Professor Nicholas Forsyth

Biography

Professor Nick Forsyth became Provost – the chief academic officer - of the University of Aberdeen on 1 March 2026.

Nick joined the University of Aberdeen in 2023 as Vice Principal (Research). His remit in this role was the development and implementation of coherent research strategies at School and University levels, overseeing Interdisciplinary research across the five grand challenge areas, and development and implementation of strategic approaches to enhance organisational performance at REF2028.

From November 2025 to March 2026, Nick was Acting Senior Vice-Principal of the University.

Before making the move to Aberdeen, Nick was at Keele University where he was Dean of Research within the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences from 2019. Having joined Keele in 2007 as a Lecturer in Stem Cell Biology he was then promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2010, followed by Reader in 2013, and Professor in 2015. Shortly after securing his chair, he was appointed as Director of the Research Institute for Science in Technology in Medicine in 2016.   Prior to joining Keele, he undertook two postdoctoral positions; a US Department of Defence Breast Cancer Research Programme fellowship at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre at Dallas (2000-2004) and a Geron Corporation-sponsored fellowship at the Roslin Institute (2004-2006).

Externally, Nick is Convenor of Universities Scotland Research and Knowledge Exchange Committee and works tirelessly to ensure that Aberdeen's voice is heard through this national platform.