Dr Zahra Sharif Khodaei has been elected as a fellow of the Women’s Engineering Society (WES).

In response to the award, Dr Sharif Khodeai says “It is a great honour to be recognised by the Society. WES are a fantastic society providing valuable training and networking opportunities to women in engineering.”

The Women's Engineering Society is a charity and also a professional network of women engineers, scientists and technologists offering inspiration, support and professional development.

Its aim is to support and inspire women to achieve as engineers, scientists and as leaders, to encourage the education of engineering, and to support companies with gender diversity and inclusion.

Fellow is the Society’s highest grade of membership and is awarded to those who have made an outstanding contribution to the field of engineering or to the sustained encouragement of women in STEM.

“WES...connects women through their conferences, lectures, e-newsletter, The Woman Engineer journal, social media, clusters and student groups, all of which I wish to introduce and recommend to our staff and students.” Dr Zahra Sharif Khodaei

Dr Sharif Khodaei’s research focuses on structural integrity and health monitoring, with a focus on composite structures. She is also the Department’s Tutor for Women, and it is in this capacity that she intends to forge stronger links between the Society and the Department of Aeronautics’ female staff and students.

She explains “The Society also provides an excellent large pool of expertise within Industry, with their mentorship scheme enabling younger women to connect with experienced women engineers in industry, including those who share common goals or challenges.”

“I think that knowledge and experience can be of real benefit to our female students, especially the insights and advice about what it’s like to be a woman in the Engineering sector.” 

“WES also connects women through their conferences, lectures, e-newsletter, The Woman Engineer journal, social media, clusters and student groups, all of which I wish to introduce and recommend to our staff and students.”