Manuela PacellaView profile
Senior Lecturer
Dr. Manuela Pacella is a Senior Lecturer in High-Value Manufacturing at Loughborough University's Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering. She serves as Academic Integrity Lead and Programme Director for the BEng/MEng Manufacturing Engineering programs. Previously, she held roles at Cardiff University (Lecturer in Laser Machining) and worked in industry with 3M and Element Six. Her research focuses on laser processing of advanced materials, surface engineering, and manufacturing innovation. Education: PhD in Mechanical Engineering (University of Nottingham, 2014), MEng in Mechanical Engineering (Technical University of Bari, Italy, summa cum laude). Professional credentials include Chartered Engineer (CEng MIMechE), Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), and IMechE MPDS Mentor. Research interests include laser machining strategies, surface functionalization, and tribology of ultra-hard materials like diamond and boron nitride. She has pioneered techniques for enhancing tool durability and biomedical implant performance through laser-based methods. Scientific achievements include a 2017 Blackall Award nomination (ASME) and over 40 publications. She supervises >4 PhD, 25 UG, and 12 MSc students, and has served as an examiner for Birmingham University and internal examiner at Loughborough. Her work bridges academic research with industrial applications, particularly in high-value manufacturing sectors.













