Rate My Professor Janet Nelson

Professor Janet Nelson served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) and Vice-President at the University of Newcastle, Australia, from March 2020 until her resignation in July 2021. As the university's chief research officer, she collaborated closely with faculty to catalyze, encourage, and support research and scholarly activities, foster multidisciplinary teams, promote knowledge creation and application, and expand the research enterprise. Under her leadership, the university celebrated major funding achievements, including over $7 million in NHMRC grants for health and medical research, more than $6 million in ARC Discovery Projects, and support for innovative studies on stroke survivor fatigue, ocean metallic debris lifespan prediction, green hydrogen production from solar power and air, COVID-19 mental health interventions, and nanoscale particles for environmental cleanup. She emphasized the strength of collaborative research, with Newcastle researchers ranking in the top 20 nationally for collaboration impact.

Prior to the University of Newcastle, Professor Nelson was Vice President for Research and Economic Development at the University of Idaho from 2013 to 2020, overseeing research operations including sponsored programs, research assurances, university institutes, and technology transfer. She served as the primary liaison for research funding agencies, consortia, national laboratories, federal and state entities, and industry partners, while aiding faculty with grant pursuits in areas such as fire science, dairy research, and cybersecurity. Her earlier appointments include Associate Vice-Chancellor for Research Development at the University of Tennessee, Director of Business Development at URS Corporation (now AECOM), and Director at the Biotechnology Industry Organization in Washington, DC. With a PhD in Chemistry from the California Institute of Technology and a BA in Chemistry from Carleton College, Minnesota, Professor Nelson possesses deep expertise in scientific research review, portfolio administration, complex multidisciplinary initiatives, and business development. She is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and holds the Graduate credential from the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She is currently recognized as an Honorary Professor at the University of Newcastle.