Two University of Cambridge professors have been elected as Fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering, joining an elite network of innovators shaping the future of science and technology in the UK and beyond.
Professor Cecilia Mascolo, an expert in mobile systems and digital health from Cambridge’s Department of Computer Science and Technology, and Professor Swami Swaminathan, a mechanical engineer specialising in energy and combustion systems, are among 74 new Fellows announced by the Academy this year.
Professor Mascolo, who is also a Fellow of Jesus College, has led groundbreaking research harnessing data from mobile phones and wearable devices to better understand human behaviour and health. During the COVID-19 pandemic, her development of the COVID-19 Sounds App, gained global attention for using short cough and breath recordings to support early detection of the virus. Her current projects aim to turn wearables such as earbuds into intelligent health monitors through on-device machine learning, enabling real-time health insights while protecting user privacy.
Professor Swaminathan, a Fellow of Robinson College, was recognised for his pioneering work in modelling complex reacting turbulent flows — essential to cleaner and more efficient energy production. His innovative framework allows engineers to predict temperature, emissions, and noise in combustion systems from a single simulation, supporting the design of low- and zero-carbon power generation technologies.
This year’s group of Fellows spans a wide range of disciplines, from energy and defence to new materials and computing. The announcement forms part of the Academy’s Fellowship Fit, for the Future initiative, which aims to increase diversity across UK engineering by encouraging nominations from underrepresented and non-traditional backgrounds.
Sir John Lazar CBE FREng, President of the Royal Academy of Engineering, praised the new cohort as “a community of the most talented engineers and innovators, whose knowledge and experience are vital in tackling the world’s biggest challenges.”
The new Fellows will be formally admitted at a ceremony in London on 18 November, marking a milestone achievement for Cambridge’s engineering community and for the UK’s commitment to sustainable and inclusive innovation.