Sophie Foley

Professor Sophie Foley is a microbiologist and Associate Dean – International in the School of Applied Sciences at Edinburgh Napier University, leading the School's international agenda including transnational education (TNE) partnerships and student recruitment. With 20+ years of academic leadership, she drives initiatives enhancing student transitions for diverse cohorts across undergraduate/postgraduate pathways and cross-cultural educational contexts.

Her educational background includes a BSc (Hons) Microbiology (First Class) and PhD from University College Cork, followed by industry experience at Nestle Switzerland. Current research spans food microbiology (Kombucha scale-up, artisan cheese safety, bacteriophage applications against Rhodococcus equi) and educational development, funded by Scottish Whisky Research Institute, Scottish Funding Council, and British Council.

She leads high-impact international projects including a British Council Egypt grant co-developing a pharmaceutical sciences diploma with Ahram Canadian University, and a Ghana-based gender equality initiative with University for Health and Allied Sciences. Her advisory roles include UK Food Standards Agency ACNFP and Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, with frequent British Council engagements on women in STEM advancement.

Teaching covers BSc Applied Microbiology (Edinburgh/Sri Lanka), Biological Science (Edinburgh/Hong Kong), and MSc programs in Medical Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Science. She anchors her work in UN Sustainable Development Goals 2 (Zero Hunger), 3 (Good Health), and 4 (Quality Education) through the Centre for Biomedicine and Global Health, Centre for Conservation and Restoration Science, and Centre for Higher Education Research.