The client
Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) – a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities, known for its commitment to excellence in research, education, and public engagement.
The role
Strategic Professorial Hires across five Institutes within the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry (FMD)
The brief
As part of a transformative growth strategy, QMUL sought to appoint a cohort of world-leading Professors to strengthen its research leadership across five flagship institutes within its Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry: the Barts Cancer Institute, Blizard Institute, Institute of Dentistry, William Harvey Research Institute, and the Wolfson Institute of Population Health. These roles were designed to underpin the university’s long-term vision for innovation and global impact, including the development of the £1bn Barts Life Sciences campus in Whitechapel.
The recruitment focused on a broad range of scientific domains: lung and pancreatic cancer (advanced therapies), immuno-oncology, tumour microenvironment, genetics, bioinformatics, inflammation, host-microbiome interactions, translational cardiovascular research, computational medicine, advanced cell and gene therapies, genomics, epigenomics, infectious diseases, brain cancer, epidemiology, primary care, health data and AI, and psychiatry and mental health.
Candidates needed to demonstrate a strong track record of research leadership, including high-impact publications (e.g. Nature, The Lancet, BMJ, JAMA, NEJM, Cell), substantial grant capture, and the ability to collaborate across disciplines and lead ambitious programmes of work.
The process
Veredus partnered closely with QMUL to design and execute a bespoke, insight-led executive search campaign that extended far beyond conventional academic recruitment.
Key features of the process included:
• ✏️ Development of institute- and theme-specific outreach materials to reflect local priorities and research strengths
• 📢 Strategic advertising in Nature and BMJ to complement direct outreach and attract candidates actively exploring new opportunities
• 📊 Analysis of over 3,500 global academic profiles, using citation metrics and publication benchmarking to identify recent 4* or equivalent outputs
• 🔍 International headhunting across the UK, EU, North America, and Asia-Pacific
• ⏰ Weekly strategic meetings with faculty leadership to adapt targeting and refine priorities in real time
• 🧠 Comprehensive psychometric assessments for all shortlisted candidates, with tailored insight reports and pre-interview briefings delivered by Veredus’s in-house psychologist
• 📄 Referencing conducted for all successful candidates, ensuring due diligence and a seamless onboarding experience
Throughout, Veredus operated not simply as a supplier but as a strategic partner of the university’s leadership, responding flexibly to feedback, evolving the campaign in real time, and maintaining a constant focus on quality, fit, and long-term institutional value.
The results
The campaign resulted in multiple high-impact professorial appointments across the Faculty. Veredus received 105 formal applications and shortlisted 19 highly regarded candidates through a rigorous, research-led selection process. All of the appointed individuals brought with them outstanding publication records, substantial research funding, established teams, and cross-disciplinary expertise.
These hires have bolstered QMUL’s institutional capacity in key strategic areas, directly supported its REF ambitions, and contributed to its financial sustainability at a time of growing pressure across the UK higher education sector.
Take-aways
• 💡 Successfully delivered a complex, high-volume academic recruitment campaign at pace
• ✊ Operated as a fully embedded partner to academic and executive leadership
• 🔍 Combined advanced data analysis, subject expertise, and behavioural insight to shape a high-calibre shortlist
• 🌍 Strengthened QMUL’s profile as a destination for world-leading research talent
This campaign stands as a testament to Veredus’s ability to deliver high-stakes, global academic recruitment at scale, underpinned by deep sector insight, strong analytical and research capability, behavioural assessment, and strategic partnership. By combining data-led headhunting with an agile, collaborative approach, we helped Queen Mary University of London not only attract world-leading Professors but also strengthen its global research profile, advance its REF goals, and lay the groundwork for future innovation. This work exemplifies our commitment to redefining what’s possible in academic executive search.
Are you looking to strengthen your research leadership capability in today’s competitive global landscape?
Talk to our team to explore how we’ve supported leading institutions in attracting world-class academic talent.
Nataliya Starik-Bludova
Co-Head of Executive Search and Practice Lead for Education
Mobile: 07717 003 792
Email: nataliya.starik-bludova@veredus.co.uk