Avenue Winter 2022–23

The University has been awarded four prestigious UKRI-funded Future Leaders Fellowship awards, which will enable each Fellow to tackle ambitious and challenging research and innovation, and develop their own careers.

• Dr Sam Bayliss, of the James Watt School of Engineering, has received £1.8m to investigate how spin states in molecular systems can be harnessed for quantum sensing, and photonic materials and devices. Dr Bayliss’ research explores the optical and magnetic properties of molecules, with applications spanning quantum technologies, energy harvesting, and sensing.
• Dr Stephen Carter, who is based at the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, has been awarded £1.6m to use cutting-edge cryo-ET (electron cryo-tomography) to study bunyaviruses, a family of viruses transmitted through bites from insects such as ticks, mosquitoes and midges.
• Dr Cetta Mainwaring, who is based in the School of Social & Political Sciences, has been awarded £1.1m for her project that examines the expansion and diffusion of immigration detention systems around the world, despite the fact that they do not deliver stated policy objectives and cause harm.
• Dr Colin Steele has been awarded over £1.3m to better understand the role of neutrophils, common white blood cells which play an important role in the immune system, in advanced colorectal cancer, also known as bowel cancer. This new work will stratify patients into subtypes of colorectal cancer and begin to understand the role neutrophils play in advancing the disease.

The Academy of Social Sciences has conferred a Fellowship of the Academy to Professor Michele Schweisfurth, Professor of Comparative & International Education, based at the School of Education. The Fellows are highly accomplished individuals recognised for excellence in their fields and their wider contributions to the social sciences for public benefit.

Professor Catherine Steel, Professor of Classics, has been elected Fellow of the British Academy. Professor Steel is a historian of Rome: "I am delighted and honoured by this recognition from the British Academy for my research on the Roman Republic, and I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to the Academy’s mission in supporting the Humanities and Social Sciences."

Professor Kostas Tokatlidis, from the School of Molecular Biosciences, has been elected to one of Europe’s foremost research bodies, the Academia Europaea (Academy of Europe). He was elected on the strength of his worldwide reputation in the field of Mitochondrial Biology, having pioneered seminal work in the discovery of several novel mechanisms of mitochondria biogenesis and the links of mitochondria dysfunction to health and disease.

Congratulations to all members of the University community and alumni who were awarded honours in the 2023 King’s New Year Honours list, including:

Nicola Dandridge, Member of the University Court, University of Glasgow alumna and former Chief Executive of the Office for Students received a Damehood for her services to Higher Education. “I am enormously proud to have been awarded this honour for my role at the Office for Students. As a member of the University of Glasgow's Court and the Student Experience Committee, I will be drawing on my experience in the higher education sector and at the Office for Students to contribute to the important work of the Court and the Committee.”

Professor Graeme Milligan FRSE, Deputy Head of College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences/Gardiner Chair of Biochemistry received an OBE for services to Biomedical Research and to Industry. “I am both delighted and surprised in equal measure having received an OBE in the New Year Honours. I am particularly pleased that the citation noted my contribution to industry because links with scientists working within the bio-pharmaceutical industry have been an extremely productive and enjoyable part of my academic success.”

Professor Pamela Robertson FRSE, Honorary Research Fellow, Hunterian Museum & Art Gallery received an MBE for services to Architecture. “I am honoured to receive this MBE and value the opportunities provided to me by the University of Glasgow to develop knowledge and understanding of the work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh.”

We also congratulate other members of the UofG alumni community who received honours, including:

• Professor Gillian Susan Wright FRSE, who received an CBE for services to Astronomy through International Missions
• Professor Ewen Munro Harrison, who received an MBE for services to Covid-19 Response
• Susan Briggs, who received an MBE for services to Community Learning and Development in North Scotland
• Dr Brian George Mackie Dickie, who received an MBE for services to Motor Neurone Disease Research
• Professor Jacqueline Taylor, who received an MBE for services to Medical Education and Health.

Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, Principal and Vice-Chancellor said: “I’d like to congratulate all members of the University of Glasgow community who recently received 2023 New Year Honours. It is a tremendous achievement and one that is testament to all their hard work and dedication. Every year it is fantastic to see so many colleagues and alumni of the University of Glasgow recognised for their impact on society.”