Anna Dickinson-Lomas, University of Birmingham

receiving her Award from Dr Shini Somara with Master Engineer Eur Ing Penny Taylor, JP and Clerk Cdr Peter Gracey VR RN [photo courtesy of Mark Witter Photography] 

Anna’s PhD research focuses on improving the recycling of Neodymium-Iron-Boron (NdFeB) permanent magnets. These are critical components in electric vehicles, wind turbines, and many electronic devices. The magnets are typically coated in tough epoxy resin to protect them from corrosion, but this coating poses a significant challenge during recycling. Current removal methods are often inefficient, environmentally harmful, or damaging to the magnet material itself. 

Anna is investigating various innovative approaches for removing the epoxy resin coatings effectively which, at the same time, preserve the quality of the underlying magnet and also improve process sustainability. This involves evaluating a range of thermal, chemical, and mechanical techniques to understand their impacts on magnet integrity, efficiency, and environmental footprint. By integrating material science with process engineering, Anna’s work aims to support the development of scalable, cleaner recycling routes that can recover rare earth elements more effectively. 

Ultimately, Anna’s research will contribute to the circular economy for rare earth magnets and help reduce reliance on primary mining, supporting more sustainable and secure supply chains for critical materials.’

Established in 2012 from the generous bequest of Livery member Dr David Leete for the purpose of making awards in what Dr Leete called Production Engineering Research, but defined sufficiently broadly to encompass the whole field of what is now known as Advanced Manufacturing.  The Award provides a “premium” above normal Departmental Training Awards. Eligibility is restricted to UK Nationals. The £18,000 total award is staged over 3 years of PhD study subject to sustainment of satisfactory performance.

Since 2013, 4 PhD students from Cambridge University’s Institute for Manufacturing and 2 from Warwick University’s Warwick Manufacturing Group have benefitted from Awards. From 2024, any eligible PhD student engaged in relevant research was invited to apply. Nine applications were received resulting in our first award to a student from the University of Birmingham (Department of Metallurgy and Materials).

The Worshipful Company of Engineers Charitable Trust (the Engineers Trust) acknowledges excellence in engineering, supports engineering education and research, gives grants and assists in the relief of hardship and poverty.