Professor Sarah Sharples

Biography

Professor Sarah Sharples was Chief Scientific Adviser for the Department for Transport from 12 July 2021 to 31 October 2025.

Sarah is a Professor of Human Factors in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Nottingham and from 2018 to 2021 was Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and People.

She has led research in transport, manufacturing and healthcare, and currently leads the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Connected Everything Network Plus.

Sarah founded and is co-director of the EPSRC Horizon Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT), and has led research programmes examining the implementation of new technologies in rail, highways and aviation.

She was President of the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors from 2015 to 2016.

Previous roles in government

  • DfT Chief Scientific Adviser