Biography
Dr Neil Shearer is an academic lecturer in the field of materials engineering and Chartered Engineer (CEng), Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining IOM3 (FIMMM)
Dr Shearer is a professional engineer in academia, as a practitioner of engineering he supports the area of materials engineering, metallurgy and forensics, through specialist and professional activities engaging with the engineering community to promote good practice and supporting others to understand and demonstrate appropriate engineering competencies.
Academic Pursuits
As part of this academic role Neil is involved with supporting students education in the areas of materials, metallurgy, manufacture and forensic materials engineering. His passion is in tribology and metallurgy and materials for fuel cells [SOFC].
He employs various educational techniques and assessment methods to reach a wider learner profile across the modules.
Neil has been a programme leader for various undergraduate and postgraduate programmes from Sports Technology to Product Design Engineering, currently programme leader for MSc Advanced Materials Engineering which is accredited by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining.
This leadership role involves supporting and developing the programmes to meet the educational and employability aspects required for our graduates providing them with the best opportunity to further their career whether that be employment or further education / research.
External activities
Neil is a member of IOM3 Accreditation Expert Panel & Accreditation and Professional Formation Committee (APFC), where his knowledge and understanding of the Engineering Councils set requirements and employing those as a framework to conduct quality exercises in academic institutions and industry for accreditation purposes.
As a Former President of the Scottish Association for Metals & current council member, Neil is well positioned to provide students with opportunities to network with industry and potential funding prospects to further their educational horizons. The position brings industry and academic seminars to the students on a wide range of metallic and materials-based topics around Scotland.
Academic Positions
Neil is the Engineering and Mathematics group lead for Learning and Teaching and former school Academic Integrity Officer, which included membership at the University AIO forum.
Both these roles utilise Neil’s skills and knowledge of quality and standards enabling an objective position and view of integrity cases providing a fair and supportive approach to academic integrity for the student across the school.
The lead for learning and teaching Neil encourages and oversees all group activities in relation to the classroom and beyond, including promoting module and programme development where improvement benefits the learner journey and engineering council accreditation activities.
The role enables me to support and mentor colleagues, develop processes across the group and school to maintain a clear and concise set of procedures & set of programmes producing a more enhanced student experience across our education provision.
Neil promotes through this role professional standards, practice and providing seminars and mentoring to the students & alumni across the school and group to develop their education of engineering and career activities through professional membership and various professional institute & Edinburgh Napier University activities.
Career History
Graduating with a BSc (Hons) Chemistry from Heriot Watt University in 2001, Neil was focused on entering educational teaching. The opportunity to further his passion of materials science was realised at Napier University graduating with MSc Materials Technology and having obtained a PhD studentship at the university in anode materials for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells.
Neil Graduated with his PhD in 2007 and has held various positions in the university since.
Initially a Laboratory Technician- Advanced Materials Centre which developed into a Research Assistant, in Wood Cellulose Characterisation during which Neil started his lecturing career part time.
This lecturer position became permanent in 2008 and since Neil has leant and developed his academic skills across a range of materials topics leading to the leader for the materials group. This group role required me to oversee and coordinate the materials teaching provision through the programme and undergraduate modules, in addition to the consultancy and research activities of colleagues.