Eileen Harkin-Jones

Harkin-Jones studied mechanical engineering at University College Dublin, and received first class honours in 1983.^[4] She completed her PhD at Queen's University Belfast^[5] working on materials for rotational moulding in 1992.^[6]

Harkin-Jones was appointed a lecturer at Queen's in 1993.^[6] In 1999 Harkin-Jones became the first woman to be appointed an engineering professor in Ireland.^[7] Her research is on polymer processing and the development of materials.^[4][8] In 2015, she was appointed the Bombardier-Royal Academy of Engineering professor of composite engineering at Ulster University.^[6] At Ulster University she focuses on aerospace composites and sustainable plastic manufacture.^[9][10] Using injection moulding, thermoforming and additive manufacture, Harkin-Jones is exploring advanced thermoplastic composite materials for medical devices and aerospace.^[11] She has published over 200 peer reviewed papers,^[1][2] and secured funding over £12 million.^[11]

She is a member of the Royal Academy of Engineering Higher Education committee and Deputy Chair of the Northern Ireland Higher Education Authority.^[12][13] She is campaigning for gender equality in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) at a national level.^[14] She is a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Manufacturing.^[15]

In 2017, she was appointed a Fellow of the Irish Academy of Engineering.^[11] She was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (FREng) in 2011.^[6] In 2013, she was appointed Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to higher education.^[16][17]