Two new Directors for IBL
The Institute of Biology Leiden (IBL) has appointed two new directors. Maribel Adame Valero will become the new Director of Operations on 1 August, and Hubertus Irth will start as the new Scientific Director on 1 September. This completes the new collegial management for IBL, following the earlier appointment of Dennis Claessen as the new Director of Education.
Both Maribel Adame Valero and Hubertus Irth are well acquainted with IBL. Adame Valero obtained her PhD in Leiden in 2007 for developing new imaging techniques for atherosclerosis. She has extensive experience in administrative roles and positions in academia, government, and the private sector. Adame Valero earned her MBA from the University of Liverpool in 2015 and has worked at IBL since 2018 as a research policy officer and coordinator of external cooperation. Adame Valero: ‘I look forward to applying my knowledge and expertise to IBL and contributing to its future in my new role.’
Hubertus Irth has been serving as interim Scientific Director (SD) of IBL since 17 June, alongside his role as SD of the Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research (LACDR). Irth is a highly experienced administrator in academia. He was Vice-Dean and Dean of the Faculty of Science at VU University from 2010 to 2016. Since 2016, he has been the Scientific Director of LACDR, with his second term ending on 31 August. Irth has been appointed as SD until his retirement in 2026 and looks forward to fully dedicating himself to IBL in the coming period. Irth: ‘Working at IBL opens up a whole new spectrum of natural sciences for me.’ Although he initially planned to retire from his management roles on 1 September, Irth has agreed to take on the role of SD at IBL. ‘I felt very welcome in this new community over the past few weeks. This made the decision to continue as Scientific Director very easy.’
Trusted and experienced leaders
The Faculty Board is pleased with the appointments of Adame Valero and Irth. Executive Director Suzanne van der Pluijm is delighted that Adame Valero will continue to strengthen the faculty, now in an administrative role. ‘With her background as research manager and knowledge of the IBL, Maribel naturally connects the importance of good research and teaching, and efficient business operations. Her values of transparency and collaboration align well with our faculty’s values.’
With the appointment of Hubertus as permanent Scientific Director, the IBL has a strong new management team. Dean Jasper Knoester: ‘Hubertus is a particularly experienced administrator with strong support within the IBL. We were very happy that he was willing to act as interim director. His willingness to stay after 1 September is valuable for the institute and the faculty. Irth is one of the founders of our new management model in the faculty and is therefore the perfect candidate to shape this new management at IBL together with the other two directors. We are pleased that, after a long management period at LACDR, he will stay at the faculty for a while longer. We look forward to continuing our good collaboration.’
This is how FWN has set up its management model
Since 1 July, 2024, the faculty has been working with collegial institute boards in the institutes, implementing a new, modern management model. An institute board consists of three directors, collectively responsible for the institute. Each director has their own portfolio: a Scientific Director, an Director of Education, and a Director of Operations. Together, they are responsible for the entire institute. This new management model aligns with our desire to organise ourselves efficiently and effectively, fostering good collaboration and harmony within and beyond institutes.