THE University of Chester, which is set to open in Warrington town centre next year, is delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Paul Bissell as their new Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation.
Paul will join Chester on 10th January 2022.
Professor Bissell is currently Professor of Public Health and Dean of the School of Human and Health Sciences at the University of Huddersfield. As Dean, he leads the largest School at the University and ensures financial sustainability and delivery of the University strategy. Over the last five years, he has led the School through a process of transformation across its academic and research portfolios, resulting in major improvements in research capacity and quality in the health sciences, social sciences, sports sciences and psychology. He has been heavily involved in the School’s external engagement strategy, working closely with senior leaders in the other anchor organisations in West Yorkshire in order to drive innovation around research and knowledge exchange.
In terms of his own academic background, Professor Bissell is very much an interdisciplinary researcher, working at the intersection between public health, health services research and medical sociology. He has an interest in medicines usage, health inequalities, obesity science and functional neurological conditions. He has published over 100 journal articles and book chapters and led a series of high-profile health research projects over the last 30 years.
Professor Bissell is also an educationalist, having been Director of Teaching in the School of Health and Related Research at the University of Sheffield, and has designed and led a number of Public Health Programmes. He believes strongly in the power of higher education institutions to transform the lives of students and learners and to deliver on opportunity and social mobility. An appreciation of scientific principles, research and new knowledge creation are central to the student experience and he is looking forward to ensuring they are fully integrated into the Citizen Student Strategy at the University of Chester.
Paul completed his BA (Hons), MA and PhD at the University of Manchester.
