A renowned forensics engineer and academic
Professor Sarah Hainsworth is the current Pro-Vice-Chancellor at Durham University. She achieved worldwide public attention for her ground breaking analysis of the skeleton of Richard III in 2013.
Sarah began her academic career at Newcastle University, where she undertook a bachelor's degree in engineering, followed by a specialist PhD in the tribology of ceramics.
Her PhD research initially established Sarah as a leading innovator in materials engineering. She pioneered the design of a safe drinking glass through analysis of the ways in which glass fragments fracture. She also led research on automotive materials, developing techniques to minimise wear and friction, thus reducing emissions.
After completing her PhD, Sarah moved to the University of Leicester, where she developed her expertise as a forensics engineer, specialising in knife and tool marks.
While at Leicester, Sarah joined the team working on the excavation and analysis of Richard III’s remains. Her background in materials engineering, alongside her expertise on tool marks, helped her to formulate a conclusion about how Richard III died. Her ground breaking work marked the first use of micro-computed X-ray tomography for archaeological investigations.
Since leaving the University of Leicester, Sarah has held Vice Chancellor positions at Aston University and the University of Bath. She has been a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering since 2016.
Professor Sarah Hainsworth OBE FREng
