Alfred J. Vella is the Rector of the University of Malta as from July 2016. He graduated BSc in physics and chemistry in 1971 and MSc in chemistry in 1975, both degrees from the University of Malta and PhD in organic geochemistry in 1984 from Colorado School of Mines (USA). He has lectured at the University of Malta since 1987 and is currently professor of chemistry and teaches mainly in the area of environmental chemistry. He has also taught general and organic chemistry and chemistry of natural products. Having taught chemistry since 1968 and at all levels, Professor Vella participated actively in syllabus design and development in Advanced and Intermediate Matriculation Chemistry. Professor Vella served for many years as Head of Department of Chemistry and between 1997 and 2007 was also Dean of the Faculty of Science. He served as Pro-Rector for Academic Affairs between July 2006 and June 2016 and in this capacity headed several Senate Sub-Committees including the PhD Committee and the Programme Validation Committee, the latter body being responsible for ensuring internal quality assurance processes at the University in accordance with the Bologna Process and associated standards and guidelines.
During the past 30 years, Professor Vella's commitments as an academic frequently extended beyond university walls, having regularly acted as court forensic expert in judicial inquiries on chemical accidents, fire and explosion. He has consulted on environmental and other scientific matters to the Government of Malta and local firms and industrial concerns. Prof Vella was a member of the Board of the Planning Authority (1992-98), the Malta Council of Science and Technology (1997-98; 2009-16), Malta Centre for Restoration (2003-5), Heritage Malta (2005-8). He is currently a member of the Environmental Resources Authority and directs the Malta National Authority for the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
Professor Vella's research interests are mainly in the area of environmental chemistry and he publishes in this area. He is also a reviewer for a number of international journals including Atmospheric Environment, Environmental Pollution and Chemosphere.