Sara Namvar completed her PhD in 2011 and followed this with seven years of postdoctoral research experience, all at the University of Manchester. She joined the University of Salford in 2018 as a lecturer in biomedical science where she has continued to develop her scientific research. Alongside this, Sara has overseen and co-created with students a wide range of projects designed to build ‘graduate capital’, all aimed towards building confidence, employability and enhancing graduate outcomes. Her pedagogical research findings have been widely presented and led to two Times Higher Most Innovative Teacher of the Year nominations and being shortlisted for this award in 2021. Sara was appointed directorate head of student experience in 2021 and now leads the biomedical science programme.