Professors Roberta Gilchrist and John Gibbs job-share the role of Associate Pro Vice Chancellor for Research (Heritage & Creativity). The research theme encompasses nearly 170 researchers in nine research divisions (Art, Archaeology, Classics, English Literature and Language, Film, Theatre, and Television, History, Modern Languages and Linguistics, Philosophy, Typography and Graphic Communication) across four schools.
Contact details
+44 (0) 118 931 6381
Preeti Trichur
Executive and Governance Office
Roberta Gilchrist is a Professor of Archaeology at the University of Reading. She previously served as Head of Archaeology (1998-2002) and Head of the School of Archaeology, Geography & Environmental Science (2012-15). She is the lead for the University of Reading’s institutional partnership with the British Museum.
Roberta’s research focuses on the archaeology of medieval religion, gender and sacred heritage. She has published extensively on the topics of medieval monasticism, magic, death and burial, health and the life course, as well as key archaeological studies on Norwich Cathedral and Glastonbury Abbey. Her research has been funded by the AHRC, the Leverhulme, the British Academy and English Heritage and has been awarded prizes by the Society for Medieval Archaeology and the British Archaeological Awards.
Roberta was elected a Fellow of the British Academy in 2008 and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London in 2002. She was president of the Society for Medieval Archaeology (2004-7) and served as a panel member for RAE 2008, REF 2014 and REF 2021. She was ‘Archaeologist of the Year’ in 2016, based on a public vote for the Archaeology Awards. She is an honorary fellow of Jesus College Cambridge and an Honorary Research Fellow of the British Museum.
Roberta was appointed Associate Pro Vice Chancellor for Research (Heritage & Creativity), formerly Research Dean, in 2015 and started a new six-year term in August 2021.
More information on Roberta’s research and publications.
Contact details
+44 (0) 118 378 4081
Preeti Trichur
Executive and Governance Office
John Gibbs is a Professor of Film at the University of Reading. Before becoming Associate Pro Vice Chancellor for Research (for Heritage & Creativity), he was Head of the School of Arts and Communication Design (2016-21) and Head of the Department of Film, Theatre & Television (2012-16).
John is the University’s Art Strategy lead, and the Academic Lead for Cine Valley, the developing network of film and television production facilities at Thames Valley Science Park. His research focuses on film aesthetics and especially extending the methods and subjects of style-based criticism. This has included bringing together practices of close analysis with on-set observation and production history, exploring the traditions of mise-en-scène criticism, and developing the possibilities of Audiovisual essays for detailed criticism and for new approaches to film history. He is an editor of Movie: a journal of film criticism and series co-editor of Palgrave Close Readings in Film and Television.
John started his six-year term as Associate Pro Vice Chancellor for Research (Heritage & Creativity), formerly Research Dean, in August 2021.
More information on John’s research and publications.
