Lancaster University appoints noted theoretical physicist as vice-chancellor

Lancaster University has appointed renowned theoretical physicist Professor Andy Schofield as its seventh vice-chancellor.

On graduating from Cambridge in 1989, Andy won the Mott prize for physics and the Schuldham Plate. Staying on at Cambridge, he was elected a research fellow at Gonville and Caius College and obtained his PhD in 1993.

He spent two years working for Rutgers in the USA before returning to Cambridge, where he was awarded a Royal Society University Research Fellowship to work on theories of non-Fermi liquids. 

He joined the University of Birmingham in 1999, where he was promoted to Professor of Theoretical Physics in 2002, director of research for the College of Engineering and Physical Science in 2008, head of school in the School of Physics and Astronomy in 2010 and assumed his current role of pro-vice chancellor in 2015.

During that time, he won the Institute of Physics' Maxwell Medal and Prize for work on the emergent properties of correlated electrons. 

Professor Schofield, who will join Lancaster on May 1, said: “I am tremendously excited to be asked to serve as Lancaster University’s next vice-chancellor. It is an outstanding and ambitious university, renowned for its research, its high-quality teaching and its collegiality."

Lord Liddle, Lancaster’s pro-chancellor, added: “The appointing committee were unanimous in the decision to appoint Andy, who demonstrated that he shares the values and purpose of Lancaster University and has a clear vision for its future success.

“Not only is he an outstanding academic and leader, but has acted as a champion for equality issues in his current role and is firmly committed to widening participation, equality, diversity and inclusion within universities - issues that Lancaster is working hard to address.”

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