Imperial’s Provost is launching a global talent search for the first visiting Professors of a pioneering new programme.

Led by Professor Ian Walmsley, the Provost’s Visiting Professor programme will attract academics to carry out high-quality research at London’s top university and contribute to the Imperial community.

"This programme will bring some of the world’s top scientists to London to work in the very best research and teaching environment." Professor Ian Walmsley Provost

The annual programme, which is designed to recruit academics from Black-heritage and other underrepresented backgrounds, will host up to four new academics for between six and 12 months, with salaries and some travel costs covered by the College.

Imperial is seeking academics that have made significant contributions in their fields and will help further strengthen the College’s international partnerships with other institutions.

Visiting Professors will be hosted in one of the College’s departments on the basis of both of their proposed research programme and their plans for engagement with the wider College community through lectures and seminars, workshops, mentoring or public engagement. The programme is part of Imperial’s broader plans to increase the number of its academics from under-represented groups.

Imperial’s Provost Professor Ian Walmsley said: “Imperial is the UK’s most international university and our success is built on attracting talented people from all over the world.

"This programme will bring some of the world’s top scientists to London to work in the very best research and teaching environment. Science thrives on diversity of viewpoints and experience and Imperial is taking positive steps towards increasing our diversity.”

Improving diversity in our community 

Earlier this year Imperial committed to support Black and other underrepresented students with a series of generous scholarships and studentships.

The investment, launched by Imperial's President Alice Gast, will include £5 million for new scholarships and studentships for Black students and others from underrepresented groups or those facing financial barriers.

A further £5 million will support matching funds for a series of new scholarships for international students, as Imperial - one of the world's most international universities - further diversifies its global intake. 

World-leading institution 

Imperial is one of the world’s top universities and is ranked third in Europe by Times Higher Education. 
 
The College's 20,000 students and 8,000 staff are working to solve to the biggest challenges in science, medicine, engineering and business. 

Located in the heart of London, Imperial is a multidisciplinary space for education, research, translation and commercialisation, harnessing science and innovation to tackle global challenges. 

Imperial has close partnerships with world class institutions such as MIT and Harvard in the US, Germany’s Technical University of Munich (TUM), CNRS in France, the African Institute of Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), and Nanyang Technology University (NTU) and Tsinghua University in Asia. 

Find out more about the Provost's Visiting Professor Programme