“This is possibly the most enjoyable job in British higher education,” reflected David Price, UCL’s outgoing vice-provost for research, on what many consider the biggest research gig at a UK university.
“If you consider the talent we have and our scale – 3,400 researchers entered into the 2021 Research Excellence Framework – plus our institutional flexibility, it is incredible. As someone who enjoys facilitating other researchers to achieve their potential, it’s been a very creative and satisfying time,” he added on his near-unprecedented 15 years in the role.
The job has become a lot bigger since Professor Price took office in 2007: UCL’s research spend has risen by 60 per cent to £477 million in the past nine years alone, leaving him commanding a budget bigger than the entire turnover of most UK universities.
