The best start As pro v-c for research at Leeds, Andrew Thompson intends to develop early-career researchers, not least for the REF 14 May
Tyrrell Burgess, 1931-2009 Tyrrell Burgess, an innovative educational thinker, has died. By Matthew Reisz 14 May
Closing the gap Carolyn Fowler, Durham University's first female registrar, plans to bridge the divide between academics and administrators 7 May
Clinical results Using his work on DNA to treat cancer has won Stephen Jackson a prize, but he hopes it improves the blue-skies outlook 30 April
Urban planner Despite striving to future-proof the UK's cities, Katie Williams admits to a weakness for the bling of Las Vegas 23 April
George Holmes, 1927-2009 George Holmes, a leading historian of medieval and Renaissance Europe, has died. By Matthew Reisz 23 April
Energy boost Tony Owen is to lead University College London's first outpost Down Under - an institution that might help save our world 16 April
Bob Boucher, 1940-2009 Bob Boucher, a mechanical engineer who became vice-chancellor of two universities, has died. By Matthew Reisz 9 April
Growing gains As QMU head, Petra Wend hopes to build on changes already made to one of Scotland's smallest institutions 9 April
Fair-minded Lynne Frostick is honoured to receive an accolade, but says men must do their share at home for women to excel at work 2 April
Peace process Sociology is shifting from studies of class to forgiveness, and John Brewer, the next president of the BSA, is in the vanguard 26 March
Master link Umit Bititci has been honoured for his work helping to bring academics into knowledge transfer partnerships 19 March
Perfect partner David Docherty plans to retain the CIHE's focus on research while focusing on skills needed to retain the UK's competitiveness 12 March
Silver linings Cara Murphy's craft has not been hit by the credit crunch and her new commissions include one from Downing Street 5 March
Ethical vision Keith Martin has been honoured for work on a stem-cell research for retinal injuries that cuts the need for animal experiments 26 February
Greek myths Paul Cartledge has taken up Cambridge's first new Classics chair for decades, and is keen on a spot of iconoclasm By Rebecca Attwood 19 February
Digital curator Former academic Joanna Newman is leading the British Library's efforts to engage universities in a high-tech era By Matthew Reisz 12 February
Nigel Yates, 1944-2009 Nigel Yates, an internationally renowned ecclesiastical historian, has died. By Matthew Reisz 12 February
Man of action Richard Byrne has been serving in Helmand province, encouraging farmers to grow crops other than the poppy 5 February
Sally Ledger, 1961-2009 Sally Ledger, a leading authority on Victorian culture and women's writing, has died. By Matthew Reisz 5 February
Bodies in motion Animator Simon McKeown's exhibition confronts conceptions of the body and the way disabilities are viewed 29 January
The next course Dundee academic David Boxer is moving on to pastures new by taking charge of the Institute of Food Research 22 January
Cash and care PhD student Artur Steinerowski has beaten established academics to an international prize for entrepreneurship 15 January
The rights stuff Globetrotting lecturer Alice Edwards has won a major prize for her research into legal responses to violence against women 8 January
Data capture Drawing on four decades in computing, Sir Timothy O'Shea is intent on ensuring that Jisc keeps serving the whole sector By Phil Baty 1 January