Park (pictured) joined ESRC as director of research in January 2019 from the UCL Social Research Institute, where she was professor of social research and director of Cohort and Longitudinal Studies Enhancement Resources (Closer).

Prior to UCL, Park led the research team at NatCen responsible for studies including Understanding Society, the British Social Attitudes Survey and the European Social Survey.

Jennifer Rubin, former ESRC executive chair, has taken up the role of chief scientific adviser and director general science, technology, analysis, research and strategy for the Home Office.

The post of interim executive chair is a ministerial appointment. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) said a competition will be launched to appoint a permanent executive chair in the coming weeks.

Ottoline Leyser, chief executive, UKRI, said: “Professor Alison Park is a distinguished social scientist, who will be an exceptional interim executive chair of the Economic and Social Research Council. She brings a wealth of experience from her roles at UCL and NatCen Social Research, and her work as director of research at ESRC.”