by Trevor Sturgess

Nine science jobs are to be created in Medway.

The area’s burgeoning role as a centre of scientific expertise was given a boost by the decision of the University of Greenwich to appoint nine specialist research staff in its School of Science, based in Chatham Maritime.

The university won funding for the posts after its success in the national Research Assessment Exercise.

The new researchers will help with pioneering work in detecting and treating diseases such as cancer, cleaning up brownfield land, and developing better biofuels.

They will also supervise research projects by undergraduate and MSc students, whose numbers have grown considerably at the university over the last two years.

The new recruits will become so-called Post Doctoral Fellows and join a team of more than 90 staff in the school, working with some 3,000 students in the UK and overseas.

The school has expertise in pharmaceutical, biomedical, forensic and sports sciences as well as chemistry and geography. Its specialist facilities include an analytical services laboratory which provides materials testing services to industry.

Professor Martin Snowden, head of the School of Science, said: “This is an important development for the school, which will also benefit the economy of the region. The expertise of our academics can help businesses and other organisations in their work.”