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UNSW has announced the appointment of Professor Merlin Crossley as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education).

Professor Crossley is currently Dean of Science, a position he’s held since 2010.

A renowned molecular biologist specialising in human genetic diseases and former Rhodes Scholar, Professor Crossley was appointed after an international search.

“Professor Crossley has an outstanding record as leader, teacher and researcher and has achieved great success as Dean,” said President and Vice-Chancellor Ian Jacobs.

“As Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education), Merlin will play a key role as part of the UNSW senior team delivering on our ambitious 2025 Strategy.”

Professor Crossley said he was honoured by the appointment and looked forward to the challenges ahead.

“We have great teachers at UNSW. I look forward to working with them to make things even better," he said.

Under Professor Crossley’s leadership, the Faculty of Science has flourished, with strong results in grants and research and a significant increase in student enrolments.

Eminent in his field, Professor Crossley’s research has been recognised with several awards, including the Australian Academy of Science's Gottschalk Medal, the Royal Society of NSW's Edgeworth David Medal, and the Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology's Roche Medal.

An enthusiastic teacher and science communicator who frequently writes and comments on issues of science, education and policy, Professor Crossley is currently deputy chair of the board of the Australian Science Media Centre and an editorial board member of The Conversation. He also serves on the Trust of the Australian Museum and the boards of the Sydney Institute of Marine Science and UNSW Innovations.

Professor Crossley studied science at the University of Melbourne, majoring in genetics and microbiology, before moving to Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar.

He completed post-doctoral research at Oxford and Harvard and went on to the University of Sydney as Professor of Molecular Genetics before taking on a number of leadership roles including Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research).

Professor Crossley assumes leadership of the education portfolio from Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Iain Martin, who has been appointed Vice-Chancellor of Anglia Ruskin University in the UK.

Deputy Dean Professor Peter Lovibond will be Acting Dean of Science.