Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Impact)

Professor Neil Gow is Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Impact and Professor of Microbiology at the University of Exeter. Professor Gow was appointed in September 2018.  His research speciality is in medical mycology and in particular the study of the structure and immunology of fungi that cause life-threatening infections.   He is a graduate of the University of Edinburgh where he obtained his Bachelors degree in Microbiology. Professor Gow went on to receive his PhD in 1982 from the University of Aberdeen, followed by a period of postdoctoral research at the National Jewish Hospital for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine and University of Colorado, Denver, USA. He was appointed as a lecturer to the University of Aberdeen and received a personal Chair in 1995. At the University of Aberdeen Professor Gow held various senior positions including Head of Microbiology Research Programme, 2002-2011, Director of Research and Commercialisation, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, 2011-2015, and Co-Director, MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, 2017-2018. He is Chair of the Royal Society University Research Fellowship Panel Bii (Biomedical Sciences), a Fellow of the Royal Society, the Academy of Medical Sciences, Royal Society of Edinburgh, American Academy of Microbiology and European Confederation of Medical Mycology, and has acted as President of four major international societies of mycology and microbiology.  He is part of the MRC Centre for Medical Mycology and his laboratory focuses on the molecular genetics of cell wall biosynthesis in pathogenic fungi and its potential as a therapeutic target and influence on immunity. 

As Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Impact, Professor Gow oversees a total research portfolio of £458 million and leads the research and business engagement strategies for the University.  

His overarching responsibilities include leading our university research and impact strategy, preparation and submission for the Research Excellence Framework in 2021.  He supports the strategy and activities of our interdisciplinary institutes and research networks and our Doctoral College.  He chairs the Research and Impact Executive Committee, the University Ethics Committee, Research and Impact Committee; leads the Business Engagement Strategy and ensures our research is utilised and impacts positively on the wider world.

Professor Gow represents the University externally via a number of research-related groups including the EU Advisory Group for the Russell Group of Universities and GW4, our regional alliance of the Universities of Bristol, Bath, Cardiff and Exeter.