Noakes' parents had careers in computer science and aerospace engineering.[1]
In 1996, Noakes received a
BEng in
mathematical engineering from the School of Mechanical Engineering at the
University of Leeds.[2][3] During this time she became interested in the mathematics of
fluid dynamics.[1] In 2000, Noakes received a
PhD from the School of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Leeds, where she studied slow exit phenomena in slide-fed
curtain coating systems, specifically for coating photographic paper, with a thesis entitled Slot Exit Flow Phenomena in Industrial Slide-Fed Coating Systems.[2]
Research and career
For a short time Noakes worked with the printing and coating company Delpro in
Glossop, including on development of a drier used for coating
Euro banknotes. However, in 2002 she moved to an academic post-doctoral position studying airflow and
UV-C in disease prevention at the University of Leeds and subsequently gained a permanent position there.[1]
Noakes investigates environmental fluid flow, with a focus on the ventilation of buildings and how this impacts indoor air quality. She develops mathematical models to assess the risk of airborne transmission, expanding on the Wells-Riley equation to include
stochastic effects.[4] As part of these efforts, Noakes has led collaborations with the
National Health Service and
Public Health England to prevent the spread of airborne viruses through hospitals.[5] Airborne transmission is known to be an issue in
tuberculosis and
influenza.[6] Noakes has developed computational tools to better monitor and control patient environments for infection control. In a presentation at the Bradford Festival of Science, Noakes revealed that one in fifty people acquire an infection during their time in hospital. The impact of these infections, and need for follow-up care, results in a major unnecessary expenditure.[7]
In 2010 Noakes was made Director of the Pathogen Control Research Institute. Noakes is a member of the
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Centre for Doctoral Training in Aerosol Science.[8] Noakes was promoted to Professor in 2014. She serves on the editorial board of the
Elsevier journal Building and Environment and the
Wiley journal Indoor Air.[9][10] From 2014 to 2017 Noakes led the University of Leeds Faculty of Engineering
Athena SWAN scheme.[2]
In 2016 Noakes started the Low-Energy Ventilation Network (LEVN), a team of people who look to better understand building physics.[11] She has looked to understand whether indoor environments impact the cognitive performance of people inside.[12] She serves as Deputy Director of the Leeds Institute of
Fluid Dynamics, and co-directs their
Centre for Doctoral Training.[13][14]