Linda is a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Her research focus is whole life value analysis (monetary, environmental and societal costs) from concept design through to the in-service/in-use phases. Integral to this is her work in manufacturing where she specialises in Transdisciplinary Engineering – this involves integrating the knowledge and methods of natural and social scientists, and academics and non-academic stakeholders. 

She currently leads on a number of large cross university research grants including the Made Smarter Innovation: Centre for People-Led Digitalisation (£5 million) and the TRansdisciplinary ENgineering Design (TREND) research group (£1.8 million).  

She endeavours to undertake research with the potential of having real impact for industry and can evidence successes across a number of sectors including aerospace, defence, medical devices and oil and gas.

Typical industrial linked projects include: 

• Change management processes which put people at the heart of digital transformation 
• Tools and techniques for transdisciplinary working 
• Evolving whole life value models from cradle-to-cradle 
• Models which support manufacturing companies respond to change. 

Interested in supervising doctoral students across all industry sectors and within the over-arching areas of: 

• Industry 5.0 
• Transdisciplinary Engineering 
• Whole Life Value Modelling  
• Future Manufacturing - the road to 2050 
• Business process modelling 

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Along with my academic activities, I am actively involved in ED&I activities.  I currently lead the Universities selection process for the Aurora programme, organised nationally by Advance HE, which aims to enable more women to develop the leadership side of their careers and so redress the deficit in women at senior levels in the sector. I also played a leading role in the University’s engagement with Athena SWAN and led the first Mechanical Engineering submission, a Charter established in 2005 to encourage and recognise commitment to advancing the careers of women in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine employment in higher education and research.  

I strive to create a work environment where everyone feels valued and heard.