Andrea Abbas

Professor of the Sociology of Higher Education

Andrea came to the Department of Education at Bath as a Senior Lecturer in September 2015. She is currently Head of the Department of Education. Andrea is interested in understanding and theorising the role of universities in reproducing and challenging inequalities between different nations, higher education institutions and between various social groups (social classes, ethnic groups, genders, sexualities, people with dis/abilities etc.). She is about to be involved in evolving a GW4 Network that previously focused on new definitions of widening participation - towards a focus on the role of the universities in promoting a facilitating epistemic justice.

Professor David Galbreath, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences:

We are very pleased with this promotion, which not only reflects well on Andrea but also in the continued development of the Department of Education as a research intensive department. The Faculty benefits greatly from Andrea as a Head of Department in Education and now as a recognised leader in her field of the sociology of higher education.

Momna Hejmadi

Professor of Bioscience Education and Technology

Momna is a National Teaching Fellow with a biomedical research background and a notable record of enhancing student learning in the biosciences. She has successfully led innovative projects on technology-enhanced learning and massive online learning courses (MOOCs) from Bath, developed new courses and published her research on innovative pedagogies. Momna has been promoted on the basis of her outstanding contribution to both Teaching and Management and Leadership. She has won each of the University’s three teaching-focused awards (Mary Tasker Award for excellence in teaching 2002; Innovation in Learning and Teaching 2008; Leadership in Learning & Teaching award 2011) and was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship in 2015.

Professor David Tosh, Head of Department, Biology and Biochemistry:

The impact of Momna’s energy and enthusiasm spreads through her outreach activities and because of her personable and genuine approach to her profession. She has also shown exceptional leadership in the development of innovative learning technologies (she introduced the first MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) from Bath in 2014 on the topic of Cancer). Her promotion recognises her passion and dedication to Teaching and is thoroughly deserved.

Ventsislav K. Valev

Professor of Physics

Ventsi joined the University of Bath in 2014 as a University Research Fellow of the Royal Society and Reader. His research is on the interaction between powerful laser light and advanced optical materials. It is internationally recognised for having contributed important advances in the fields of chiral plasmonics (materials composed of twisted metal nanowires) and of nonlinear plasmonics (the interaction of ultrafast laser pulses and metal nanostructures). Ventsi actively promotes Physics to the general public through University press releases, interviews on radio and in the press, and through writing popularization articles and science fiction. He has also personally led over 40 science workshops on light for primary schools, raising scientific career aspirations for over 1200 children, in and around Bath. He was presented with the 2018 VC Award for Public Engagement with Research.

Professor Nick Brook, Acting Head of Department of Physics and Dean of the Faculty of Science:

Ventsi is an exceptional scientist and communicator. He is clearly a rising star in the area of chiral plasmonics and is seen as a world leader in this area of growing interest worldwide. He has established and developed academic networks both nationally and internationally and has a set of high profile internationally renowned collaborators. In addition he has developed an innovative public engagement programme aimed at school kids in year 5 and 6, participating in numerous local workshops and Science Festivals. Ventsi is a fantastic citizen to have in the Department.

Gunnar Traustason

Professor in Pure Mathematics

Gunnar Traustason works in the theory of groups and the mathematics of symmetry. The connections with the physical world are both practical (e.g. crystallography) and profound (e.g. Noether's theorem on symmetries and conservation laws). Gunnar was promoted for his research as a leading world expert in a fundamental area in Group Theory for which he has obtained substantial funding through EPSRC. Additionally his teaching and departmental citizenship is well known: he has taught a number of units in the Department, including the core second year unit in Algebra, and has served as Director of Studies in the Department. He has mentored 6 (current and past) PhD students, and his future plans involve broadening his international research collaborations with Italy, Brazil and Iran.

Professor Paul Milewski, Head of Department, Mathematical Sciences:

I am delighted for the promotion of Gunnar. He is a huge asset to our Algebra and Geometry group and to the Department in general. His research is world leading and he is also an inspirational teacher, being `incredibly good at explaining things’, and able to make the challenging second year Algebra unit into some students’ 'favourite unit'. On the personal side Gunnar - originally from Iceland - is a wonderful colleague and a superb baker!