The Awards were hosted by the Women’s Engineering Society, alongside Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education and Student Experience, Rachel Thomson, and Loughborough University’s Engineering School Deans. The event celebrated female engineering within the University, academic achievements, professional commitment, and contributions to the engineering community.

The FEY Awards celebrate the achievements of some truly remarkable young women. Engineering is a field that continues to push boundaries and shape the world around us, and Loughborough University is proud to be a nurturing and inclusive environment for the next generation of innovators.

Among these talented individuals, Doctoral Researcher from the Department of Materials, Huyen Le was awarded as Postgraduate Winner, having been described by peers as passionate, kind and hardworking, with a clear a dedication to mentoring, teaching and advocating for women in STEM. She has taken impactful actions to defy stereotypes and pave the way for more women in STEM research through sharing her story in podcasts, leading a 14-week mindfulness series for the research community and more, alongside her impressive work on antibacterial surface coatings.

She comments:

I am very grateful to have been named the Postgraduate Female Engineer of the Year 2024 (FEY) by the University’s Women’s Engineering Society (WES). The FEY award celebrates who have gone above and beyond and have the potential to become future leaders in the sector.

My proudest moments during my Loughborough lifetime would be advocating for and raising the visibility of BAME researchers. Through my achievements and participation in competitions like the PhD ThinkBig Competition and receiving the prestigious SCI Scholarship, I raise the profile of BAME individuals in engineering. My visibility in the scientific community serves as an inspiration and provides a tangible example of success for aspiring BAME engineers​, especially those who have had to overcome traditional cultural family backgrounds.