Two leading Imperial staff members have been appointed to the Council of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.

Professor Ian Walmsley, who is currently Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research and Innovation/Hooke Professor for Experimental Physics) at the University of Oxford and who is due to take up his post as Provost at Imperial in September, and Professor Nick Jennings, Vice-Provost (Research and Enterprise) have both been confirmed by the board of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

A total of 12 appointments to the board have been confirmed and they will take up their posts April 2018.

Professor Nick Jennings, who holds a chair in Artificial Intelligence in the Departments of Computing and Electrical and Electronic Engineering, is responsible for developing and providing leadership to the delivery of the College’s research and enterprise strategy, and for enhancing the quality, impact, management and delivery of research in the College.

He said: “I’m delighted to have been appointed to the EPSRC Council. The research councils play a crucial role in ensuring that the very best research projects in the UK get vital funding. I look forward to playing an active role in shaping this strategy.”

The EPSRC currently funds research across all faculties and the Business School at Imperial.

EPSRC's Chief Executive and Executive Chair Designate, Professor Philip Nelson, said: “I am delighted to be able to welcome both our new Council members and those who have been reappointed.

“Their diverse range of skills and wealth of experience across academia, industry and government will be invaluable assets to EPSRC and UKRI, helping us to achieve our objectives and build upon the UK's world-leading position in research and innovation.”

Funding research and innovation

The EPSRC is the main UK government agency for funding research and training in engineering and the physical sciences, investing more than £800 million a year in a broad range of subjects - from mathematics to materials science, and from information technology to structural engineering.

The nine Councils of UKRI will play a critical role in our strategy development and governance. The Council members will work with their Executive Chair to deliver their Council's aims and objectives and to support UK Research and Innovation's overall mission to maintain the UK's world-leading position in research and innovation.

Professor Sir Mark Walport, UKRI Chief Executive Designate, commented: “I am delighted to welcome these new Council members. Their stimulus, support and challenge will provide a critical role in the development of strategy and the governance of UK Research and Innovation. The diversity of their personal backgrounds, experience and expertise will ensure that we make the very best choices in how to invest wisely in research and innovation and develop capability and capacity for the future.”