Professor Paul A. Townsend

Professor Paul A. Townsend joined the University of Stirling in November 2024 as Deputy Principal (Research and Innovation). He brings extensive expertise in biomedical and health sciences, coupled with interdisciplinary innovation, and a proven track record of transformative leadership in higher education.

After earning his PhD at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund (now CRUK) in 1997, Paul has consistently bridged the gap between industry and academia, pushing the frontiers of scientific discovery. His research in cell stress and survival mechanisms, along with his work on developing network solutions for early disease detection, exemplifies his innovative approach.

His career spans institutions including the University of Southampton and the University of Manchester. Most recently, he served as Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean at the University of Surrey's Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. There, he established the new Surrey School of Medicine, founded the Surrey Academic Health and Care Partnership, and co-led both the Wolfson Bioanalytics Centre of Excellence and Surrey Centre of Excellence in Ageing. Under his leadership, the Faculty secured Athena Swan Gold and Silver awards and excellent REF and NSS results.

Paul has co-founded several companies and secured multi-million-pound grants from major funding bodies. His expertise encompasses drug discovery, AI applications, and advanced mass spectrometry, leading to significant breakthroughs in biomarker identification.

Responsibilities

As Deputy Principal for Research and Innovation, Paul is tasked with leading and driving research excellence, innovation, and ambition.

His focus includes maximising innovation initiatives through City Region and Growth Deals and elevating the University's global research standing and REF29 performance. His international outlook and recent work in senescence technology highlight his commitment to collaborative innovation addressing real-world challenges.

Paul’s responsibility encompasses fostering a research culture across the institution that positions Stirling at the forefront of innovative research and nurtures future academic leaders.