McNeill appointed associate-vice president (research)

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/FMcNeil09.jpg” caption=”Fiona McNeill is McMaster’s new associate vice-president (research). Photo by Ron Scheffler.”]She was born in Kirkcaldy, proud to say she shares the same birthplace as Sir Sanford Fleming – the Scottish-Canadian known as the “Father of Standard Time.” What Fiona McNeill plans to do with her time over the next five years is far from standard, reflecting an ambitious vision for research at McMaster University.

McNeill, a professor of medical physics and applied radiation sciences, has been appointed McMaster's new associate vice-president of research, and begins her term brimming with ideas that stem from her assertion “I want McMaster to be recognized as the undisputed leading research university in Canada.”

“I'm here to support all faculties and I do genuinely want to encourage and support a diverse research environment,” says McNeill, who cites cross-faculty dialogue and collaboration as a critical component. “I believe there are further opportunities that are missed because researchers in different areas of campus don't realize they share research interests.”

She intends to solicit faculty members for their needs and conduct surveys and workshops to facilitate discussion. McNeill will also examine the services offered to researchers to make sure that both fundamental and applied research is fully supported to reinforce McMaster's research strengths.

McNeill also wants to take a broader look at the economic impact of McMaster's research as more than commercializing a product or creating spin-off companies, noting that “we need to look at more – the knowledge, services and processes translated from the basic research results to the wider community from the scientist's bench or the scholar's desk.”

Mo Elbestawi, vice-president, research and international affairs, says that McNeill is known on campus for her abilities to foster and build consensus around new initiatives at McMaster – she played a key role in developing the Medical Radiation Sciences Collaborative Diploma/Degree program.

“Dr. McNeill's research program has been highly multi-disciplinary and her interactions across departments, faculties and universities have been extensive. Her leadership skills are superb and her tenure as chair saw the expansion and diversification of both the research and teaching portfolios in the department,” said Elbestawi. “I'm delighted that Dr. McNeill will be working with me to advance our University's research enterprise. Her ideas, energy and enthusiasm will indeed bring great things to the position.”

McNeill's appointment was approved by the Board of Governors on March 5. The position of associate vice-president, research is a five-year term.