Professor Tim Dafforn
Biography
Professor Tim Dafforn has been the Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) at the UK Ministry of Defence since July 2025. He is a Professor of Biotechnology and previously held roles as Director of the Institute of Advanced Studies at the University of Birmingham, and vice president and trustee of the Institute of Engineering and Technology. He is also currently a member of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). His fundamental research interests focus on the application of nanotechnology to enhance the exploitation of biomolecules for public good. He is also keenly interested in methods to maximise research impact, having founded two businesses to exploit research carried out within his laboratory.
Professor Dafforn was previously Chief Entrepreneurial Adviser at the former Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy from November 2016 until October 2017. Prior to this, he was Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). Professor Dafforn has also worked closely with previous MOD CSA, Dstl and UKRI to develop the UK’s Engineering Biology Strategy, resulting in a £2 billion commitment from HMG in the next decade. Until recently, he spent six years as a member of the Defence Science Expert Committee, assisting MOD on S&T portfolio development alongside projects on chem-bio resilience, futures and scientific assurance.
His career includes more than 100 publications and a lifetime research grant capture in excess of £10 million.
MOD Chief Scientific Adviser
The Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) is MOD’s principal adviser on science and technology, with responsibility for directing research through the MOD’s core S&T research portfolio. The CSA reports to the Permanent Secretary, is a member of the Joint Requirements Oversight Committee (JROC) and the Investment Approvals Committee, and is Co-Chair of the Research Technology and Innovation Board (RTIB).
Responsibilities
The MOD Chief Scientific Adviser is responsible for:
- setting strategic direction and providing leadership for science and technology within Defence
- ownership of MOD’s science and technology research portfolio
- ensuring that Defence develops and sustains critical science and technology capabilities needed
- advising ministers and senior officials on science and technology matters
- providing an independent challenge function to MOD, ensuring science and engineering evidence and advice for policies and decisions is robust
- international strategic science and technology collaboration
- science Profession in the Department, as the Head of the Science Profession for MOD
- working with the wider community of Chief Scientific Advisers to share good practice and resolve cross departmental problems.
MOD CSA is oversees the MOD CSA (Nuclear) (CSA(N) who deals with all CSA matters Nuclear within Defence on behalf of MOD CSA. This is currently fulfilled by Professor Robin Grimes.
Previous roles in government
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Chief Entrepreneurial Adviser
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BIS Chief Scientific Adviser