My position in the department is Chancellor’s Fellow in Sustainable Energy and Senior Lecturer. My background is multidisciplinary with an undergraduate degree in Physics from Durham University (2004), and a PhD in Electronic Engineering from the University of Surrey (2007). After that I moved to Japan as a postdoc at Tokyo Institute of Technology, and then spent 11 years as a faculty member running a research group at Kyushu University where I retain a visiting position. My research is focused on the development of materials and processes for the decarbonization of energy, including electrochemistry (electrolysis, batteries, fuel cells), adsorption (hydrogen storage, CO₂ separation, water filtration), and waste biomass utilization (activated carbons, nanocellulose, biogas).

Becoming a Chancellor’s Fellow helped enormously with my transition back to the UK, reducing my administrative and teaching workload and allowing me to focus on re-establishing my research activities in a new country and environment. It has given me access to a welcoming community across the university leading to new productive research collaborations and a great environment for the generation of new cross-cutting ideas. This included being given the time and opportunity to establish the Strathclyde Incubator for Green Hydrogen Technologies (SigH₂t) which would have been much more challenging in a more traditional academic role. Furthermore, supportive feedback received from the University’s academic career development framework has enabled me to consider my professional development and think about the direction my career might be headed over the medium- to long-term, and to select relevant training options accordingly.

Throughout my Chancellor’s Fellowship I aim to establish a formidable and well-funded research group focusing on the development of materials for more sustainable chemical processes. I hope to raise the international profile of engineering at the University of Strathclyde through my strong links with Asia and Europe and encourage international exchange. Furthermore, I wish to use this opportunity to strengthen my links with industry and push toward the application of my materials in the real-world.

I am currently serving as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Chemical and Process Engineering at the University of Strathclyde, having earned promotion from Chancellor's Fellow in late 2023. My journey with the department began in 2020 when I joined as a Chancellor's Fellow, marking the start of an exciting new chapter in my academic career. With over 15 years of expertise in material design and innovation, my research background is in sustainable catalytic and electrochemical applications. 

The Chancellor's Fellowship has been instrumental in enabling me to establish an independent research career and research group, which has been one of my long-term ambitions. One of the aspects I value most during my journey as a Chancellor's Fellow was the exceptional mentoring I received, along with access to a wide range of professional development opportunities at Strathclyde. The fellowship provided me with the platform to bring in my international network of collaborators and develop cross-disciplinary projects, leveraging partnerships across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

This position has allowed me to better understand and contribute to the various facets of academic life, including research, teaching, citizenship, knowledge exchange, and the delicate balance between them. I've had the opportunity to take on diverse roles within the department, progressing from Early Career Researcher Forum Chair to Academic Year Coordinator for first-year students, and now serving as Director of PGR Studies. A particular highlight has been launching my own module on hydrogen engineering, which closely aligns with my research interests and expertise.

I currently lead a dynamic research group of eight researchers, including PhD students and PDRAs, alongside various undergraduate students and visiting researchers. Our work encompasses several critical areas including catalyst design and regeneration, biomass conversion, artificial photosynthesis, electrolysis materials and integration, carbon capture and conversion, and hydrogen and sustainable chemicals production. I am a co-founder of the Strathclyde Incubator for Green Hydrogen Technologies, and I manage a diverse portfolio of projects funded by major entities including EU Horizon, EPSRC, Innovate UK, and global industrial partners such as Petronas.

Looking to the future, my mission aligns closely with Strathclyde's vision for technological innovation and sustainable development. I am committed to driving the shift to a low-carbon society by enhancing technology performance, reliability, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability. This is realized through extensive collaboration with industrial and academic partners worldwide, focusing on driving impactful change. My research vision encompasses three key principles: the translation of research to industry ("from lab to land"), cross-disciplinary excellence and synergy ("from pieces to puzzle"), and high throughput instrumentation ("from pace to race").

I remain dedicated to mentoring the next generation of energy engineers and researchers, and fostering knowledge transfer for a cleaner, sustainable energy future. Through continued collaboration with our global network of partners and the development of innovative solutions, I aim to contribute significantly to Strathclyde's mission of tackling global challenges and creating positive change in society.