Professor Timothy Richard Dafforn has been named as the new chief scientific adviser at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
Dafforn – who will take up the part-time post on 1 June– replaces professor John Perkins, who is stepping down after three years in the role.
As chief scientific adviser, Dafforn’s role will be to ensure the department’s policies and contributions to wider government are underpinned by high quality science and engineering advice.
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As entrepreneur in residence at BIS, Dafforn was tasked with championing the department’s synthetic biology activities, alongside his responsibilities as head of policy at the Biochemical Society.
His appointment has been welcomed by the department’s permanent secretary Martin Donnelly.
“Professor Dafforn’s appointment as chief scientific adviser brings a depth of knowledge and experience formed in both academia and as the BIS Entrepreneur in Residence. I look forward to continuing to work with him in his new role," Donnelly said.