Jane Francis

Jane E. Francis is the current Director of the British Antarctic Survey. She previously worked as Professor of Palaeoclimatology at the University of Leeds where she was Dean of the Faculty of Environment. In 2002 she was the fourth female to receive the Polar Medal for outstanding contribution to British polar research.

Education

Francis received her undergradate degree in Geology and PhD at the University of Southampton.

Career

Francis remained at Southampton until 1982 as a NERC research student in Biology/Geology. From here she continued on as a NERC postdoctoral research fellow for two years, until 1984, at Bedford College, University of London.

She was appointed a position as Palaeobotanist to the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), from 1984-1986. This was followed by five years as a Postdoctoral research Associate at the University of Adelaide. In 1991 she accepted a position as a lecturer in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Leeds. She was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 1996 and to Professor of Palaeoclimatology in 2004. On 1 October 2013 Professor Francis took up her present post as Director of BAS, succeeding interim director, Alan Rodger.