AN ACADEMIC researcher at the University of Glasgow is up for a top engineering award.

Dr Melanie Jimenez has been shortlisted for the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Young Woman Engineer (YWE) of the Year Awards 2020.

The 33-year-old is a Royal Academy of Engineering research fellow at the James Watt School of Engineering. 

She leads a research group focusing on rapid and cost-effective systems to improve environmental and medical diagnostics. 

She said: “I wouldn’t be an engineer today if a teacher hadn’t suggested it to me as a career. 

“Visibility is so important, and I am incredibly honoured to be a YWE finalist and have the opportunity to use this platform to further increase awareness of all the amazing aspects of engineering.”

The winner will be announced on March 4.