Aegis Professorship Programme
‘Aegis’ is an ancient Greek term meaning support or guidance. Our Aegis Scheme provides a range of activities intended to guide and support students and staff, overseen by our cohort of honorary Aegis Professors.
The SPO initiated its Aegis Professor scheme in 2019. Our Professors are recruited from industry, business and government and, as a cohort, represent a hugely diverse range of expertise. They contribute to research and teaching strategy, provide mentorship, and identify synergies between academia and industry. Over their four-year term they provide a wealth of connections to the Faculty while benefiting from University expertise and facilities.
Support from our Aegis Professors includes, but is not limited to:
- Providing challenges, mentorship and feedback in our Aegis Professor Undergraduate Competition
- Coaching staff for Fellowship applications
- Active membership of Industrial Advisory Boards and Networks.
- Advising on University strategy through attendance at termly meetings and formal events such as University Court
- Hosting site visits for students and staff at their places of employment.
You can find out more about our individual Aegis Professors below.
If you would like more information on Aegis Professors, please contact the Aegis Professors Mailbox aegis-professors@bristol.ac.uk.
- Simon Vosper, Aegis Professor of Weather and Climate Science• Executive Director of Science at the Met Office • Mentors PhD students • Leads the Met Office Next Generation Modelling Systems and National Capability AI programmes, two major R&D programmes which are transforming the Met Office’s weather and climate modelling capabilities
- Fred Witham, Aegis Professor of Energy Conversion and Storage• Chief of Innovation and Technology Incubation at Rolls-Royce • Advises on trends and innovations in the energy sector • Enhancing the impact of the faculty’s work through strategic dissemination.
- Bryn Roberts, Aegis Professor of Digital Health (cross-Faculty in FSE and HLS)• Global Head of Data, Analytics & Research at Roche • Focus on research and innovation for healthcare information solutions and digital health products. • Advises faculties on digital transformation, healtahcare data, AI, personalized medicine and remote patient monitoring.
- Anike Te, Aegis Professor of Engineering Biology (cross-Faculty in FSE and HLS)• Advises and contributes to the development of the South West Synthetic and Engineering Biology Innovation Network • Works with the Bristol Biodesign Institute (BBI) • Member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Bristol Centre for Engineering Biology
- Neil Hyatt, Aegis Professor of Deep Time Science and Engineering• Chief Scientific Adviser to Nuclear Waste Services • Expert on radioactive waste management and disposal, including risk analysis and ethical practice • Supports cross-disciplinary working and industry-academia collaboration, and promotes research impact in this key strategic area for energy and the environment
- Giovanni Raimondi, Aegis Professor of Aircraft Electrification• Machines & Drive Systems Technical Director at Safran Electrical & Power • Safran Group Fellow Expert in aircraft electrical systems
- Reid Derby, Aegis Professor of National Security Innovation• Head of Entrepreneurship in the Office of the Chief Science Advisor for National Security • Experience in counter-terrorism, data science, AI, open source software, and cybersecurity • Coach and mentor for technology startups
- Jacqueline Castle, Aegis Professor of Aerospace Technologies• CTO at the Aerospace Technology Institute • 25 years at Airbus leading on wing and landing gear technology • Ensuring a sustainable future for UK Aerospace