Robert Lowndes studied for an MEng in Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Manchester before going on to complete a PhD in functional ceramics at the same institution. His first postdoctoral position was at the National Institute of Materials Physics in Bucharest, Romania, where he worked on multiferroic thin films based on Sr₂FeMoO₆ for data storage applications. He returned to the University of Manchester in 2013 to work on coatings for printed circuit boards in aerospace environments which was part of the EU Clean Skies initiative. Since then, he has also worked on projects on high voltage electrical machines for aircraft and identifying opportunities in advanced materials to improve the performance, reliability, public perception, and environmental impact of high voltage electricity transmission networks. He is currently a professional graduate member of the Institute of Materials, Minerals, and Mining (ProfGradIMMM).

Morgan Technical Ceramics University-Industry Fellowship Prize (2008), Thid prize is awarded for best final year research project in materials science at the Univrsity of Manchester.