University official joins British consortium on research, funding

 

By Susan Salk

Against strong international competition, chemistry and chemical biology chair Graham Jones won a seat on a powerful United Kingdom consortium of universities, giving Northeastern University an inside track on international collaboration and research funding.

Jones was selected to join the N8 Group, which is comprised of eight research-intensive universities in northern England. In June, Jones plans to initiate collaborations with two universities in the consortium— Durham and Newcastle—on behalf of Northeastern researchers.

The ultimate goal is to open up interdisciplinary, collaborative research between Northeastern University and the United Kingdom institutions, generating breakthrough discoveries and research funding.

Promising links exist along many fields of study, including technology transfer, fuel cell energy technology, stem cell research and advanced materials, Jones said.

“I am going to make sure Northeastern University can benefit from this,” Jones said. “There is so much opportunity. We can help startups to come out of the campus, and get our university researchers better positioned in the funding stream, all while promoting Northeastern University’s international footprint.”

The university could be potentially filling some very big shoes. The eight universities participating in the N8 Group take in a combined $620 million in research income, Jones said, noting that with trillions of dollars in research funding available across Europe, the potential is even greater.

“Millions of pounds have already invested in fabrication equipment in the United Kingdom universities, and it will be part of my job to help broker a link with Northeastern University labs, working together on commercialization efforts,” Jones said. “If we’re doing related work, we can be marketing to the same companies.”

At the outset, Jones envisions collaborations with chemical and chemical biology professor Sanjeev Mukerjee, Bradstreet professor of chemistry and chemical biology William Hancock, Barnett Institute director Barry Karger and Ahmed Busnaina, Smith chair and professor of mechanical and industrial engineering.

North of London, the partnership includes eight universities. They are Durham University, Lancaster University, University of Leeds, University of Liverpool, University of Manchester, Newcastle University, University of Sheffield and University of York.

Jones is the only member of the N8 Group working outside the United Kingdom. But his roots are deep.

The native of Wales served as a vice chancellor for research enterprise at the University of Hull in 2002-2003. His work involved spinning out new ventures, startups, and handling intellectual property issues.

At Northeastern, he has helped to establish biotech initiatives, and is special assistant to the provost in charge of faculty affairs and technology transfer.

“There are so many clear links with what Northeastern researchers are working on, and effort within the N8,” Jones said. “There is so much going on with medical imaging, fuel cell technology, stem cells, and sustainable energy, and our faculty are well positioned to work on a larger, international stage.”

Arts and sciences dean James Stellar hopes the collaborations will put Northeastern researchers at the forefront of international industry. “Graham deserves a lot of credit for this,” Stellar said. “This (effort) could be a great engine driving worldwide research, and we at Northeastern need to be involved with that.”

Stellar added, “Graham is really a thought leader on profitable relationships in industry.”