Rebecca Higginson

Dr Rebecca Higginson is a Reader in Metallurgy and Materials Engineering at Loughborough University and currently serves as the Associate Dean for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (from August 2025). Previously, she was Head of the Department of Materials from 2020 to 2023. Her academic career spans over two decades, beginning as a Lecturer at Loughborough in 2001.

Her educational qualifications include:

• BEng Materials Engineering, University College Swansea, 1992
• PhD, Birmingham University, 1995
• DipEd, Sheffield University, 2001

Dr Higginson's research focuses on sustainable metallurgical processes with emphasis on green hydrogen production and digital decarbonisation. Her work addresses critical challenges in alloy steel applications, recrystallisation dynamics, and grain growth mechanisms in aluminium alloys, contributing to advancements in sustainable materials engineering.

She actively contributes to the Green Hydrogen Group, Digital Decarbonisation initiative, and VC Cluster research ecosystems at Loughborough University.

Her significant contributions to the field have been recognized through prestigious awards:

• IOM3 Cook/Ablett Award (2008)
• SAGA Best Paper Award (2011)
• IoM3 Stokowiec Medal and Prize (2018) for distinguished work on alloy steel applications

As an educator and institutional leader, she serves as Wellbeing Champion and Mental Health First Aider while driving equity initiatives across the university.