Monash University appoints new senior leaders in research

Monash University has announced the following senior leadership appointments within the University’s Research and Enterprise portfolio:

  • Professor Antoine van Oijen has been appointed Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research), effective Monday 10 August 2026.
  • Professor Christina Twomey has been appointed Pro Vice-Chancellor (Researcher Development), commencing Monday 29 June 2026.

Professor Antoine van Oijen, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research)

Professor Antoine van Oijen commences as Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) on Monday 10 August 2026.

An internationally recognised research leader and molecular biophysicist, Professor Antoine van Oijen’s academic career spans more than 25 years at various leading institutions across the globe, including Harvard Medical School, Groningen University, the University of Wollongong and the University of Sydney. His research focuses on DNA replication and repair, and the development and integration of novel imaging methods with molecular biophysical approaches to understand how microbial systems copy and maintain DNA.

Professor van Oijen joins Monash from the University of Sydney, where he has held various leadership positions since 2023. In his current role as Interim Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research Enterprise), he has successfully advanced the university’s research agenda through optimising research investment frameworks, diversifying funding streams, driving innovation and fostering cross-sector partnerships.

Before joining the University of Sydney, Professor van Oijen held the role of Distinguished Professor within the School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience at the University of Wollongong. During his tenure, he established the Molecular Horizons institute – the largest research initiative in the university’s history. Under his leadership as founding director, the institute doubled grant income and tripled commercial revenue within its first four years.

A prolific researcher, Professor van Oijen has received numerous awards and honours throughout his career. He received the Australian Research Council Laureate Fellowship from 2015 to 2020, and the National Health and Medical Research Council Leadership Fellowship from 2021 until 2025. His academic qualifications include a PhD in Physical Chemistry (2001) and a Master of Science (Physics) (1996) from Leiden University in the Netherlands.

With a distinguished global reputation for visionary academic and research leadership, Professor van Oijen will play an instrumental role in leading the development and implementation of Monash University’s research strategy in many years to come.

Professor Christina Twomey, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Researcher Development)

Professor Christina Twomey commences as Pro Vice-Chancellor (Researcher Development) on Monday 29 June 2026.

A familiar name to many in the Monash community, Professor Twomey first joined the University in 2003 and is currently a Professor of History in the Faculty of Arts. She has held several leadership positions throughout her Monash career, including as Head, School of Philosophical, Historical and Indigenous Studies in the Faculty of Arts (2017-2021) and Vice-President of the Academic Board (2016-17). She is a former Chair of the Academic Heads Network, co-convenor of the Emerging Research Excellence Fellows Program and mentor in the University’s mentoring schemes for women.

Professor Twomey has been an influential contributor to the broader Australian research community. She served as the Chief Research Officer at the ARC from 2023 to 2025, leading engagement with the Global Research Council and directing initiatives in research assessment and diversity, equity and inclusion. A member of the ARC College of Experts from 2019 to 2021, she has also served as a journal editor and was on the executive of disciplinary associations and the editorial advisory board of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. She is currently a member of the Council of the Australian Academy of the Humanities.

Professor Twomey has received many awards and honours for her academic achievements. In 2016, she was elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia and the Australian Academy of the Humanities. She has received two NSW Premier’s History Prizes, Fellowships from the National Archives of Australia and was previously appointed as the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations Distinguished Visiting Chair at the University of Copenhagen. Professor Twomey has been awarded competitive research funding from the ARC’s Discovery Projects, Future Fellowship and Linkage Project schemes. She holds a PhD (1996) and a Bachelor of Arts (First Class Honours) from the University of Melbourne.

With her wealth of leadership experience at Monash and her extensive research networks and mentoring background, Professor Twomey is well-placed to lead and deliver strategic research talent development initiatives across the full career continuum for the University’s thriving research community in the coming years.

Further arrangements

Following the conclusion of his term as Interim Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) in recent months, Professor John Carroll will return to his substantive role as Dean, Sub-Faculty of Biomedical Sciences within the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (MNHS).

Professor Nellie Georgiou-Karistianis will step down from her role as Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research Training) and focus on leading her research program within the School of Psychological Sciences within the Faculty of MNHS, leading a team of PhDs and postdoctoral research fellows to advance the understanding of rare neurodegenerative disorders. She will provide leadership of the School's research and education, and will play a key role in academic staff development initiatives.

During her five-year tenure as Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research Training), Professor Georgiou-Karistianis provided distinguished leadership in shaping Monash’s graduate research training. She oversaw the 2026 transition from the legacy Monash Doctoral Program to a modernised PhD, favouring a flexible, student-centred model. This complemented the introduction of Monash’s first Graduate Research Competency Framework, both of which reduced administrative hurdles significantly and empowered students to tailor their skills training to meet their individual career aspirations. Through close collaboration with faculties, campus leaders, supervisors and students, the structural reforms implemented under Professor Georgiou-Karistianis’ leadership successfully drove timely HDR submissions from 72 per cent in 2022 to a record-breaking 85.8 per cent to date so far in 2026.

Professor Georgiou-Karistianis championed a culture of inclusivity and industry integration. She broadened access to research through the Diverse PhD Access Pathways Framework, doubling of equity scholarships, and elevating Indigenous stipends to the top Commonwealth rate. Her leadership bridged the gap between academic research and real-world impact through flagship initiatives like the Monash-Thermo Fisher Scientific Catalyst PhD and the Interdisciplinary Team Challenge (PITCH), which mobilised hundreds of students across international campuses to tackle global challenges. From spearheading the TEQSA-recognised GRAICE AI HDR strategy to launching MentorLinkPhD, as well as the recent strategic focus on the long-term sustainability of the PhD degree, she established a new frontier for a future-proofed, supportive and globally competitive HDR ecosystem.

We warmly congratulate Professor van Oijen and Professor Twomey on their new appointments. We also sincerely thank Professor Carroll and Professor Georgiou-Karistianis for their valued contributions to the Research and Enterprise portfolio, and wish them the best as they continue their careers at Monash.