Biography

Dr. Sophia Economides is Associate Professor in Engineering and the Head of Engineering and Physics at Northeastern University London.

Sophia studied Electrical Engineering at the Democritus University of Thrace in Greece before completing a PhD in Microwave Electronics at King’s College London. She also holds an MPhil in Technology Policy from Cambridge Judge Business School and an MA in Online and Distance Education from the Open University.

After her PhD, Dr. Economides worked in the space industry for several years before returning to academia. Witnessing the challenges faced by mature students and students with disabilities in accessing education, she became a dedicated advocate for widening participation. She led the development and implementation of programs supporting students from non-traditional backgrounds, including the groundbreaking Engineering Foundation Year Program at UCL, where she was the founding director. Dr. Economides has supported individuals from diverse backgrounds in gaining university education and promoting engineering careers.

Her research interests focus on access to engineering education, women in engineering, education policy and curriculum design.