Biomaterials specialist Professor Bruce Milthorpe has been appointed the new dean of science at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), taking over from Professor John Rice.

Milthorpe is a former head of the graduate school of biomedical engineering at the University of NSW and has advised government through the therapeutic devices evaluation committee and the therapeutic goods committee.

His research has recently involved developing an adult stem cell model in rabbits for bone and cartilage tissue engineering.

Rice, who held the position for five years, has retired and taken up an honorary position at the University of Sydney.