Current Committee Members

Dr Rhiannon Grant is a Chancellor’s Fellow in the Institute for Bioengineering with a strong record of research, leadership, and service to the academic community. Her research spans biomedical engineering and developmental biology, with a particular focus on sex differences in the liver, the biomechanics of early human development, and the design of tissue-engineered scaffolds and implants. By combining experimental, mechanical, and translational approaches, her work seeks to better understand how biological sex and early developmental mechanics shape health and disease, and how this knowledge can be applied to improve regenerative therapies and clinical outcomes. 

Alongside her research, Dr Grant has extensive experience in academic leadership, mentoring, and institutional development. She has held a range of roles that give her deep insight into the structural challenges within higher education and the practical steps needed to create more inclusive, supportive research environments, as well as a commitment to equity, evidence-based decision-making, and collaborative working across disciplines. 

Dr Grant co-chairs the Molly Fergusson Initiative because its mission closely aligns with her values and experience. Inspired by Molly Fergusson’s legacy, she is committed to advancing gender equality and cultural change within engineering and related fields, bringing strategic vision, integrity, and a strong evidence base to support sustainable progress for current and future generations. 

Dr Desen Kirli acts as the Co-Chair of the Molly Fergusson Initiative. She is a Lecturer and holder of Elizabeth Georgeson Fellowship in “Data and Digitalisation for Net Zero” at the University of Edinburgh.  

As a sustainable energy researcher, her ambition is to translate academic research into implementation to achieve net zero. Her research involves the use of data-driven and digital smart grid solutions, as well as market mechanisms and end-user flexibility, to inform future energy scenarios that are inclusive and leaves no-one behind. Most recently, she won the Scottish Renewables Young Professionals Green Energy Award and Top 50 Women in Engineering Award for her work on bottom-up decarbonisation of smart local energy systems. 

Desen believes that “diversity and representation are not optional if we want to design engineering solutions are sustainable and work for everyone in our communities”. Hence, she has been championing equality, diversity and inclusion at the University of Edinburgh since she was studying there as an undergraduate Engineering student. She was one of the founding members of the Molly Fergusson Initiative in 2020. 

Dr Eleonora Ricci is a Lecturer in Chemical Engineering and a member of the Institute for Materials and Processes. Her research expertise lies in developing multiscale modelling strategies that integrate molecular, thermodynamic, and data-driven techniques, to address the challenges involved in designing innovative materials and processes for the energy transition. Her work includes polymeric and nanocomposite membranes for gas separation, electrochemical devices, and hydrogen transport and storage. 

In both her personal and professional life, she has always been passionate about mental health advocacy and community engagement, contributing to evidence-based interventions. During her undergrad, she played an active role in the “Rock with Mascara” movement, which aimed to advance gender equality for musicians, composers, and live performers, and raise awareness about violence and discrimination against women. As a PhD student and a postdoc, for 5 years she held various executive roles with the grassroots initiative  FAIL! – Inspiring Resilience, which aimed to normalise conversations about mental well-being in academia, by inviting professors to share their experiences in a TED talk-style format. Recently, she participated in the Researcher Mental Health Observatory (ReMO) COST Action, acting as Country Coordinator (Greece) for the dissemination of a large-scale benchmark survey of researchers’ mental health in Europe, which is currently being published. 

As Vice-Chair of the Molly Fergusson Initiative, she intends to continue contributing to more inclusive working and study environments, as well as promoting cultural transformation within the School of Engineering and beyond. 

Lyndsey Johnstone is an Organisational Development Officer in the School of Engineering at the University of Edinburgh, with over 16 years’ experience in human resources, organisational development and equality, diversity and inclusion in higher education. 

She sits on and supports a number of key School groups, including the People and Culture Committee, Athena Swan, the Molly Fergusson Initiative and Inclusive Engineering. In these roles, she provides organisational and executive support and acts as a point of connection between committees, helping to ensure clear communication, alignment of priorities and coordinated action across the School. 

She is committed to supporting an inclusive and respectful working environment where all staff and students feel valued and included. 

Michelle Burgos Almada is the Student Support Coordinator for Civil Engineering (both Undergraduate and Postgraduate programmes), Digital Design Manufacture and Sustainable Energy Systems master's programmes at the School of Engineering in the University of Edinburgh. Her expertise is in managing, monitoring and analysing student information, including confidential information, to identify students at risk and take appropriate action, supporting both the students and their Student Advisers.  

Her interests are related to mental and physical well-being, obtaining practical experience in Equality and Diversity, and creating procedures to provide a better service to staff and students, as a Professional Services representative for the Molly Fergusson Initiative.  

Roslyn Hay is a second year PhD student in the Institute for Multiscale Thermofluids; specialising in numerically modelling circulating tumour cells and white blood cells in an inertial microfluidic device. Her research focuses on understanding the physical and mechanical mechanisms governing the separation of circulating tumour cells from white blood cells, with the aim of improving the reliability and performance of the device as a diagnostic for cancer. 

Roslyn is postgraduate representative for the Molly Fergusson Initiative, as its core principles strongly align with her personal values. She is committed to promoting a welcoming and inclusive environment for women in engineering. Through this role, she aims to promote gender equality, representation, and community-building, and contribute to positive cultural change within the School of Engineering and the wider STEM community.

Verity Broome Saunders is a student at the University of Edinburgh, currently in her third year studying Chemical Engineering. Despite only practicing engineering for a short period of time, her work experience and site visits have already exposed her to the isolation and barriers that women continue to face within the field. 

To amend these shortcomings, she is committed not only to increasing the representation of women in engineering, but also to improving the attitudes within the profession. Through education and advocacy, she aims to challenge and dismantle the ongoing prejudices that remain in the industry. 

Verity is one of two Undergraduate Representatives involved in the Molly Fergusson Initiative, coordinating the ideas of academics and advisers to the wider student body. Within her role, she aims to represent the expertise and opinions of her peers, collaborate with committee members to develop and implement constructive actions, and ultimately work to foster a more supportive and inclusive environment within the School of Engineering.