Professor Gerry McCormac became Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Stirling on May 1, 2010. He is a scientist with a significant research record in both Space Physics and Carbon Dating. While at the University of Michigan he worked on the NASA Dynamics Explorer satellite programme and subsequently became Director of the high-precision carbon dating facility at Queen's University Belfast where he undertook research into global carbon cycling and contributed to the dating of national historic monuments such as Stonehenge, Sutton Hoo and Newgrange.
He was Pro-Vice Chancellor of Queen's University Belfast from 2001 to 2010, where he had responsibility for Academic and Financial Planning, Economic Development and External Affairs. He served on the Northern Ireland (NI) Committee of the Institute of Directors, the NI Economic Development Forum, the NI Science and Industry Panel (MATRIX) and the boards of both the NI Science Park and Business in the Community. He was a Director and Chair of the Management Board of Queen's University's commercialisation company, QUBIS.
He is currently a member of Universities Scotland, Universities UK, The Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland Executive Committee, the Universities and Colleges Employers' Association (UCEA) Scottish Committee, the United States/Northern Ireland Economic Development Working Group and a board member of Invest Northern Ireland. He is a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, the Higher Education Academy and the Royal Society of Arts, Commerce and Manufacturers.