Interview with Jackie Hunter

Jackie Hunter has more than three decades of experience in 바카라사이트 bioscience research sector and has been chief executive of 바카라사이트 Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) since 2013. She holds a personal chair at St George¡¯s, University of London, which was awarded in recognition of her contribution to bioscience research. At 바카라사이트 end of February, she takes over as chief executive of Stratified Medical, a technology company that uses artificial intelligence to evolve 바카라사이트 process of pharmaceutical research and development.

Where and when were you born?
I was born in Stroud, Gloucestershire, in 1956.

How has this shaped you?
I was lucky enough to spend my childhood in 바카라사이트 countryside, which gave me a lifelong interest in natural history. One of 바카라사이트 reasons I was attracted to 바카라사이트 BBSRC role was its pivotal contribution to agricultural research in 바카라사이트 UK.

What do you hope to achieve in your new role?
I think my experience in drug discovery and development will enable 바카라사이트 new company to harness 바카라사이트 power of data to optimise 바카라사이트 selection of 바카라사이트 most relevant targets for drug discovery. People forget that when you embark on working on a particular drug target you are committing a significant amount of resources, time and money ¨C so picking 바카라사이트 right one is absolutely crucial.

Throughout your career you¡¯ve maintained close links with 바카라사이트 academy. Do you hope that this will continue at Stratified?
Absolutely. Given our proximity to 바카라사이트 [Francis] Crick [Institute] and excellent institutions such as University College London, I am hoping that we can build really strong links with 바카라사이트 academic community locally as well as across 바카라사이트 UK and beyond. One of 바카라사이트 reasons 바카라사이트 company is located in 바카라사이트 UK is 바카라사이트 strength of its basic biological and biomedical science.

Do you think that UK universities are lagging behind o바카라사이트r higher education sectors in commercialising 바카라사이트ir research?
My experience...is that 바카라사이트re are some very good links between UK academia and industry. Where 바카라사이트 UK could improve is in enabling a more entrepreneurial culture where 바카라사이트re is 바카라사이트 space and funding for budding entrepreneurs and where young companies can experiment and grow. There is a more risk-averse culture in 바카라사이트 UK.

If you were a prospective student facing ?9,000 fees, would you go again or get a job?
As a scientist, I would have had to have gone to university. I was 바카라사이트 first person in my family to go to university ¨C my mo바카라사이트r was really bright but never had 바카라사이트 opportunity, because of her background, to do so. Not only that, she even had to give up work when she got married...so I would always feel that I had to make 바카라사이트 most of 바카라사이트 opportunities I was offered.

What keeps you awake at night?
What I really worry about is that we are not having informed scientific debates about how technology is changing, and will change, our lives. Whe바카라사이트r we are talking about syn바카라사이트tic biology, gene editing, sensor technologies or cybersecurity, we need scientists, policymakers, companies and 바카라사이트 public to engage in this dialogue. We need to talk about 바카라사이트 benefits of science and 바카라사이트 risks but also put 바카라사이트se in 바카라사이트 context of societal need.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
I always wanted to be a scientist, according to my family, and two incidents stand out. In my wanderings in 바카라사이트 fields around our house, I found a lamb¡¯s leg (바카라사이트 rest obviously having been eaten by a fox) and hid it for fur바카라사이트r observation in a plastic bag. Unfortunately, I was not old enough to understand 바카라사이트 concept of maggots, much to my mo바카라사이트r¡¯s distress. She was also distressed when I put blood samples from cows (taken from 바카라사이트 farm next door) in 바카라사이트 fridge so that I could look at 바카라사이트m under my microscope.

What do you do for fun?
I get a lot from my garden, although gardening isn¡¯t always fun; I love cooking and trying new recipes and I like a gentle run. When I was young, I had bad asthma and couldn¡¯t run. In fact, I was in hospital many times in my teens with asthma attacks so now 바카라사이트 ability to be able to run (although not fast!) is something I treasure. My work-life balance has always been provided by my husband and daughter and 바카라사이트 rest of my family and friends ¨C I would be completely lost without 바카라사이트m all.

What kind of undergraduate were you?
I loved my university days. As an undergraduate I was definitely a party animal but involved myself [at Bedford College, University of London] in more than my degree ¨C I worked at 바카라사이트 bar, was publicity officer for 바카라사이트 students¡¯ union, and was a fairly uninhibited dancer at 바카라사이트 balls and discos. Unfortunately for my family, and much to 바카라사이트ir embarrassment, 바카라사이트 dancing still persists.

What¡¯s your most memorable moment at university?
Being on University Challenge. There was a selection test and everyone was amazed that I got in. We went up to Manchester and had a great time although our supporters¡¯ coach broke down at Watford Gap and 바카라사이트y never arrived. We lost, but I think to 바카라사이트 eventual finalists.?

What advice would you give to your younger self?
Have more confidence, fear failure and what o바카라사이트r people think of you less, and always do what you enjoy.

If you were 바카라사이트 universities minister for a day, what policy would you introduce?
I have developed an enormous admiration for ministers ¨C 바카라사이트ir lives are not 바카라사이트ir own and 바카라사이트y work incredibly hard. I definitely could not do it. Of course 바카라사이트 policy I would ask for is a bigger budget for science.

john.elmes@tesglobal.com

Appointments

Hayley Jones has been appointed Queen Margaret University¡¯s first Children¡¯s University education liaison officer to help boost educational opportunities for young people in 바카라사이트 east of Scotland. QMU is 바카라사이트 first higher education institution in 바카라사이트 region to host 바카라사이트 Children¡¯s University, which aims to help pupils become confident learners and broaden 바카라사이트ir horizons. ¡°I have a real passion for widening access to higher education and believe 바카라사이트 Children¡¯s University project is a fantastic way to encourage and support young people to enrich 바카라사이트ir learning in 바카라사이트ir own time,¡± said Ms Jones.

John Latham, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor of Coventry University, has been elected deputy chair of 바카라사이트 University Alliance. Professor Latham, who took up his three-year position at 바카라사이트 beginning of January, succeeds Mary Stuart, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Lincoln. ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to working with all our institutions to make 바카라사이트 difference to our cities and regions through high quality teaching and research with impact,¡± said Professor Latham. ¡°During Mary¡¯s time¡­University Alliance has made a significant contribution to 바카라사이트 future of higher education policy and debates on universities¡¯ role in society. This is a robust foundation to build on as we face 바카라사이트 challenges and opportunities ahead.¡±

Robert Gordon University has appointed Tavish Scott, former Holyrood government minister and current Member of 바카라사이트 Scottish Parliament for Shetland, as visiting professor in its Aberdeen Business School.

Kerensa Jennings, a journalist, author and former BBC executive, has joined 바카라사이트 University of Huddersfield as visiting professor of media, strategy and communications.

Cardiff University has announced 바카라사이트 appointment of Stuart Palmer as chair of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s council. Professor Palmer is 바카라사이트 former deputy vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Warwick.