Andrew Harrison (scientist)

Andrew Harrison
Nationality	British
Citizenship	United Kingdom
Alma mater	Oxford University
Occupation	CEO
Years active	1985 - present
Employer	Diamond Light Source
Title	Professor
Spouse	wife Alison
Children	3 daughters
Awards	OBE

Diamond Light Source synchrotron building

Andrew Harrison OBE is a British chemist and a research manager. From 1978 he studied chemistry at Oxford University, where he graduated as PhD in 1985. Then he worked as a researcher in Britain, Canada and France. In October 2020 he became an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. ^{[1] [2]}

The University of Bath awarded Harrison an Honorary Doctorate of Science in July of 2019. The award recognises Harrison as 'an inspirational scientist who couples outstanding research excellence with influential and high-level executive roles in international facilities, carries out with a commitment, compassion, humanity and humility that is an inspiration to many.' ^[3]

Career

Harrison's work is focused on chemistry. ^{[4] [5]}

• 09/1985 - 12/1988: Junior Research Fellow at St. John's College, Oxford
• 01-12/1988 - Research Fellow at McMaster University
• 01/1989 - 12/1991: Royal Society Research Fellow at Oxford University
• 01/1992 - 07/2006: University of Edinburgh, from 2000 Professor of Solid-state chemistry, from 2001 Founding Director of the Centre for Science at Extreme Conditions ^[6]
• 08/2006 - 12/2013: Associate Director, from 2011 Director-General of Institut Laue-Langevin at Grenoble, France
• 01/2013 - 10/2022 CEO of Diamond Light Source, UK
• from 11/2022 - Director of Science at Extreme Light Infrastructure

According to St. John's College, Harrison is one of the most successful British research managers. ^[7] Besides the COVID-19 related research, his focus is to design new batteries and to improve the plastic recycling with an efficient plastic degrading enzyme. ^[8]

See also

• Diamond Light Source
• Institut Laue–Langevin

References

1. "Professor Andrew Harrison OBE | School of Chemistry". www.chem.ed.ac.uk.
2. "An OBE for Prof Andrew Harrison - - Diamond Light Source". www.diamond.ac.uk.
3. "Professor Andrew Harrison: oration". www.bath.ac.uk. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
4. "Andrew Harrison". LinkedIn .
5. "Professor Andrew Harrison - - Diamond Light Source". www.diamond.ac.uk.
6. "Professor Andrew Harrison FRSE | School of Chemistry". www.chem.ed.ac.uk.
7. "Andrew Harrison". St John's College.
8. "County's Covid heroes recognised in Queen's Birthday Honours". Oxford Mail.