Regine Willumeit-Römer is the new ILL Director

The new senior management of the ILL has taken up duties on 1st October 2026. Regine Willumeit-Römer is now the ILL Director, appointed by Germany for this term of office. Ken Andersen and Jacques Jestin are now Associate Directors for the UK and France, respectively, continuing from the previous management team.

Regine Willumeit-Römer, professor at the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Kiel (Germany), was previously acting Scientific Director of the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon and head of its Institute for Metallic Biomaterials. For the last two decades, she has been engaged in biomaterials research, with a strong focus on the development of degradable metallic implants and bridging fundamental research with innovative applications that benefit both academia and industry. The appointment of the new team was announced in June.

The new director takes over the reins of the ILL at a particularly exciting time - not only is the Institute at the peak of its performance, but its crucial role in the European neutron landscape and as a pillar of European leadership and sovereignty in science and innovation is increasingly recognised.

ILL is an outstanding research facility where cutting-edge neutron research, international collaboration, and scientific excellence come together. We are striving to further develop and open up new fields of research and to maximise our impact on science and society. Let’s build the future together!

Regine Willumeit-Römer

Funded and managed by France, Germany and the United Kingdom, in partnership with 10 Scientific Member countries, the ILL is led by a General Director and two Associate Directors representing the Institute’s three Associate countries in rotating roles.

In a General Assembly held on 13 October, Regine Willumeit-Römer met the community and answered questions from staff members. The General Assembly was followed by a convivial moment that traditionally marks the arrival of new ILL directors.

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