厂辞耻迟丑补尘辫迟辞苍听补濒耻尘苍补, has been appointed听Operations Director of听听the new enterprise unit attached to the听Faculty of听Engineering and听Environment (FEE).
Established in October 2015,听听gives industry direct access to the University鈥檚 expertise and specialist equipment in the field of tribology (the study of interactions between surfaces including friction, lubrication and wear), surface science and materials engineering.
Dr Symonds’ new role will involve听liaising with industry clients, coordinating incoming projects and conducting research in her specialist field of tribology.
She says of her position:
“The enterprise stream within the FEE is one of the few areas where women outnumber the men (women make up 69% of managers听at level 5), they听will become our future leaders in enterprise.听 Within the higher grades of level 6 and 7, currently women represent 35%. I am pleased to join them and to be tasked with driving this new Unit forward in my role of Operations Director.鈥�
Dr Symonds is one of a small number of female Chartered Engineers in the UK and a member of the Royal Aeronautical Society.听 She听gained a BEng Aeronautics and Astronautics and a PhD in materials science here before spending 10 years at the Ministry of Defence investigating military aircraft accidents as a forensic materials engineer. She also supported civilian investigations with the Air Accidents Investigation Branch.
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