Dr Martin Penny is the Head of Communication Unit at the European Research Council Executive Agency (ERCEA). From 2020 to 2024, he was Head of Unit for International Cooperation in the European Commission Directorate General Research and Innovation (DG R&I). Prior to his he was Head of the ERCEA Units for Physical Sciences and Engineering, and for the Unit coordinating the management of calls for proposals and project follow-up. Between 2005 and 2014, Martin held a series of posts in DG R&I in international relations, programme design, including as the Director-General’s political assistant. Prior to this he worked for the UK Research Councils, including five years as the Director of the Research Councils' Brussels Office. Martin has a PhD in synthetic organic chemistry (Bristol University), an MSc in science communication and science and society (Open University) and held postdoctoral research positions in biological and medicinal chemistry in the US, UK, and Belgium. He has also worked as a freelance trainer for academic staff across the world, on communication, negotiation and team-working skills.