Lester Whyland Sharp (April 21, 1887 in Saratoga Springs, New York – July 17, 1961 in Nuevo, California) was an American botanist, a pioneer in cytogenetics. He received a BS from Alma College in 1908. After two years at The Johns Hopkins University, he transferred to the University of Chicago where he received his PhD in 1912. His postdoctoral work was in association with the University of Louvain, Belgium. Subsequently, he was with Cornell University until his retirement as professor emeritus of botany in 1947.