The British Academy appoints new Director of Research

The British Academy, the UK’s national academy for the humanities and social sciences, has appointed Dr Alex Lewis as Director of Research.

In this role Alex will lead the delivery of the Academy’s UK and international research portfolio, ensuring the effective distribution of over £50m in research funding annually as well as overseeing the growth of the Academy’s Early Career Research Network.

Alex arrives from the University of Surrey where she has been Director of Research Strategy. Her main focus has been to support large strategic research initiatives and to help the university secure funding and build partnerships.  Here Alex was instrumental in the creation of two pan-university Institutes in People-centred AI and Sustainability. Prior to this Alex spent six years at SOAS, first as Research Manager and then as Director of Research and Enterprise, and during this time successfully modernised the research support, doubled research income and strongly advocated for supporting equitable partnerships. This followed a role as Research Development Manager at Sussex University and an academic career in chemistry at University College London.

Alex will take up the post of Director of Research in February, joining the Senior Management Team.

Speaking to the British Academy, Alex said:

“I am absolutely delighted to join the British Academy as Director of Research. Humanities and Social Sciences research has a critical and integral role to play in helping us understand the world we live in, and in resolving the global challenges of our day and I am very much looking forward to advocating for and supporting SHAPE research and researchers.”

Hetan Shah, Chief Executive of the British Academy, said:

“Alex brings a wealth of skills and experience to the role and joins at an exciting time not just for the Academy but for the wider higher education and research sector. With the transformation of the Academy’s building into a cutting-edge events space and our growing Early Career Research Network, there will be more opportunities than ever to showcase the value of SHAPE research. Meanwhile, the Academy is actively involved in discussions around the UK’s association to Horizon Europe – as well as possible alternative plans. We are so pleased to welcome Alex to the Senior Mangement Team and look forward to working with her.”