After gaining a BSc (Hons) in Biological Sciences in 1988, Sharon commenced work at Bristol Royal Infirmary and qualified as a Medical Laboratory Scientific Officer in Microbiology a year later.

During her 10 years there the laboratory was taken over by the Public Health Laboratory Service (now Health Protection Agency) and so Sharon was able to widen her experience which included several research projects.

Sharon moved to Langford in 2000 to begin her present role in Microbiology where she has gained further research expertise as well as helping develop the diagnostic microbiology service.