Elliot obtained an MPhys in Applied Physics in 2003 from Nottingham Trent University and his PhD in the field of atomic physics and nuclear magnetic resonance in 2007 from the University of Nottingham.
He has industrial experience working for an international research and technology organisation where he was a key member of a highly successful team of funding specialists.
Elliot joined Loughborough University in 2010 in a business strategy development role for the Competitive Sustainable Manufacturing research cluster. In April 2012 he was appointed as a Lecturer in Sustainable Manufacturing and promoted to Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Manufacturing in 2018.
Elliot holds a position as Deputy Director of Doctoral Programmes for the Wolfson School and has previously been the Programme Director for the MSc in Sustainable Engineering, Admissions Tutor for Manufacturing Engineering and Engineering Management and University Theme Lead for Sustainable Manufacturing. He is also in the EPSRC Peer Review College.
Dr Woolley's main research focus is concerned with creating technological solutions for sustainable production and consumption, with active research in resource efficiency in food provision. Within this area Elliot has two main interest areas: sustainable production and consumption of food, enabled via data-driven product service systems – an approach to reduce domestic food waste by better matching supply with demand; and, front face fluorescence spectroscopy for detection of residual food fouling with applications in a circular economy for plastic food packaging reuse and industrial cleaning optimisation.
Elliot has also established research in energy-efficient production of photovoltaics where he is developing a technique to flash-anneal thin film materials using high-power lasers as a way of reducing energy demand, increasing productivity, and allowing freedom of cell design and structure for the photovoltaics industry. Such research has the potential to decrease the cost of solar energy and open up opportunities for new installation possibilities (e.g. in automotive paint, and aesthetic panels).
Grants and contracts
- 2022-2025, Reimagining Photovoltaics Manufacturing (EPSRC), £986k
- 2020-2013, Perpetual Plastic for Food to Go (PPFTG) (NERC, part of the UKRI ISCF), £917k
- 2019-2022, Research on the theory and key technology of laser processing and system optimisation for low carbon manufacturing (laser-beams) (EPSRC, NSFC), £812,910 + RMB3,000,000
- 2017-2019, Safe Clean-in-Place (Innovate UK), £455k
- 2017-2018, Evaluating Manufacturing Causes of Food Waste in ODA Countries, EPSRC GCRF Institutional Sponsorship Awards 2017, £21k
- 2016-2017, Self-Optimising Clean-in-Place (Innovate UK), £144k
- 2014-2019, EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Food, £4.5M
- 2014-2016, High-Speed Energy Efficient Manufacturing of Cadmium Telluride Solar Cells (EPSRC),£283k
- 2013-2016, Eco-Intelligent Factories, EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Industrial Sustainability (EPSRC), £311k
Current teaching responsibilities
Lead Tutor:
- WSD602 Industrial Sustainability
- WSP409 Engineering for Sustainable Development
- WSP600 Manufacturing Processes and Automation
Tutor on Modules:
- WSB013 Robotics Project Design and Management
- WSC600 Advanced Manufacturing Process and Technology 1
- WSD407 Sustainable Product Design
Projects:
- Supervision of Part C undergraduate projects
- Supervision of MSc projects
Current administrative responsibilities
- Deputy Director of Doctoral Programmes for the Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering
External collaborators
- Marks and Spencer (Food)
- Muller
- Samworth Brothers
- Klockner Pentaplast
- Hubbub (consumer charity)
- Heineken UK
- Kettleby foods
- Eco3 Ltd
- Greencore Limited
- Synatel Limited