Three Loughborough academics named in WES Top 50 Women in Engineering 2026

The WES Top 50 Women in Engineering awards celebrate outstanding women engineers across the UK who are making a significant impact within their fields while championing diversity, inclusion and innovation. The awards shine a spotlight on individuals whose work is shaping the future of engineering and inspiring the next generation. This year's theme, Engineering Intelligence, focuses on how human creativity and technological advancement can combine to solve complex challenges and drive inclusive progress.

Having completed her undergraduate degree and PhD at Loughborough University, Dr Rebecca Grant is now a Senior Lecturer in Human Factors Metrology, applying knowledge in measurement to healthcare and sports contexts. As an undergraduate, Rebecca helped to re-establish the Women's Engineering Society on campus, running the first careers fair for women in engineering, which attracted over 100 students and 10 companies, earning her a Sir Robert Martin Achievement Prize. Since 2015 this society has grown in diversity across campus, with numerous professional events now supporting female engineering students with their career progress.

Throughout her academic career, Rebecca has led projects with companies such as GlaxoSmithKline, LGC and adidas. Her current research on sports bra lifespan and support is helping women to make informed decisions about engaging and maintaining physical activity. Her educational work is also helping to bridge the human factors knowledge gap within higher education. She led a wider team across Loughborough and the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (CIEHF) to run Think Human, a national exhibition in 2024-25.

Commenting on her recognition, Dr Grant said:

"It was a lovely surprise to be named as one of this year's Top 50, acknowledging that engineering intelligence in the modern world still requires us to focus a lot on human factors to support people alongside technology. Engineering is always a team effort, and it has been a delight to work across sectors, with the IMechE and the CIEHF. The best reward is seeing students develop their knowledge and expertise to be effective leaders in this space."

Dr Monalie Bandulasena is a Chemical Engineering PhD graduate from Loughborough University, and an IP Commercialisation Associate within the University's Research & Innovation Office. Alongside her technical foundation in chemical engineering, she has played a key role in intellectual property (IP) and commercialisation activity at the institution, supporting academics to translate their research innovations and inventions into real-world applications. Dr Bandulasena also leads the Doctoral Innovation Consultants programme and has organised the Ideas to Impact: Loughborough Commercialisation Bootcamp over the past three years.

Through her work, Monalie enables researchers to navigate the journey from discovery to market, fostering a culture of innovation and ensuring that cutting-edge research delivers tangible societal and economic benefits.

Speaking about her award, Dr Bandulasena said:

"I am truly honoured to be included in the WES Top 50 Women in Engineering awards. My work has always been driven by a desire to bridge the gap between research and real-world impact, and to support others, particularly early-career and female researchers in realising the potential of their ideas. This recognition reflects the collaborative efforts of many colleagues and innovators I've had the privilege to work with."

Nick Gostick, Head of IP Commercialisation & Incubation, said of Dr Bandulasena's award:

"I've seen firsthand how Monalie's leadership has helped shape and drive innovation-led programmes for early career researchers across the University. Colleagues highlight her creation of opportunities that enable others, especially female researchers, to grow, succeed, and bring their ideas to life. Her work plays a key role in building a more confident, collaborative, and commercially aware ecosystem."

PhD researcher Sadia Bakhtiar's work focuses on the development of innovative wind energy harvesting technologies, with expertise in fluid-structure interaction, aerodynamic instabilities, and nonlinear dynamics. Her work has advanced the understanding of energy harvesting mechanisms and contributed to the development of autonomous, self-powered systems for environmental monitoring applications. Through her research, she has demonstrated a strong commitment to addressing global sustainability challenges by developing renewable energy solutions.

In addition to her doctoral research, Sadia has made valuable contributions to the AVATAR Project in collaboration with Evektor, where she has successfully engaged in industry-focused research and innovation. In 2025, Sadia was nominated for a PhD award in recognition of her significant contribution to knowledge, collaborative research and innovation. Building on this success, Sadia was honoured with the Female Engineer of the Year Award at Loughborough University in 2026, recognising her exceptional achievements, leadership, and impact within engineering.

Speaking about her award, Sadia said:

"Representation and visibility in engineering create opportunities for women to be seen, heard, and celebrated within the profession. I believe that, while women may encounter barriers throughout their careers, determination, resilience, and confidence can transform these challenges into opportunities for innovation, growth, and learning at any stage of life."

In support of Rebecca and Sadia's success, Professor Rajkumar Roy, Dean of the Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering commented:

"The success of Sadia Bakhtiar and Rebecca Grant is testament to the pipeline of female engineering talent nurtured through the school. Wolfson has a strong female presence at all levels, with a very active Women's Engineering Society on campus that helps to develop young engineers with relevant career skills. The visibility of this award helps to celebrate the excellent role models on campus throughout research and teaching, influencing and mentoring the next generation of engineering talent."

The Women's Engineering Society plays a vital role in promoting gender equality in engineering, supporting women at all stages of their careers and showcasing role models who are driving change across the sector. The WE50 awards are a key part of this mission, highlighting diverse career pathways and demonstrating the breadth of opportunities within engineering.

Winners of the WES Top 50 Women in Engineering Awards 2026 were invited to the House of Lords to celebrate their win with a cohort of engineers from across academia, industry and the public sector.

Find out more on the WES website