Adrienne Houston

Adrienne Houston is a Royal Academy of Engineering Visiting Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Birmingham. She holds a PhD in Physics (1999), an MEng from Budapest Technical University (1997), and a BEng from Nottingham Trent University (1996). As a Chartered Engineer, her career combines academic leadership, engineering innovation, and entrepreneurship. Her research and professional focus includes vacuum system technologies, low-pressure compressor development, and promoting diversity and inclusion in engineering education. She actively advocates for underrepresented groups in engineering and integrates inclusivity into curricula.

Education:

• PhD in Physics, 1999
• MEng (Hons), Budapest Technical University, 1997
• BEng (Hons) Integrated Engineering, Nottingham Trent University, 1996

Research Interests: Houston’s work bridges industrial innovation and academia. She pioneered advancements in vacuum pumps and evaporator technologies, contributing to her company’s success. Her academic contributions emphasize engineering education reform, particularly in fostering diversity and gender equality within the field. She also explores practical applications of mechanical engineering in sustainable technology and entrepreneurship.

Grants & Awards: No specific grants or awards are listed in the provided text.

Labs/Teams: Her role as a visiting professor focuses on collaborative industry-academia projects, though no specific lab affiliations are mentioned.