Prof. Sweet is an academic at the University of Derby where he has been employed since 2013. His prior academic career was at Newcastle University, where he was awarded both his degree and doctorate. Between his degree and PhD, Michael spent just short of four years traveling around the world as a research assistant for numerous scientific projects. These included biodiversity index surveys in the Philippines and Malaysia, radio tracking Sumatran rhinos in Borneo, rehabilitation and management of the endangered black robin in the Chatham Islands, New Zealand and being a game ranger in mainland Africa and Madagascar.