Professor Richard Dashwood

Professor Richard Dashwood

Richard Dashwood is responsible for leading the Research and Enterprise activity across the Coventry University Group. He has over 35 years of experience working in the higher education sector as a educator, researcher, and knowledge transfer specialist. He started his career at Imperial College London as a student and then a member of staff in the Department of Materials, where, for seven years, he was the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

In 2008, he moved to the University of Warwick to become the Professor of Engineering Materials in the Warwick Manufacturing Group where he held a number of leadership roles including Academic Director of Warwick Manufacturing Group and Chief Technology Officer for the WMG High Value Manufacturing Catapult centre. He joined Coventry University in 2016 as Deputy Vice-Chancellor where he is responsible for the leadership of the University’s research mission. Here he has led the development of the University’s research ecosystem which is based around 16 challenge led, transdisciplinary research centres, producing impactful research with and for end users. In 2024 he was given the further responsibility for providing leadership of the Enterprise activity as Vice-Provost for Research and Enterprise.

His own research focus is the application of mechanics, microstructure and electrochemistry of materials to solve the advanced manufacturing challenges involved in realising low carbon mobility. Over his career he has published 100+ peer reviewed publications, supervised 40 doctoral students and been involved in 60+ research projects with a combined value of over £35m.