Peter Mitchell

Mr Peter Mitchell, 47, senior lecturer in the School of the Biomedical Sciences, today receives a Distinguished Business Fellowship from the university.

A native of Londonderry, Peter has built a distinguished career in the field of academic-enterprise, becoming Co-ordinator of Academic Enterprise in the Faculty of Life and Health Sciences and a champion for collaborative Research and Development with industry, particularly through the Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health (NICHE). The award recognises his outstanding contribution to outreach, the Northern Ireland food industry and entrepreneurship training for scientists at the university.

Educated at the University of Edinburgh and the University of California, Santa Barbara, Peter began his career as a process engineer with Tate & Lyle Group Research & Development, which involved him in numerous multi-disciplinary projects at sugar factories and refineries in the UK, USA, South America, West Indies and North Africa. He joined the University of Ulster in 1987 as a lecturer in Food Technology, becoming a senior lecturer in 1998.

A Fellow of the Institute of Food Science and Technology and a Chartered Scientist, he is a contributor to numerous business improvement projects. Among those, the Irish Central Border Area Network 'Facilitating Innovation in Functional Foods'  highlights his commitment to making NICHE an important and respected part of the island of Ireland food industry support network.  Peter chairs the Northern Ireland Branch of IFST (UK), a body for food professionals in the public and private sector. He is a member of the Association for University Research & Industry Links.

Single, he lives in Portstewart and is part of the ministry team at Agherton Parish. He said: "I am delighted and honoured to be nominated for this award. It highlights that the University really does value staff who work with industry and who contribute to the development of a culture of innovation and enterprise at our institution."


Winter Graduation News 2005

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