Professor Barnett has over 15 years’ experience of senior strategic leadership in the UK university sector and most recently was Senior Pro Vice Chancellor (Research) at Nottingham Trent University (NTU). Prior to that she was Pro Vice Chancellor for Research and Head of The College of Arts and Science at NTU.
She has active research interests in the causes and mechanisms of cancer and ageing, and has authored over 100 peer-reviewed original research papers. During her career she has secured over £35 million of funding from a range of regional, national and international bodies to support innovative teaching and research initiatives.
Professor Barnett was founding Director of the highly successful national Doctoral Training Alliance in Applied Biosciences for Health, is President of the Heads of University Centres for Biomedical Sciences, is Director of Medilink East Midlands and was a long-standing Non-Executive Director of BioCity Group Ltd. She is also a Fellow of both the Royal Society of Biology and the Institute of Biomedical Science.
Professor Barnett said: “I am honoured to have been appointed as Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation at ARU. I would like to thank all the staff that I have met so far for their warm welcome. Their sense of commitment to the continued growth and development of the university is most impressive.
“I will focus my experience and passion for higher education, and particularly research and innovation, to work with staff, students, collaborators, partners and funders to ensure that ARU continues to develop as a leading UK university, which is recognised internationally for the quality, relevance and transformational impact of its education and research.”
Professor Roderick Watkins, Vice Chancellor of ARU, said: “I am delighted that Yvonne has joined ARU as Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation. She has a wealth of experience through her senior leadership roles at Nottingham Trent University and her involvement with a number of private and public sector organisations. Yvonne will continue to grow our own research output and strengthen our links with external bodies.”