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Physics.

John Neilson

College Secretary & Registrar

Read Head of Department of Physics in full

Gideon Shimshon has accepted appointment as Director, Digital Learning Hub from 1 July 2017, for a period of three years.

In this new role, reporting to the Vice-Provost (Education), Gideon will be tasked with increasing the level of online and digital innovative education-related activity across Imperial, with the ultimate goal of establishing the College as a centre of excellence in this area within the sector. He will also play a key role in delivering the College’s new Digital Learning Strategy.

Gideon joins the College from Leiden University where he is currently Director of the Centre for Innovation. In this role, he founded the Leiden Online Learning and New Media Labs, which now offer MOOCs to 750,000 students worldwide, as well as HumanityX – an initiative which works with UN organisations, companies and NGOs to develop digital innovations for the peace, justice and humanitarian sectors.

John Neilson
College Secretary & Registrar

Read Director, Digital Learning Hub in full

Professor Nigel Brandon OBE FREng has accepted appointment as Dean of the Faculty of Engineering from 1 October 2017, for a period of 5 years. He will be the Dean-elect from 1 August 2017.

In this role Professor Brandon will be responsible for providing strategic leadership, planning and coordination for the Faculty of Engineering, and for driving continuing excellence in research and education. He will be a senior member of the College’s staff, sitting on the College Council, President’s Board and Provost’s Board.

Professor Brandon joined Imperial as Senior Lecturer in the then TH Huxley School for Environment, Earth Sciences and Engineering in 1998, having previously completed his PhD at Imperial. He transferred to the then Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemical Technology in 2001 and was appointed to the Shell Chair in Sustainable Development in Energy in the Department of Earth Science and Engineering in 2004. He held the role of Director of the Energy Futures Lab from 2005-2014, and was the founder of it as a College global challenge institute in 2009. Professor Brandon is currently Director of the Sustainable Gas Institute, the BG Chair in Sustainable Gas, and Vice-Dean (Research) for the Faculty of Engineering.

Professor Brandon’s research is focused on electrochemical devices for energy applications, with a particular focus on fuel cells, electrolysers, and batteries. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2008, and was awarded an OBE for services to UK-China science in 2011.

John Neilson
College Secretary & Registrar

Read Dean of the Faculty of Engineering in full