Professor Mark Cassidy to lead research mission at the University of Melbourne
Professor Mark Cassidy has been appointed as the new Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) at the University of Melbourne.
He takes on this key leadership role after more than five years as the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology.
Professor Cassidy is internationally respected for his research on offshore geotechnics and engineering, most recently centred around renewable wave and wind turbines.
Beginning the role on 1 January 2024, Professor Cassidy will oversee research and enterprise at the University of Melbourne, including graduate research and research impact.
He will play a critical role in the implementation of the University’s Advancing Melbourne strategy, collaborating with stakeholders, including national and international partners.
Over the last decade, the University’s research scale, excellence and impact has grown significantly. With a research income of nearly $700 million, the University is one of Australia’s largest and most comprehensive research-intensive organisations, recognised worldwide for our contribution and research impact.
University of Melbourne Vice-Chancellor Professor Duncan Maskell said Professor Cassidy will continue building upon the already strong foundation for research at the University of Melbourne.
“I am pleased that Professor Mark Cassidy has been appointed to this critical leadership role at the University, following his successful tenure as Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology since 2018.”
“Professor Cassidy has driven academic, government and industry research collaborations, including building momentum for a global innovation campus for engineering and design at Fishermans Bend.”
“A key area of Professor Cassidy’s focus as he takes on this role will be to strengthen our local and global partnerships and to harness the innovation and creativity within our world-leading research precincts.”
Professor Cassidy said: “The University of Melbourne is a convenor of significant research collaboration with partners from government, industry and other universities. I’m excited to focus on enabling interdisciplinary teams to contribute to solving some of the world’s greatest challenges.”
"As a leading research institution, our most important asset is our talented, creative, hardworking and dedicated people. I’m committed to creating an environment that invests in support for our people at all stages of their careers and I’m excited to see what we can achieve together.”
Professor Cassidy graduated in Civil Engineering from the University of Queensland, and as a Rhodes Scholar, attained a doctorate in Engineering Science from the University of Oxford.
Before his appointment at the University of Melbourne, he was an Australian Research Council (ARC) Laureate Fellow, Director of the Centre for Offshore Foundation Systems, Deputy Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Geotechnical Science and Engineering and the Lloyd’s Register Foundation Chair of Offshore Foundations at the University of Western Australia.
Under his leadership, the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology is recognised for addressing critical problems including transport, water resource management, smart infrastructure and sustainable energy. Other key areas of focus have included artificial intelligence, robotics and human-computer interaction.
He is an elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering.