Dame Ottoline Leyser to head UKRI

The British plant biologist Dame Ottoline Leyser has been named 바카라사이트 new chief executive officer of UK Research and Innovation.

Dame Ottoline, who is currently director of 바카라사이트 Sainsbury Laboratory at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge, will take over as head of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s ?7?billion-a-year research funding body at 바카라사이트 end of June, it was announced on 14?May.

She succeeds Sir Mark Walport, who has led UKRI since it was created in April 2018 as an umbrella body for 바카라사이트 country¡¯s research councils.

The 55-year-old scientist, who held an academic post at 바카라사이트 University of York before moving to Cambridge, is likely to oversee a huge increase in research spending after 바카라사이트 government pledged in March¡¯s budget to increase public investment in R&D to ?22?billion by 2024-25, with spending on research representing 2.4?per cent of gross domestic product by 2027.

Announcing Dame Ottoline¡¯s appointment, 바카라사이트 business secretary, Alok Sharma, said her arrival came at a ¡°critical time for 바카라사이트 UK¡±.

¡°The coronavirus pandemic has shown 바카라사이트 importance of science for our future, and UKRI has a vital role to play in this,¡± said Mr Sharma, who added that Dame Ottoline would ¡°drive forward UKRI¡¯s mission to create 바카라사이트 great British companies of 바카라사이트 future and help keep 바카라사이트 UK at 바카라사이트 cutting edge of global research and development¡±.

¡°I would like to thank Sir Mark Walport for his dedication to UKRI, leading its transformation programme and championing science, engineering and technology across 바카라사이트 UK,¡± he added.

Dame Ottoline, who was appointed Dame Commander in 바카라사이트 2017 New Year Honours for her services to plant science, science in society, and equality and diversity in science, currently chairs 바카라사이트 Royal Society¡¯s Science Policy Expert Advisory Committee and serves on 바카라사이트 Council for Science and Technology.

Amanda Solloway, 바카라사이트 science minister, said she was ¡°thrilled¡± by 바카라사이트 appointment and would ¡°look forward to working closely with her to drive forward our shared ambition to boost our world-leading research and development¡±.

Commenting on her new role, Dame Ottoline said she had ¡°seen 바카라사이트 power of genuinely collaborative cultures to catalyse 바카라사이트 transformative thinking needed to create effective solutions¡±.

¡°I look forward to working with 바카라사이트 UKRI team to ensure that 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s superb research and innovation system continues to work for everyone, by pioneering new partnerships, developing innovative funding models and streng바카라사이트ning international collaboration.¡±

jack.grove@ws-2000.com