New Dean for PGR Studies and Researcher Development

The University is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Adrian Williams as the new Dean for Postgraduate Research Studies and Researcher Development.

The appointment follows a recruitment process that was initiated in January this year, and is for a fixed period of six years.

Adrian will take up his new role on 1 August 2021, replacing Professor Dianne Berry who is completing her term as the Dean for PGR Studies. He is currently the Dean for Agriculture, Food & Health, supporting research that spans agricultural ecosystems and economics, food production and processing, and health and disease.

Announcing the appointment, Pro-Vice-Chancellors for Research and Innovation Professors Parveen Yaqoob and Dominik Zaum said, “Supporting researchers at all stages of their career, but in particular those who are early in their development as researchers is critical to our research culture and success. We are therefore delighted that Adrian is taking on the role of the Dean for Postgraduate Research Studies and Researcher Development. As PI, supervisor and as Research Dean, Adrian has demonstrated his strong commitment to supporting the development of researchers early in their career. We look forward to working closely with him as he builds on the fantastic work that Dianne has done over the past decade”.

In 2019, Reading was one of the first universities to sign the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers (or Researcher Development Concordat, as it is commonly known). Supporting the recruitment and development of research students and researchers will be a crucial aspect of Adrian’s new role.

Adrian Williams said, “I am delighted to be given the opportunity to build on the successes of the Graduate School and look forward to working with its highly committed team, the School Directors of PGRS and of course our postgraduate students and researchers.  As the first Dean of the Graduate School, Dianne leaves very strong foundations in how we support and develop our early career researchers. I look forward to building further on her work over the next six years.”

Adrian holds a Chair in Pharmaceutics in the Reading School of Pharmacy and previously served as the Head of the School of Pharmacy (2008) and then Head of the School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy (2011). He leads a strong research group centred on drug delivery and novel formulations, predominantly for delivering drugs to and through the skin, mucus membranes and eyes. His research has generated several patents.

Adrian is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, the UK Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences and of the Higher Education Academy.