Faculty leadership
Our leadership team set the overall strategy and direction for the Faculty of Science, supporting our seven departments to accomplish world-class research and provide the best for our students.
Professor John Derrick
Vice-President and Head of Faculty
John graduated with a degree in Mathematics from the University of Nottingham, before taking his DPhil in Oxford.
From 1990 to 2005 he worked at the University of Kent at Canterbury then moved to Sheffield in 2005. He was Head of Department in Computer Science between 2009 and 2015.
In 2015 he was appointed to the post of Deputy PVC for Research and Innovation. John joined the Faculty of Science towards the end of 2017.
Professor Simon Foster
Director of Research and Innovation
Simon has been at the University of Sheffield since 1990, where he is now a key part of major medical research initiatives such as the Florey Institute and Imagine: Imaging Life.
As Director of Research and Innovation he is responsible for defining the science research strategy, nurturing collaboration and supporting academics to pursue new research of a world-class standard.
Penny Jackson
Director of Operations
Penny joined the University in 2020 after spending seven years as Director of Operations for the College of Science and Engineering at the University of Leicester. Prior to that, she worked for AstraZeneca in a number of different roles.
As Director of Operations, Penny works closely with the Faculty Vice-President and the other Faculty Directors to shape the strategic direction of Science at the University of Sheffield and ensure its success in teaching and research.
Professor Simon Jones
Director of Recruitment and International Relations
Simon has been at Sheffield for more than a decade, becoming an ambassador for the University as a science communicator and as head of undergraduate admissions in Chemistry.
He took up his Faculty Director role in 2015, to help departments connect with the best students from around the world and foster a global alumni community of Sheffield science graduates.
Professor Katherine Linehan
Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Katherine has been at the University of Sheffield since 2003, and has a wealth of experience in both staff and student equality, diversity and inclusion support.
Alongside her academic duties, she has been instrumental in the University of Sheffield's Inclusive Learning and Teaching Project, which has influenced the University's current policy and practices.
Professor Luke Wilson
Director of Learning and Teaching
Luke served as Director of Teaching in the Department of Physics and Astronomy before taking on his Faculty role.
He is a highly experienced lecturer in semiconductor physics, who has led the development of a specialist undergraduate laboratory for quantum optics experiments and spearheaded a number of outreach activities at the Royal Society.
Heads of departments
The heads of our seven academic departments oversee all aspects of work in their departments, from recruiting the best students to producing great new research.
Department of Animal and Plant Sciences
Professor Rob Freckleton
Email: r.freckleton@sheffield.ac.uk
Phone: +44 114 222 0123
Department of Biomedical Science
Professor Kathryn Ayscough
Email: hodbms@sheffield.ac.uk
Phone: +44 114 222 2371
Department of Chemistry
Professor Graham J Leggett
Email: graham.leggett@sheffield.ac.uk
Phone: +44 114 222 9556
School of Mathematics and Statistics
Professor Nick Monk
Email: somas-hos@shef.ac.uk
Phone: +44 114 222 3519
Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
Professor Mike Williamson
Email: hod.mbb@sheffield.ac.uk
Phone: +44 114 222 4224
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Professor Paul Crowther
Email: physics-hod@sheffield.ac.uk
Phone: 44 114 222 4291
Department of Psychology
Professor Glenn Waller
Email: g.waller@sheffield.ac.uk
Phone: +44 114 222 6568