Sherif is a ‘life’-scientist with over 25 years’ experience in the higher education sector, focusing on research, innovation, translation and commercialisation. He is trained as a pharmacist followed by a PhD in genomic medicine from the University of Sussex, then a post-doctoral training at St Jude Hospital in the US. Working with the Nobel Laureate Zewail in Caltech, Sherif established and directed one of the first medical genomics research centres in the MENA region. In 2018, Sherif co-founded the healthy Lifespan Institute at the University of Sheffield. Sherif moved to the University of Bradford in 2020 as the Director of the Institute of Cancer Therapeutics, then Associate Dean of Research, and then took up the PVC role in 2024.

Sherif is responsible for the leadership and management of the University of Bradford Research and Innovation ecosystem. Sherif has significant experience of working in higher education here in the UK and in the MENA region, championing the quality of research and innovation, student experience, engagement with the government and private sectors. 

Sherif is committed to value led leadership, whereby building trust, equality, diversity and inclusion are the at the cornerstone of strategic developments to unlock the potential of people from all backgrounds.