Rory R. Duncan

Rory has a strong academic leadership background at local, national and international levels. Previously the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Director of Talent and Skills responsible for a £2bn portfolio, he has held successive Wellcome Fellowships and founded the Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering at Heriot-Watt University, applying advances in engineering and physical sciences to life science challenges. He was PI and Co-Director of the Edinburgh super-resolution imaging consortium, and Senior Academic Lead for Strategy and Development for Heriot-Watt University. He holds research positions in the University of Edinburgh where he remains an honorary Professor and sits on many international advisory boards. Since April 2022, Rory has been Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation for Sheffield Hallam University. Rory has had c.£25m of funding awards in his research career and has won several prizes for research and innovation outputs and impacts. Rory has won many awards for science communication and was awarded the Royal Society of Edinburgh Senior Medal for Public Engagement for ‘passion and enormously productive advocacy for public engagement in Scotland, the UK and internationally’. He has a strong track record in widening participation and increasing diversity at all levels in education and research and was elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE) in 2022.