Dr. Sandeep Sandhu

Biography

Sandeep is a Research & Innovation expert. At Innovate U.K. Business Connect (IUK) Sandeep leads the development and growth of strategic and durable relationships with a multitude of stakeholders. She has successfully built high level and impactful partnerships with governments, industry and public sector bodies in the U.K. and internationally. She previously directed and led the delivery of IUK’s international programmes, facilitating research and innovation collaborations with key economies around the world.

Previously Sandeep worked as a Senior International Policy Manager at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), leading on international strategy, transnational partnerships, European policy and UKRI’s participation in the Global Research Council. Sandeep also worked at the Medical Research Council in a variety of roles from managing their infections and immunity portfolio and global health programmes (e.g. Newton Fund, Global Challenges Research Fund, Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases) to acting as the National Contact Point for Health on Horizon 2020.

Sandeep completed her PhD in Biochemistry at the University of Birmingham, developing a novel detection system utilising engineered bacteriophages in partnership with the Ministry of Defence.

Sandeep is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology and sits on the Education and Science Policy Committee. She was selected as a Future Leader by the Foundation for Science & Technology and selected as an Executive Leader of UK Young Academy. She is a Trustee for the Royal Society of Asian Affairs and a Governor at the Grange Academy.

She is interested in international collaboration, science and innovation diplomacy and equality diversity and inclusion.