Elif Sensoy, our Hub Research Project Officer, is a mechanical engineer and researcher with a strong interest in the mechanical testing of nanomaterials and the development of innovative testing methodologies. Her work combines engineering research with a broader engagement in manufacturing and emerging technologies. Alongside her research background, Elif has experience in the IT sector, where she developed valuable skills in business management and project delivery. She has been awarded proof-of-concept funding to design and develop a prototype bi-axial tensile testing machine for evaluating the mechanical performance of nanomaterials. Following the completion of her master’s in manufacturing management, Elif collaborated with HelloFace on the design and development of transparent, reusable face masks for hospital and clinical environments. This project focused on reducing disease transmission while improving communication for individuals with hearing impairments by enabling lip-reading between healthcare professionals and patients.

What are you working on as part of the Hub?

As Research Project Officer for the project management office (PMO) of the Biodetection Technologies Hub, I work closely with Hub members to ensure that project activities, outputs, and impacts are effectively monitored, recorded, and reported. I play an active role in supporting the hub’s operations and communications, working collaboratively with academic and industry partners to deliver events, conferences, and collaborative initiatives. Drawing on my background in engineering and project management, I am passionate about helping the hub work efficiently and ensuring that its research outputs deliver meaningful benefits beyond academia.

What excites you the most about your role? 

Science and technology have been a core part of my life from an early age, and this role allows me to contribute directly to innovative research with real-world impact. I am particularly excited by the opportunity to work at the interface between academia and industry, supporting collaborations that help turn novel ideas into practical solutions. Being part of a hub that brings together cutting-edge science, engineering, and delivery is especially motivating, and I am enthusiastic about using my engineering and project management background to help drive innovation from concept through to impact.

What difference do you hope your work will make?

The Biodetection Hub has the potential to transform airborne biological measurement by enabling a real-time, sample, test, analyse/inform approach. By supporting the effective delivery of this work, I hope to help accelerate the translation of research into practical capability, allowing timely interventions that can reduce exposure to harmful biological agents and improve public and environmental safety. My engineering background, including the design and development of a bi-axial tensile testing method and machine for nanofiber testing, has shown me the importance of innovation that is both technically rigorous and practically deployable. I hope my work at the Hub helps ensure that emerging technologies are developed, validated, and delivered in a way that supports meaningful innovation and leads to tangible improvements in public and environmental safety.

What are you most proud of in your engineering career?

One of my proudest achievements has been the design and production of a bi-axial tensile testing machine for the mechanical testing of nanofibers. This work enabled nanofibers intended for biomedical applications to be tested under realistic bi-axial loading conditions, helping to ensure their safety, reliability, and suitability for real-world medical use. Seeing engineering directly support healthcare innovation has been especially motivating for me.