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University of Southampton pro vice-chancellor for research and enterprise Philip Nelson has been named as the new chief executive of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.

Professor Nelson, who is also professor of acoustics at Southampton and is chairing the general engineering sub-panel for the 2014 research excellence framework, will take over from David Delpy at the beginning of April. He will be seconded from Southampton during his four-year term.

The Southampton graduate, who will also be the EPSRC¡¯s deputy chair, has directed several spin-out companies and served on the CBI¡¯s South East Regional Council. Last year he and Southampton co-founded a research grouping, known as the Science and Engineering South Consortium, with the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, Imperial College London and University College London.

Universities and science minister David Willetts said Professor Nelson¡¯s ¡°impressive track record in academia combined with his industrial background will serve him well¡±.

Professor Nelson said: ¡°I feel greatly honoured to have been chosen for such an important national role. I am looking forward to working with colleagues across the research disciplines to ensure the continued health of the UK¡¯s world-class science base upon which so much of our future prosperity depends.¡±

paul.jump@tsleducation.com