Education
Press was educated at the Westfield College, part of the University of London gaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental sciences in 1980 followed by a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Manchester in 1983.
Press was educated at the Westfield College, part of the University of London gaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental sciences in 1980 followed by a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Manchester in 1983.
He was appointed a Lecturer in 1989 at the University of Manchester, before being promoted to senior lecturer and moving to the University of Sheffield in 1994, where he was a Reader until 1998, then Professor of Physiological Ecology from 1998 to 2008. He was appointed Pro-vice-chancellor and Head of the College of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Birmingham until 2015. He started his position as Vice Chancellor at MMU in June 2015 where took over from John Brooks who held the post from 2005-2015.
Controversy During his time as head of the College of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Birmingham, Press was at the centre of controversy apropos the College"s perceived aggressive management style, writing that the College had "managed out under-performing staff" in a strategy document.
This was seen by some, that undue pressure had been put on selected staff to resign at that time. These remarks were later withdrawn.
Press conducts research on interactions between parasitic plants and their hosts, environmental change in Arctic ecosystems and tropical rainforest ecology. Specifically:.