Programme Speakers
John Baird
After gaining a PhD in Biochemical Pharmacology at the University of Sheffield, John did nearly 5 years of Post-doctoral research in the laboratories of Professor Stefan Nahorski, at the Department of Pharmacology, University of Leicester, supported by grants from the SERC (Science and Engineering Research Council) and the Wellcome Trust. This was enjoyable and stimulating work which resulted in several refereed publications in high impact journals. Despite tempting offers to join Merck, Sharp and Dohme or to continue at Leicester on a 5 year Wellcome Trust grant, he took the option with the lowest remuneration and joined the SERC in Swindon for new experiences. He has been pushing back the boundaries of research administration ever since, in a variety of positions, which have all been interesting, stimulating and enjoyable. These include periods in the Information Technology Directorate of SERC, and Chemistry (in the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)) and other positions being responsible for EPSRC's Fellowships and involvement in industry collaborative schemes such as LINK and TCS (now Knowledge Transfer Partnerships). A common and enjoyable feature of all these positions has been the "people" involvement.
From 2004 to end of 2007 he headed up EPSRC's Chemistry Programme, at the time EPSRC’s 4th largest Programme distributing over £1M per week to support research and skills in the UK. Interactions with industry were an important aspect and during this period some successful, and ongoing, partnerships with GSK and other pharma companies were established. A subsequent sideways move within EPSRC involved heading teams of various sizes. He is now EPSRC’s Head of Knowledge Transfer. Some responsibilities in the past year include increasing the commercialisation of EPSRC’s research grants; the EPSRC Peer Review College (including increasing User involvement in peer review); leading EPSRC’s engagement with key Framework Agreement Universities; interacting with RDAs, TSB and other Research Councils including RCUK KT Harmonisation activities.
