A leading woman computer scientist working in London’s East End has been named in the Queen’s New Year Honours List.

Prof Ursula Martin, who runs computer science at Queen Mary, University of London’s Mile End campus, has been given a CBE “for services to computer science.”

The 53-year-old was previously the first female professor at the prestigeous University of St Andrew’s since its foundation in 1411 before joining Queen Mary in 1992.

She was then seconded to Cambridge University’s computer lab as part-time director to run projects for more women in computing and became a Fellow of Newnham College.

Prof Martin’s career has involved many activities to attract women into computing and mathematics.

She has also chaired the London Mathematical Society’s computer science committee and served on the women in mathematics committee.

Her current research concerns fundamental ideas for a new understanding of control in engineering applications and designing digital control systems.

Prof Martin is also a member of the UK Defence Science Advisory Council and has held academic posts at the Royal Holloway University of London and Manchester and Illinois universities, currently a member of Queen Mary’s theory research group which has a world reputation for fundamental theoretical work in creating robust reliable software.