Biography

I graduated from the Scottish College of Textiles in 1994 with a first class honours degree in Textile and Clothing Technologies.  I was awarded the Ede and Ravenscroft prize for highest marks.  I worked for the John Lewis Partnership as a graduate trainee and staff trainer before taking up a lectureship in Textiles in 1996 at Heriot-Watt University.  I undertook my PhD part-time, whilst employed as a full-time lecturer.  In 2004, I graduated with my PhD in pressure garments for the treatment of hypertrophic scars and was awarded the Macfarlane Prize for outstanding contribution to the University’s research.  I continue to teach textiles and research medical compression products.  I am currently heavily involved in teaching on our Masters programs and also teach 3 undergraduate courses.  I won the University's 'Learning and Teaching Oscar' for being 'Switched on' (most engaging lecturer) in the award's inagural year (2010) and was shortlisted for the same award in 2012 and 2014, I was shortlisted for the 'Refreshing' Oscar in 2016 and won the 'Graduates' teaching prize' in 2017 and 2019.

I regularly review articles for international research journals and grant applications for an international funding council.  I have led research funded by the Technology Strategy Board,  Innovate UK, Textile Future Forum, Medical Research Scotland, Arts and Humanities Research Council and projects part supported by the Worshipful Company of Framework Knitters and the Clothworkers Company. I have been co-investigator on projects funded by MRC CiC, Industry and EPSRC Impact Acceleration Grants. I have been a Programme Director, Research Student Coordinator and the Director of Research during my time at the School of Textiles and Design. I am currently the Research Student Coordinator and Research Degrees Committee member for the School. I sit on the British Standards Committee for medical compression hosiery. 

I have published in international research journals and pre-print versions of these papers are available for download on my Research Gate page at https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Lisa_Macintyre/?ev=hdr_xprf

Current research interests

• Test method development for evaluating micro-plastic shedding/fibre fragmentation from textiles.
• Technologies to underpin the sustainability agenda and facilitate sustainable practice in the textile and fashion industries including fibre to fibre (closed-loop) recycling of polyester and extending the useful life of products.
• Diverting textile waste into new products for the construction industry (open-loop recycling)
• Helping motivated consumers reduce their over-consumption of unsustainable fashion.
• Ongoing evaluations of commercial fabrics for compression product construction.
• Co-design of new medical compression device for the management of lipoedema symptoms (funded by Medical Research Scotland) – this project is currently on hold

Research students

I have supervised 3 MSc by research, 1 MPhil and 8 PhD students to successful completion and am currently supervising 3 PhD and 1 MSc research students as first supervisor and am actively involved in the supervision of 2 more PhD students. 

Consultancy

I have undertaken a range of consultancy projects including delivery of training to industry, product evaluation, product development and technical report writing.  Current consultancy activity is focussed on developing bespoke pressure garment design tools for 5 international businesses.  

My purpose

I am an optimistic, rigorous and pragmatic textile technologist.

My purpose is to help make the textile and fashion industries more sustainable through research, education and nurturing the next generation.

HWU employs me part-time on a 0.8FTE contract