- B.A., Engineering (Electrical Sciences), University of Cambridge, 1984
- Ph.D., Engineering (Electrical Machines), University of Cambridge, 1988
- Doctor Honoris Causa (Engineering Design), KU Leuven, 2012
John Clarkson returned to the department in 1995 following a seven-year spell with PA Consulting Group's Technology Division where he was Manager of the Advanced Process Group. He was appointed director of the Engineering Design Centre in 1997 and a University Professor in 2004.
At PA John gained wide experience of product development with a particular focus on the design of medical equipment and high-integrity systems, where clients required a risk-based systems approach to design to ensure timely delivery of safe systems. John is directly involved in the teaching of design at all levels of the undergraduate course.
