Mariluz Penalva holds MSc in Mechanical Engineering and PhD by Tecnun (University of Navarre) and developed her career as a specialist in manufacturing technologies.

She started her career as a junior researcher at Tecnun combining research on machining and docent activities. Since 2006 she works for TEC where she has been in charge of the experimental development of new forming and joining technologies as well as the analysis and modelling of processes using data and simulation software. In 2014 she spent one year at the Airbus Group (Germany) as a guest researcher collaborating in FSW related research. Over more than 20 years she has participated in many research projects as a researcher and as a project manager dealing with multidisciplinary teams.

Currently, she is active in European research through the participation in manufacturing related Eu-funded projects as well as through the Made in Europe PPP.