Caroline took up the post of Director of Liverpool School of Art & Design in October 2014. She has a background in art and science and her research and creative work sits at the forefront of art-science fusion and includes subjects as diverse as forensic art, human anatomy, medical art, face recognition, forensic science, anthropology, 3D visualisation, digital art and craniofacial identification.

Caroline is a graduate of the University of Manchester, where she also led the Unit of Art in Medicine 2000-2005 and received a NESTA fellowship to develop a 3D computerised facial reconstruction system for use in forensic and archaeological depiction. She moved to LJMU from the University of Dundee, where she was Head of Human Identification in the award-winning Centre for Anatomy & Human Identification. Her high profile facial depiction work includes facial depictions of Robert the Bruce, Richard III, St Nicolas, J.S. Bach and Mary, Queen of Scots.

Caroline Wilkinson is Director of the Face Lab, a LJMU research group based in Liverpool Science Park. The Face Lab carries out forensic/archaeological research and consultancy work and this includes craniofacial analysis, facial depiction and forensic art. Craniofacial analysis involves the depiction and identification of unknown bodies for forensic investigation or historical figures for archaeological interpretation. Face Lab research relates to facial identification, craniofacial reconstruction, preserved bodies and facial animation. Caroline is accredited as a forensic anthropologist Level I (craniofacial specialism) by the Royal Anthropological Institute (RAI) and is an experienced forensic practitioner.

Caroline Wilkinson has collaborated frequently with museums and the media, especially relating to craniofacial depiction of people from the past. She has worked with the National Museum of Scotland, National Museum of Ireland, Museum of London, Johns Hopkins Archaeological Museum, Theban Mapping Project, Moesgaard Museum and the Fraunhofer Institute. She has current research collaborations with Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, Chonnam National University, the University of Liverpool and the University of Glasgow.