Professor Keith George
Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research and Knowledge Exchange)
Keith is a Professor of Exercise and Cardiovascular Physiology and Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research and Knowledge Exchange) at Liverpool John Moores University.
As a member of the University’s Executive Leadership Team and a range of central committees, the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research and Enterprise) provides strategic leadership of the development and implementation of the University’s overall strategies for research and knowledge exchange.
The Pro-Vice Chancellor is responsible for oversight and strategic leadership with respect to growing the University’s research, knowledge exchange strengths and income as well as creating an enabling environment across the University that promotes the delivery of high-quality research with impact and commercial value.
Professor George’s role involves setting and monitoring the research and knowledge exchange activities and direction of the University. In doing so, Professor George will lead the development and implementation of the University’s Research and Enterprise Strategy, which is a key pillar of the University's Strategic Plan 2017-2022.
Keith’s previous portfolio of responsibilities have included:
- Associate Dean for Research for the Faculty of Science
- Head of the Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences
- Professor of Exercise and Cardiovascular Physiology
- Senior Lecturer, Manchester Metropolitan University
As Pro-Vice Chancellor, Professor George deputises internally and externally for the Vice-Chancellor as required. Presently, Keith is leading a number of institutional initiatives that include:
- Strategic leadership of the continued development of the research, knowledge exchange.
- Strategic leadership of a coordinated and focused approach to raise the profile and reputation of the University with its different stakeholders (in particular, RCUK, TSB, the research charities); in the UK and overseas, in the areas of research, impact and knowledge exchange. This will include engaging with and influencing the relevant external policy agendas.
- Providing leadership to a culture of innovation where research and scholarship are translated into knowledge and commercial opportunities that are applicable and accessible to external organisations and society.
- Leading and coordinating the University submissions to the Research Excellence Framework (REF) ensuring that the University is well prepared and that the submission optimises the presentation of the university’s research and scholarship base with the effect of enhancing our performance, in particular, the profile of our beacons of research excellence.
- Leading and coordinating the University submissions to the Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) ensuring we capture, evaluate and report our public engagement and support of the Liverpool city region.
- Overseeing the delivery of plans to achieve enhancements to postgraduate research through the Doctoral Academy.
- Ensuring that the University’s research infrastructure has the capacity and capability to sustain existing activities and exploit new opportunities.
- Enhancing the international research profile and activity of the University in the post-Brexit environment, ensuring reputation and income continue to improve.
- Representing the University at relevant national and international events and conferences, maintaining an active engagement in relevant professional networks.
Teaching and research
Keith was educated at Liverpool Polytechnic (BSc), Queen’s University, Canada (MSc) and Manchester Metropolitan University (PhD). He worked as an L/SL in Sport and Exercise Science at MMU between 1990 and 2001. He has been a Reader, Professor, Head of Research institute, School Director and Associate Dean for Research (Science) at Liverpool John Moores at various times after appointment in 2002.
Throughout his research training and academic career Keith’s primary focus has been on the impact of acute or chronic exercise on the heart and circulatory system. Most of Keith’s research has also related to the development and utilization of novel imaging technologies and their use in research and clinical settings. He has published over 280 original peer-review journal article publications as well as books and book chapters. He has been an Editor/Board member for three International Journals (EJAP, PTiS and JAP) and he reviews grants and original research papers for a range of high impact journals and prestigious grant funding bodies around the globe. He has supervised 30+ PhD students to completion and assessed 30+ PhD students in the UK and around the world. His work encapsulates varied populations including elite athletes, sedentary individuals and those with chronic disease. Keith has had a specific interest in the impact of prolonged exercise/ultra-endurance athletic events upon cardiac structure, function and biomarkers of cellular damage and cardiac strain. He also supports the Active Wellbeing Initiative, an IOC sponsored network and certification for Global Active Cities.
Keith’s teaching, research and administration philosophy is based on respect, trust, perspective and reflection. He endeavours to support and challenge people and teams (as well as processes and institutions) to do the best they can and be the academic that they want to be. Keith believes that successful leadership requires mutual understanding, time and a smile.
Contact
Keith can be contacted via his ESO Mel Campbell, (Executive Support Officer, Pro-Vice Chancellor's Office) on 0151 934 6377 or email: m.campbell1@ljmu.ac.uk.
For further information please access the LJMU research pages and Research and Innovation Services (RIS) pages.
For businesses looking to engage with us please see the LJMU business pages.