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Last updated 4th June 2026

Dr Shan Lou is a Reader in Precision Metrology and a key member of the Centre for Precision Technologies (CPT) and the EPSRC Future Metrology Hub. His research focuses on advancing the science and applications of precision metrology. He also holds a joint appointment with the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), where he serves as Science Area Leader and Principal Scientist in Manufacturing Metrology. In this role, he provides strategic leadership in shaping the research vision and ensuring scientific excellence in manufacturing metrology.

Shan received his BEng and MEng at the Central South University in China. He started his professional career in precision metrology at Hexagon Metrology, a leading global company in the metrology industry. Shan then moved to the University of Huddersfield to pursue a PhD degree whilst working for Hexagon Metrology on a part-time basis.

Shan is a Committee Member of the British Standard Institution (BSI) AMT/8 (Additive manufacturing) and TDW/4/4/1 (XCT), a Committee Member of ISO/TC 261/WG 3 and JG 52, an International Scientific Committee member of the European Society for Precision Engineering and Nanotechnology (euspen), a Committee Member of Dimensional X-ray Computed Tomography (DXCT), a Chartered Engineer of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA).Working with the National Measurement Institute (NPL), the Catapult HVM centres (MTC, AMRC, Singapore A*Star SimTech & ARTC), and wide industrial partners, he is investigating precision metrology technology for the advanced manufacturing industry. 

Shan is the peer reviewer for many engineering and scientific journals, including Measurement Science and Technology, Measurement, Precision Engineering, Surface Topography: Metrology and Properties, IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation & Measurement. He was also an organising committee member and a session chair of ASPE Summer Topic Meeting – Advancing Precision in Additive Manufacturing.

Apart from research, Shan has been involved in teaching: (1) Module leader of NFE2105/NFM2016 Engineering Mathematics; (2) Lecture of NFA2168 Mechanical Engineering and Science; (3) Supervision of NHP2400-2223 final year projects; (4) Supervision of Master by Taught NMM3570-2223 Individual projects; (5) Enable project "Robot Arm" - NFE2102 Mechatronics

Research Supervision

Currently seeking a PhD researcher to investigate XCT inspection of additively manufactured lattice structure and automated data analysis. For details on the scholarship, including fee waivers and bursaries, please visit the university's PhD studentship website.

Current students:

• Mr Y. Liu 2023-2027 PhD (Main supervisor): Trustworthy Measurement of Critical Defects in Additive Manufacturing Components Using X-Ray Computed Tomography Metrology
• Mr M. Hill 2023-2027 PhD (Acting main supervisor): Enhancing trajectory execution in robot arm enabled material extrusion 
• Mr K. Yin 2022-2026 PhD (Acting main supervisor): Digital twin enabled in-line multi-objective optimisation for extrusion-based additive manufacturing
• Mr W. Liu 2022-2026  PhD (Acting main supervisor): Investigation of uncertainty and calibration for dimensional XCT measurement
• Mr R. Ssebaggala 2022-2026 PhD (Acting main supervisor): Precision metrology of additively manufactured lattice structures using industrial X-Ray computed tomography

Completed:

• Mr D. Broadbent 2021-2026 PhD (Main supervisor): Development of a modular reference artefact to characterise additive manufacturing systems performance and facilitate the adoption of XCT measurement
• Ms W. Cui 2020-2025 PhD (Co-supervisor): Intelligent characterization for the complex freeform structured surface
• Ms H. Huang 2020-2025 PhD (Co-supervisor): Reference form estimation for characterisation of triangular-mesh-based complex freeform surfaces
• Mr B. Mutiargo 2023-2025 Master by Research (Acting main supervisor): Fast surface determination method based on XCT simulation and machine Learning
• Ms X. Chen 2019-2023 PhD (Acting main supervisor): Investigation and improvement of the metrological structural resolution of X-ray computed tomography in the surface texture measurement of additively manufactured parts
• Mr S. Narasimharaju 2019-2022 PhD (Main supervisor): Investigation of microstructure, surface texture and mechanical properties of SLM of steels
• Mr W. Liu 2020-2021 MSc by Research (Main supervisor): Verification of x-ray computed tomography for additive manufacturing dimensional & surface texture metrology and deployment to internal geometry measurement

Particular Areas of Research

Metrology Fundamental

• Surface metrology: optical measurement;  advanced surface texture characterisation
• Dimensional metrology: hybrid metrology; surface regitration & fusion; uncertainty assessment and optimisation
• X-ray computed tomography (XCT) metrology: calibration & uncertainty assessment; resolution quantification and enhancement; surface determination; scan optimisation
• In-process metrology for advanced manufacturing: multi-sensor data fusion; metrology-informed closed-loop process optimisation

Manufacturing Metrology

• Metrology for additive manufacturing: 3-in-1 XCT metrology; lattice structure measurement and characterisation; in-process monitoring; post-process & in-process measurement correlation
• Metrology intelligence: robotics aided metrology automation; measurement task planning and optimisation; applications (large-scale surface measurement; metrology aided robot manufacturing) 

External Research Funding

• 3-in-1 X-ray computed tomography metrology for additively manufactured components (in partnership with Singapore A*Star SIMTech), Royal Society International Exchange (IES\R2\242113), 2024-2026, PI
• Future advanced metrology hub for sustainable manufacturing, EPSRC (EP/Z53285X/1), 2024−2031, Research CI
• Flexible Laser-based manufacturing through precision photon distribution, Horizon Europe Innovation Action (101138380), 2024-2026, UoH PI
• Investigation of dimensional accuracy and surface roughness of polymeric parts manufactured by additive manufacturing, Future Metrology Hub – Innovation Project (in partnership with Sartorius Stedim Lab Ltd.), 2023-2024, PI
• Correlating surface quality with internal defects of additively manufactured components, 2023-2024, EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account project, PI
• Framework agreement for collaboration, know-how licence and technical assistance, Industry project - Digital surf, 2021-2023, CI
• RCUK Catapult Researchers in Residence – Surface measurement methods for manufacturing, functioning & metrology of additively manufactured products, EPSRC(EP/R513520/1) (in partnership with Manufacturing Technology Centre), 2018-2022, PI
• Measurement and characterisation of additively manufactured surface texture, EPSRC New Investigator Grant (EP/S000453/1), 2019-2022, PI