* Stephen McNair , professor and director of research at the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education and head of the School of Educational Studies at Surrey University, has been appointed interim director of the School of Knowledge, Information and Personal Development at the National Health Service University.
* Manchester University has appointed: Sarah Jane O'Brien , consultant epidemiologist/consultant in public health medicine and head of the gastrointestinal diseases division at the Health Protection Agency's centre in London, professor of health sciences and epidemiology; and Christopher Perriam , professor of Hispanic studies at Newcastle upon Tyne University, to a chair in Hispanic studies. The following have been awarded promotional chairs: Igor Evstigneev , professor of economic studies; Paul Coulthard , professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery; Simon Turner , professor of plant sciences; Barry Marsden , professor of science in nuclear graphite technology; and Andrew Prag , professor of archaeological studies.
* The Scottish Agricultural College has awarded readerships to: Christine Watson , who joined the college in 1991; John Rooke , a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Agricultural Science ; and Malcolm McGechan , who joined the National Institute of Agricultural Engineering at Strathclyde University. Nick Sparks , head of the Avian Science Research Centre, has been appointed dean of SAC's Ayr Campus.
* Charlotte Rayner has been appointed professor of human research management at Portsmouth University, not Anglia Polytechnic University, as implied in last week's People.