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, research medical compression products and most of my current work is focussed on improving the sustainability of the textile industry.  I currently teach Materials (with a heavy focus on sustainability/lack thereof) 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, 2019 and 2023.

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, NERC, AHRC 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 School Director of Post Graduate Research Studies and Research Degrees Committee member for the School. 

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 during abrasion.
• 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. Including participation in the Back-to-Baselines and Design HOPES projects funded by NERC and the AHRC.
• 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.

Research students

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

I re-balanced my work load to give more equal time to research and teaching in 2023 and returned to full time work in 2024 (having been part-time since 2004 and having a lot of teaching responsibility for most of my career).