After graduating in 1980 in with a BSc (Hons) in Civil Engineering from Manchester University and an MSc in 1982 in Engineering Geology from Durham University, Dr. Golightly worked for some years in the UK for civil engineering consultants Ove Arup and Partners in civil and structural engineering related geotechnical investigation and design. This was followed by three years as a Research Assistant at Bradford University investigating the fundamental properties of calcareous sands, in the context of offshore pile design, for which he was awarded a PhD in 1989. Following this he completed a British Royal Society Post-Doctoral EC Science Fellowship, in 1989 and 1990, at the French Petroleum In