Sarah has research interests in topics allied to strength of materials. Sarah began her engineering career via a degree in Materials Engineering from Sheffield University which was followed by PhD research at the University of Nottingham into surface modification induced solid state phase transformations within shape memory alloys. This was followed by industrially collaborative post-doctoral research into mechanical alloying and powder processing techniques for the production of alloys. In 1998 she joined Durham University where she led a number of industry/academia collaborative interdisciplinary research projects in bioengineering, tribology, manufacture and materials research along with lecturing into undergraduate and postgraduate engineering courses in Applied Mechanics, Design, Materials and Bioengineering. Prior to joining Lancaster she contributed to the University of Cumbria/NWDA Energy Coast campus project to develop higher level engineering programmes in west Cumbria. She is a fellow of the Institute of Materials Minerals and Mining, a Chartered Engineer, a Chartered Environmentalist, a fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a member of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining accreditation and professional review panel. In 2017 she was elected to fellowship of the Women's Engineering Society.
