Dr. Riddhi Hirenkumar Shukla is a Research Associate at the Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering at Loughborough University, where she joined in 2025. Her current research focuses on the development of biomedical implants using cutting-edge additive manufacturing technologies.
Dr. Shukla holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering with a specialization in Materials Engineering from Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech), Estonia. Estonia, a small yet advanced Baltic country in Europe, provided her with an international research platform. During her PhD, she collaborated with several global institutions including Colorado State University (USA), Dalarna University (Sweden), and others, as part of various research exchanges and funded programs. Her doctoral research focused on the development of sustainable Ti-Eggshell composites for orthopaedic implant applications. These composites were designed using a hybrid of additive manufacturing and powder metallurgy techniques, with the aim of offering a strong, biocompatible solution derived from everyday eggshell waste. This work was featured in research in Estonia and several other platforms.
Before her PhD, Dr. Shukla completed her Bachelor's and Master’s degrees in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering in India, establishing a solid foundation in materials science and engineering. She brings 7+ years of experience in powder metallurgy and ceramic manufacturing, along with 4+ years of hands-on expertise in additive manufacturing and biomaterials.
Over the course of her PhD, she authored and co-authored more than twelve research articles in international peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Shukla’s academic journey—from India to Estonia, the USA, and now the UK—reflects her dedication to global collaboration and sustainable innovation. At Loughborough University, she continues to advance her research at the intersection of materials science, biomedical engineering, and sustainable manufacturing.
Dr. Riddhi Shukla’s research lies at the convergence of materials engineering, additive manufacturing, and biomedical applications, with a strong foundation in the structure–property–processing correlation that forms the backbone of metallurgical and manufacturing science.
Her work focuses on the development of sustainable, high-performance biomaterials for orthopaedic implants. She rigorously investigates how processing routes and parameters influence material structure, and how this structure, in turn, governs key properties such as mechanical strength, biocompatibility, degradation behaviour, and surface characteristics—establishing a holistic understanding essential for designing next-generation biomedical implants.
Dr. Shukla is also highly skilled in materials characterization techniques, including SEM, XRD, EDS, and microhardness testing, which enable her to analyse and interpret material behaviour from microstructure to performance. Now at Loughborough University, she continues to advance this research with a focus on cutting-edge additive manufacturing approaches to develop complex geometries and gradient structures that closely mimic the architecture of natural bone.
- PhD in Mechanical Engineering (Materials Engineering specialization), Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech), Estonia (2025). Graduated with distinction (GPA: 4.77/5).
- Erasmus+ research mobility award, Tallinn University of Technology—enabled research collaboration with Colorado State University (USA) and Dalarna University (Sweden).
- Etis website profile
- Research in Estonia article, Useless eggshells could be used to make artificial joints