In previous years, the Global Chair Scheme, a prestigious programme managed by the International Relations Office, has provided funding for two internationally-leading scholars in their field to join the University as distinguished international visiting professors for a period of two academic years.

As the Scheme continues to bring exceptional scholars from around the world to Bath, we’re proud to open a new call that coincides with celebrations for the University’s 60th anniversary in 2026. To celebrate this significant milestone, the IRO is looking to appoint up to six Global Chairs in this call — reflecting our growing ambition to deepen research excellence and enhance the University’s global presence.

Global Chairs are leading academic experts in their fields who are invited to work with researchers at Bath and help build the University's international research connections. They are also encouraged to meet people across the University, connect with our alumni, and engage with the public. Previously this has involved providing mentorship to students and early-career researchers, promoting engagement with policy and industry, and offering expert advice for institutional initiatives and communities of practice.

As ambassadors for our University, they help raise Bath's international reach and reputation as well as develop new partnerships for research and societal impact.

The current Global Chairs are:

2025/2027

• Prof. Kaushik Basu (Cornell University). Renowned for their work in development economics, game theory, and welfare economics, Prof. Basu is hosted by the Department of Economics and CDS.
• Prof. Benjamin Cashore (National University of Singapore). World-renowned expert on environmental governance and public policy, Prof. Cashore is hosted by the Department of Social and Policy Sciences and the ISCC.

2024/2026

• Prof. Steven Farber (Johns Hopkins University). An eminent researcher in lipid metabolism in the zebrafish, Professor Farber is hosted by the Department of Life Sciences and the Milner Centre for Evolution.
• Prof. Scott Kelso (Florida Atlantic University). A leading researcher in complex systems, cognitive science, and neuroscience, Prof. Kelso is hosted by the Bath Institute for the Augmented Human and the Institute for Policy Research.

Previous Global Chair appointments have included:

• Prof. Nicolas Kotov (University of Michigan). A leading figure in the cross-disciplinary field of inorganic nanomaterials, has, in collaboration with his Bath host, Prof. Ventsi Valev from the Department of Physics, successfully secured a joint NSF–EPSRC grant following his term as Global Chair.
• Prof. Dennis Broeders (Leiden University). An eminent expert in cyber governance and security, Prof. Broeders' Global Chair contributed towards Bath's strategic priority of digital security.
• Prof. John Warner (Warner Babcock Institute for Green Chemistry). A prominent academic and industrial expert in green chemistry and sustainable technologies, Prof. Warner facilitated Bath’s Green Chemistry Commitment, a global initiative embedding green chemistry principles into the undergraduate Chemistry curriculum.
• Prof. Soraya Seedat (Stellenbosch University). An esteemed psychiatrist specialising in post-traumatic stress disorder among vulnerable populations in the Global South, Prof. Seedat's Global Chair supported Bath's strategic partnership in South Africa and our global research networks in the field of mental health.
• Prof. Tianhong Cui (University of Minnesota). A leading expert on Nicro-Electro-Mechanical Systems and Nano-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS/NEMS) and advanced manufacturing, Prof. Cui's Global Chair contributed to Bath's strategic priorities of healthcare technologies and sustainability.

Global Chairs are appointed for a period of two years and are invited to spend time on the Bath campus at various points throughout the appointment.

Eligibility for Global Chair nominees

• Distinguished academics who are international leaders in their field;
• Research is strategically relevant to Bath and supported by evidence of excellence;
• Engaged with the world of practice and in addition to their scholarly achievements, have affiliations or networks with industry, policy or community organisations.

Eligibility for Global Chair nominators

Nominations of a Global Chair must be led and submitted by two or more academic staff members of any discipline from a Centre, Institute or Department from the Education and Research job family at the University of Bath with a contract of employment for the full duration of the proposed project. We encourage interdisciplinary nominations.

Selection criteria

For this call, we will prioritise nominations that meet all of the following criteria:

• The nominee should be an international leader in their field;
• The nominee's research should align with one of more of the University's priority research themes, including the Bath Beacons;
• The application should clearly outline how the Global Chair will contribute to Bath's Research Excellence Framework (REF) submission;
• The nominee should be affiliated with more than one PI in an area of strength within a Faculty/School, an Institute, Beacon or Centre;
• The nominee should hold a successful track record in previous funding bids, for example NIH, the British Academy or Horizon Europe.

In addition to undertaking an agreed programme of research, Global Chairs will contribute to the University in a variety of ways. For example:

• Mentoring and interaction with students or early-career researchers through master classes, career advice, seminars or research meetings;
• Public engagement, including a public lecture or other events accessible to the wider University community and members of the local public;

Selection panel

The Head of Department and Dean will review nominations in the first instance. The Associate Deans (Research) will contribute to the scoring of applications but will not serve on the selection panel. Final decisions on appointments will be made by a selection panel chaired by the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research), and including the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Global Engagement), the four Associate Deans (International), and representatives from Research & Innovation Services and the International Relations Office.

Submit nominations using our Microsoft form by EOD on Wednesday 20 May 2026.

The IRO has developed guidelines and a cost plan which are available to review.

We encourage nominators to discuss their proposal with your Associate Dean (International) and the International Relations Office ahead of the deadline. Please contact internationalfunding@bath.ac.uk.

Nomination and Selection Process Timeline