Duncan John Maskell, (born 30 May 1961) is a British

biochemist Biochemists are scientists who are trained in biochemistry. They study chemical processes and chemical transformations in living organisms. Biochemists study DNA, proteins and cell parts. The word "biochemist" is a portmanteau of "biological che ...

and academic, who specialises in

molecular microbiology Molecular biology is the branch of biology that seeks to understand the molecular basis of biological activity in and between cells, including biomolecular synthesis, modification, mechanisms, and interactions. The study of chemical and physica ...

and bacterial infectious diseases. Since 2018, he has been

Vice-Chancellor A chancellor is a leader of a college or university, usually either the executive or ceremonial head of the university or of a university campus within a university system. In most Commonwealth and former Commonwealth nations, the chancellor is ...

of the

University of Melbourne The University of Melbourne is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in Victoria. Its main campus is located in Parkville, an inner suburb n ...

, Australia. He previously taught at the

University of Cambridge , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...

, England.

Early life and education

Maskell grew up in north London, in a working-class household. He was educated at Queen Elizabeth's School for Boys, then a

comprehensive school A comprehensive school typically describes a secondary school for pupils aged approximately 11–18, that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude, in contrast to a selective school system where admission is r ...

in Barnet. At 11, he performed at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, to celebrate the 60th birthday of the composer Benjamin Britten, and has played and performed music in several bands. He was the first in his family to go to university. He studied

Natural Sciences Natural science is one of the branches of science concerned with the description, understanding and prediction of natural phenomena, based on empirical evidence from observation and experimentation. Mechanisms such as peer review and repeat ...

Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge Gonville and Caius College, often referred to simply as Caius ( ), is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1348, it is the fourth-oldest of the University of Cambridge's 31 colleges and one of ...

, graduating with a

Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of arts (BA or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four yea ...

(BA) degree. He undertook a

Doctor of Philosophy A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, Ph.D., or DPhil; Latin: or ') is the most common degree at the highest academic level awarded following a course of study. PhDs are awarded for programs across the whole breadth of academic fields. Because it is ...

(PhD) degree in Cambridge's Department of Pathology on Salmonella infections and graduated in 1986. His

doctoral thesis A thesis ( : theses), or dissertation (abbreviated diss.), is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings.International Standard ISO 7144 ...

was titled "Mechanisms of resistance and immunity to salmonella infections" and was submitted in 1985.

Career

After doctoral work, Maskell worked as a research scientist for Wellcome Biotech from 1985 to 1988, then as a

research fellow A research fellow is an academic research position at a university or a similar research institution, usually for academic staff or faculty members. A research fellow may act either as an independent investigator or under the supervision of a p ...

at the Institute of Molecular Medicine,

University of Oxford The University of Oxford is a collegiate research university in Oxford, England. There is evidence of teaching as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the world's second-oldest university in contin ...

, from 1988 to 1992. In 1992, he joined

Imperial College, London Imperial College London (legally Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine) is a public research university in London, United Kingdom. Its history began with Prince Albert, consort of Queen Victoria, who developed his vision for a cu ...

as a lecturer in its Department of Biochemistry. In 1996, he appointed

Marks & Spencer Marks and Spencer Group plc (commonly abbreviated to M&S and colloquially known as Marks's or Marks & Sparks) is a major British multinational retailer with headquarters in Paddington, London that specialises in selling clothing, beauty, home ...

Professor of Farm Animal Health, Food Science and Food Safety at the

. He was elected a

fellow A fellow is a concept whose exact meaning depends on context. In learned or professional societies, it refers to a privileged member who is specially elected in recognition of their work and achievements. Within the context of higher education ...

Wolfson College, Cambridge Wolfson College () is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. The majority of students at the college are postgraduates. The college also admits "mature" undergraduates (aged 21 and above), with around ...

in 1998. He also served as Head of the Department of Veterinary Medicine from 2004 to 2013, and Head of the School of Biological Sciences from 2013 to 2015, and the university's Senior Pro-Vice Chancellor from 2015 to 2018.'MASKELL, Prof. Duncan John', ''

Who's Who 2017 ''Who's Who'' is a reference work. It is a book, and also a CD-ROM and a website, giving information on influential people from around the world. Published annually as a book since 1849, it lists people who influence British life, according to i ...

'', A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 2017; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2016; online edn, Nov 201
accessed 26 Oct 2017
/ref> In October 2017, it was announced that Maskell would be the next

of the

, succeeding

Glyn Davis Glyn Conrad Davis AC (born 25 July 1959) is an Australian academic who is the Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, appointed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on 30 May 2022, and commenced on 6 June 2022. Davis was ...

. He took up the role on 1 October 2018. In May 2022, Maskell was reappointed for a second term. The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 saw severe lockdown measures and travel bans in Melbourne from March–November, meaning the university was particularly hard hit because of its reliance on international student revenues. Maskell announced widespread staff redundancies and early retirement schemes (450 people) to reduce university expenditure against a forecast drop in student numbers, in August 2020.

Honours

In 2011, Maskell was elected a

Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences Fellowship of the Academy of Medical Sciences (FMedSci) is an award for medical scientists who are judged by the UK Academy of Medical Sciences The Academy of Medical Sciences is an organisation established in the UK in 1998. It is one of ...

(FMedSci).

Selected works

* * * * * * Mastroeni, P. and D. Maskell (eds.). 2006. ''Salmonella infections: clinical, immunological, and molecular aspects''. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. * *

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Maskell, Duncan John 1961 births Living people British biochemists British molecular biologists English bacteriologists Fellows of Wolfson College, Cambridge Fellows of the Academy of Medical Sciences (United Kingdom) Vice-Chancellors of the University of Melbourne People educated at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School for Boys Alumni of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge