Professor Hainsworth's research expertise in Forensic Engineering is in the areas of knife crime and tool mark characterisation.

She also has research interests in:

• surface engineering
• microstructural evolution in power plant materials
• measurement of residual stress in engineering components

Professor Sarah Hainsworth OBE FREng is responsible for developing and implementing the University’s Research Strategy. She works alongside the Faculties, Schools, and colleagues across our organisation.

Career

A Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and Fellow of Royal Academy of Engineering, Sarah Hainsworth is a Professor of Materials and Forensic Engineering.

Professor Hainsworth was part of the research team that worked on the discovery of the body of Richard III at Leicester, working to characterise the weapon marks on the skeleton that allowed identification of how the King died on the battlefield – including the first use of micro-computed X-ray tomography in the analysis of tool marks in archaeological investigations.

She was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2019 New Year’s Honours List, for services to Engineering and Forensic Science.