Professor David Leadley has been appointed as the University of Warwick’s new Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research).

Professor Leadley, who is presently Head of the Department of Physics, will remain in his current role and take over from Professor Stephen Jarvis, who is to leave Warwick after over twenty years in June 2020, as Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research).

• In addition to Professor Leadley’s new role, Professor Kerry Kirwan, of WMG at the University of Warwick, will take over from Professor Jarvis as Trustee/Founder Director of The Alan Turing Institute.

Commenting on his appointment to his forthcoming role Professor Leadley said:

“I am delighted to soon be starting in the role of Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research whilst remaining Head of Physics.

In my experience as an experimental scientist I thoroughly appreciate how world-leading experimental research depends crucially on access to state-of-the-art facilities and highly skilled technical staff. With this in mind, I am also particularly pleased that this DPVC role includes oversight of the excellent Research Technology Platforms at Warwick as well as promoting the recognition and careers of our technical staff through the Technician Commitment.

It is perhaps significant that today also sees the launch of the TALENT project with our partners in Midland Innovation to provide the largest ever investment into technicians in Higher Education. Now is certainly an interesting time to be thinking about university infrastructure, with some being rapidly repurposed to respond to combat COVID19 while others must be vacated yet maintained and kept ready for a return to full functionality that we all hope will not be too long in coming.”

Commenting on Professor Leadley’s appointment Professor Pam A. Thomas, the University of Warwick’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research, said:

“I am very much looking forward to working with David in the interim DPVC(R) role over the rest of this year. Through his many years of experience as an experimental scientist, we will benefit from his stewardship of the Research Infrastructure within the University. Following also from his successful period as HoD of Physics, we will gain also from his accumulated knowledge of management in Higher Education.

I am particularly grateful that he has agreed to take on this important DPVC portfolio simultaneously with maintaining his headship of Physics and I look forward to supporting him in the role”.

Professor Leadley has worked on the optical and electronic properties of both Group IV and III-V semiconductor heterostructures for over thirty years, using an understanding of the underlying physics to improve material and device performance.

His recent research has included an interest in the SiGe based systems and using Ge for advanced CMOS and beyond CMOS applications in electronics, photonics, spintronics, photovoltaics and thermoelectrics. He has also been involved in many collaborative projects and played a major role in setting up and running the European SiNANO Network.

Professor David Leadley