Applicant Window Closing for New Head of ESRC

Paul Boyle

Boyle announced in late January that when his four-year term at ESRC ended in September he intended to become vice chancellor of the University of Leicester. A geographer, Boyle took the reins of ESRC in September 2010; he also served as international champion for the Research Councils UK. In October 2011 Boylewas named as the first president of Science Europe, an association of 52 European research funding and research performing organizations.

According to the recruiter:

Candidates need to be able to command the respect of the academic and user communities across the domain of the economic and social sciences through their personal achievements in research and their standing in the field.  They will also need to demonstrate the ability to provide sound management and strong leadership of a substantial and complex body with efficiency and probity, combined with excellent communication skills required to represent the Council and foster links with its numerous and diverse stakeholders across Government, academia, learned societies, industry/business as well as the public at large, both in the UK and internationally.

The position’s salary was not specified, although it will be “commensurate with the level of seniority and responsibility of the post.”

ESRC is one of seven research councils in Britain supporting science, and according to its website it is the United Kingdom’s “largest organisation for funding research on economic and social issues,” funding projects by more than 4,000 researchers and post-graduate students at universities and research institutes. The council was established in 1965 under royal charter as the Social Science Research Council; it was renamed in 1983 to better describe its broadening mission. The ESRC is funded through the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.