Nanotechnology researcher and globally respected academic leader Professor Max Lu has been selected as The University of Queensland’s first Provost.
UQ President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Høj said Professor Lu was selected through an internationally competitive search which attracted candidates “from upper levels of university senior management around the world”.
“Max's appointment will deliver a strategic approach that is informed by a deep knowledge of UQ, built on a journey of almost three decades at this wonderful institution,” Professor Høj said.
“He is known for his highly collaborative style, his integrity and his transparency in decision-making – key values of UQ.
Professor Lu has been UQ’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) since 2009, and served as Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research Linkages) from 2008 to 2009. He begins as Provost on March 17.
Professor Høj said Professor Lu’s leadership of research strategy and targeted investment in key initiatives had contributed to UQ’s improved standing in all major global rankings.
“Max has led the development of major global partnerships with industry, government and other universities.
“He brings a strong commitment to research and teaching, as well as a strategic approach to international and industry engagement.”
Professor Lu came to UQ from China in the late 1980s to study for his PhD, and then spent three years as a lecturer at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University.
In 1994, he returned to UQ as senior lecturer, and progressed to Chair in Nanotechnology and Director of the UQ Nanomaterials Centre in the School of Chemical Engineering.
“He played an active role in the early development of problem-based learning and online teaching resources in chemical and environmental engineering,” Professor Høj said.
“Max’s commitment to teaching and mentoring is also reflected in his strong track record in supervising students, including 44 PhD students, 56 honours students and more than 20 postdoctoral fellows.
Professor Lu was acting UQ Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor from December 2011 to October 2012.
His contributions have been widely acknowledged nationally and internationally through prestigious awards such as the China International Science and Technology Award, Orica Award, RK Murphy Medal, Le Fevre Prize, ExxonMobil Award, Chemeca Medal, and Top 100 Most Influential Engineers in Australia (2004, 2010, 2012, 2013).
In 2013, the Queensland Premier named him as a “Queensland Great”, and he became an ambassador for Brisbane in the Brisbane Marketing’s Choose Brisbane international marketing campaign.
Professor Høj said the newly created role of Provost replaced the position of Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor, and was appropriate for UQ as a globally recognised university, among the world’s top 100 on all major rankings tables.
“The Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor title is not well understood internationally,” Professor Høj said.
“The Provost will be standing deputy to the Vice-Chancellor and will be responsible for strategic leadership on academic matters.”
Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Terry left UQ at the end of January to take up the position of Vice-Chancellor at Curtin University in Perth.
Professor Høj said Professor Terry had made “an outstanding contribution, spanning more than 20 years”.
Contact: Fiona Cameron, UQ Communications, ph +61 7 3346 7086, f.cameron2@uq.edu.au
.jpg?itok=A3VEKM1Y "Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Terry")
