Chemical Engineering

• PhD in Process and Chemical Engineering, University College Cork, Ireland, 2011
• BE in Process and Chemical Engineering, University College Cork, Ireland, 2008

• Chartered Member, Institution of Chemical Engineers (CEng MIChemE)
• Senior Member, American Institute of Chemical Engineers (MAIChE)
• Member, Engineers Ireland (MIEI)

• Chemical Engineering Design 3 (CHEE09015)
• Engineering Principles 1 (SCEE08012)
• Supervisor of study projects, undergraduate research projects and industry placements

My research focuses on the simulation of systems of granular materials. This has broad applicability including in both the chemical engineering (pneumatic conveyors, silos, granulators) and civil engineering (dams, sand element tests) disciplines. My research also includes improving the fidelity and performance of the simulation tools, in particular of the discrete element method (DEM).

Granular materials are ubiquitous. Around three-quarters of the raw materials used in industry are in a particulate form. Lots of economically significant, and safety-related, problems remain in handling these materials. Another example of a granular material is the soil beneath our feet; understanding the behaviour of the constituent particles has implications for ensuring the safety of structures.

The use of simulation tools such as DEM to study huge particulate systems has become increasingly viable as computational power has become cheaper. A major advantage of simulations is the ready availability of information which is difficult, if not impossible, to measure experimentally such as the forces acting on each individual particle at tiny time intervals. However, physical experiments remain essential to supplement the simulations, e.g., for calibration of model parameters and validation of any implemented model.

• Project Lead of CCC-ParaSolS: if you have an interest in simulations of granular materials and if you are based in the UK, why not join our Collaborative Computational Community in Particulate Solids Simulations?
• Our fork of LAMMPS which includes various additions of use for soil mechanics simulations is now available on GitHub as geoLAMMPS.

Research Profiles

• Edinburgh Research Explorer
• Google Scholar
• ORCiD
• Scopus

• Discrete element method (DEM)
• Simulation of granular soil behaviour
• Attrition/wear of solid materials
• Pneumatic conveying of powders

I welcome enquiries from any prospective student with the appropriate engineering/science background who is interested in undertaking a PhD. Note that unless a project is advertised which specifies that funding is available, PhD funding would need to be secured in advance through a scholarship, sponsorship of the PhD, e.g., by industry, or self-funding.

I am an EPSRC Fellow and Chair in Circular Chemical Engineering at the School of Engineering, The University of Edinburgh. My research background is in materials science, with particular focus on separation applications. I have been active in research on separation science since 2008. I am a graduate of Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore, Flinders University, Australia, and The National University of Singapore in various courses ranging from Electronics and Computer Engineering to Nanotechnology to Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. I have published more than 70 scientific research papers on the use of microporous materials as membranes, adsorbents and nanocomposites for resource recovery, carbon capture, desalination, organic solvent nanofiltration, and pervaporation. My research has been cited more than 7500 times, resulting in a h-index of 47. Since joining the University of Edinburgh, I have also worked on scaling up the production of novel materials via 3D printing and flow synthesis.

• Bachelor of Science in Nanotechnology (2nd Upper Class)
• Ph. D. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Course Organiser for Polymer Science and Engineering 5 (2019 - 2026)

Course Organiser for Polymers, Sustainability and Manufacturing 3 (2026 - present)

My group is interested in using materials science to achieve solutions that find applications in chemical engineering, particularly in separations.

We specialize in the design and synthesis of porous frameworks using cost-effective commercial materials. These nanomaterials are used for applications including metal recovery, hydrocarbon purification, energy storage, alcohol recovery and dehydration, and water purification. These materials can be deployed as adsorbents or as additives in polymer membranes.

Moving into a new era of membranes, we also use nanotechnology and additive manufacturing to fabricate elegant membrane structures to achieve ultrafast molecular separations that require minimal driving forces during operation.

Our aim is to see deployment of our research in the real-world. The research underpinning this thrust is scale-up production of materials including polymers and additives. We devise new techniques that are suitable for producing cutting-edge materials from the University of Edinburgh and our international collaborators.

• Polymer membrane separations
• Resource recovery and utilisation
• Scale-up production and application of porous frameworks
• Sustainable Chemical Separations

Edinburgh Electrochemical Engineering Group

Join our research group

Interested in joining a young research group conducting cutting-edge research at a World Top 50 university? We are always looking for people who shar our passion for science and engineering. Please have a read of the 'Further Information' section below for any current vacancies and PhD projects currently available and contact Dr Tudela-Montes if you want to discuss any potential opportunities.

Bio

Applied Electrochemistry has always been at the core of Dr Ignacio Tudela-Montes' work since his early research days. Whether it was the development of novel sonoelectrochemical methods to remediate polluted drinking water, the manufacture of anode materials for electrochemical processes, the design and optimisation of electrochemical reactors for different applications or the development of novel tribological materials and the evaluation of their corrosion performance in non-conductive oils, Electrochemistry has always been an intrinsic part of his research career.

Dr Tudela-Montes started his research career in April 2007 as part of the former NDTESB Research Group (New Technological Developments in Electrochemistry: Sonoelectrochemistry and Bioelectrochemistry) under the direction of late Dr José González-García at the University of Alicante, Spain, where he was at the core of the research performed on the design and development of electrochemical and sonoelectrochemical processes for different applications.

In June 2011, Dr Tudela-Montes joined Daido Metal – European Technical Centre UK (ETC UK) as a Materials Researcher involved in a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project between Coventry University and Daido Industrial Bearings Europe (UK subsidiary of Daido Metal) aiming at the development of novel materials for engine bearing applications. During the KTP he also started his PhD degree, fully sponsored by Daido Metal, which he completed in June 2015. After completing his PhD, he became Senior Materials Researcher at Daido Metal – ETC UK where he led the team responsible for the development of novel material solutions and manufacturing processes for engine bearing and other tribological applications ranging from crankshaft bearings for the automotive industry to large bearings for industrial, power generation and marine engines.

Since July 2018, Dr Tudela-Montes leads research in the area of Electrochemical Engineering as part of the Institute for Materials and Processes within the School of Engineering at the University of Edinburgh. He is also founding lecturer of Electrochemical Engineering within Chemical Engineering, actively driving forward educational and mentoring activities for Chemical Engineering students within the School of Engineering.

PhD in area of Functional Materials - Coventry University (2015) Thesis: Novel Ultrasound-assisted electrodeposited Nickel-based coatings for bearing applications

BEng in Chemical Engineering (equivalent) - University of Alicante (2008)

Royal Society of Chemistry Member - MRSC

Institution of Chemical Engineers Associate Member - AMIChemE

The Electrochemical Society Member

Chemical Engineering (BEng and MEng): - Electrochemical Engineering 5 (CHEE11028) - Course organiser

Advanced Chemical Engineering (MSc): - Electrochemical Engineering MSc (PGEE11177) - Course organiser

Postgraduate Students

Current opportunities - PhD project: Fabrication of electromechanically active electrodes for miniaturised electrochemical devices (self-funded, information about scholarship opportunities below). - PhD project: Ammonia-based ionic liquids for chemical conversion of CO₂ (self-funded, information about scholarship opportunities below). - PhD project: Electrochemical preparation of electrocatalysts for the electrochemical conversion of CO₂ (self-funded, information about potential scholarship opportunities below).

We are always looking for outstanding prospective students who are interested in conducting a PhD project in our research areas of interest. Self-funded students are welcome to contact Dr Tudela-Montes and discuss potential PhD project topics (information on entry requiremenets, fees and costs is available here). Outstanding applicants with a very strong academic background can also consider applying for one of the several scholarships that may be available for funding PhD studies (please see list with examples below). Exceptional candidates may also be considered for full PhD scholarships from the School of Engineering. - Principal's Career Development PhD Scholarships - Carnegie PhD Scholarships - Perfect Storms: Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarships - Edinburgh Global Research Scholarship (for high quality overseas students only) - China Scholarships Council/University of Edinburgh Scholarships (for Chinese nationals/residents only)

Interational students are also encourage to explore applying for scholarships to conduct PhD studies abroad from their national and regional goverments. Please find below some examples: - CONICYT | Becas de Doctorado - Becas Chile (for Chilean nationals/residents only) - CONACYT | Becas de posgrado en el Extranjero (for Mexican nationals only) - SSMS Scholarchips (for candidates from Punjab/Pakistan only) - La Caixa - Becas para Estudios de Posgrado en Europa (for Spanish nationals only)

Dani is a Senior Lecturer in Chemical Engineering at the Institute for Multiscale Thermofluids (IMT) at the School of Engineering (SoE) at the University of Edinburgh (UoE) since August 2022 and prior to this, he was a Lecturer since December 2018. In addition, Dani holds a Visiting Associate Professor at WPI-I2CNER (World Premier International Research Center – International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research) at Kyushu University Japan since April 2019, from the São Carlos School of Engineering at the University of São Paulo in 2024, and a Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) since May 2021.

Prior to joining the University of Edinburgh Dani was part of the International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research (I2CNER) at Kyushu University in Japan where he spent 3 years as a Post-Doctoral Research Associate and further 2 years as Assistant Professor. During this time, he also served as Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) in USA for 4 months. Before joining Kyushu University Dani completed PhD at the Institute for Materials and Processes (IMP) at the University of Edinburgh. Before joining the Institute of Materials and Processes (IMP), he carried out an internship at the Institute for Energy Systems (IES) of the UoE. Before joining the University of Edinburgh, Dani was an Undergraduate Research Assistant at AICIA (Andalusian Association for Research and Industrial Cooperation) and at the Chemical Engineering Department at The Higher Technical School of Engineering in Seville Spain where he obtained his 5-years Bachelor’s degree in Environmental and Industrial Chemical Engineering with one year completed at the Scuola di Ingegneria University of Bologna in Italy.

In addition, Dani acted as an Associate Editorship for the International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer (Elsevier) between January 2021 and December 2023 and as Foreign Expert Visitor at the School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China in 2023.

5-year Bachelor/s in Environmental and Industrial Chemical Engineering (The Higher Technical School of Engineering, Seville, Spain 2009).

PhD Applied Physics of Droplet Phase-Change (Institute of Maerials and Processes, University of Edinburgh, 2013).

Postgraduate Certificate Academia in Practice PgCAP (University of Edinburgh, 2021)

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS APPOINTMENTS:

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA, 2021-current)

WPI-I2CNER Visiting Associate Professor at International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research and Kyushu University (Kyushu University Japan, 2019-current)

Foreign Visitor Professor/Programma de Professor Visitante do Exterior at São Carlos School of Engineering University of São Paulo (USP Brazil 2024)

Foreign Expert Visitor at School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST China, 2022)

Associate Editor for the International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer (Elsevier, 2021-2023)

SOCIETIES MEMBERSHIPS:

Associate Member Institution of Chemical Engineers (AMIChemE, 2015)

Member of the Asociación de Científicos Españoles en Japón (ACE Japón, 2017)

Member of the American Physical Society (APS, 2016)

Member of the American Chemical Society (ACS, 2012)

Deputy Head of the Graduate School of Engineering - Progression Committee (University of Edinburgh, 2024-current)

Lead External Examiner to the Programme Assessment Board - MSc Engineering Management and MSc Renewable and Sustainable Energy Technologies in the Faculty of Science and Environment, Northumbria University (Northumbria University, 2026-current)

Course Organiser CEUO3 Chemical Engineering Unit Operations 3 CHEE09021 (University of Edinburgh, 2026-current)

Course Organiser AMNHT5 Advanced Micro-Nano-Scale Heat and Mass Transport 5 CHEE11034 (University of Edinburgh, 2026-current)

Academic Research Projects 5 CHEE11017 (University of Edinburgh, 2020-current)

Academic Industrial/Overseas Projects 5 CHEE11031 (University of Edinburgh, 2019-current)

Academic Study Project 4 CHEE10009 (University of Edinburgh, 2019-current)

FORMER ROLES:

School Postgraduate Progression Committee (SPPC) Representative for the Institute for Multiscale Thermofluids (University of Edinburgh, 2019-2024)

School Postgraduate Experience Committee (SPEC) Representative for the Institute for Multiscale Thermofluids (University of Edinburgh, 2019-2024)

Teaching Laboratory Manager for the Chemical Engineering Discipline (University of Edinburgh, 2020-2025)

Course Organiser CEL3 Chemical Engineering Laboratory 3 CHEE11028 (University of Edinburgh, 2019-2026)

Course Organiser Practical Skills in Chemical Engineering CHEE08018 (University of Edinburgh, 2021-2024)

Academic Design: Projects 4 CHEE10002 (University of Edinburgh, 2018-2020)

I am always open to enquire for supervision of self-funded and sponsored PhDs as well as hosting visiting researchers from all over the world.

Here are some useful links with some potential Scholarships:

School of Engineering University of Edinburgh:

https://registryservices.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/postgraduate/international/science-engineering/school-of-engineering

https://registryservices.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/postgraduate/international/other-funding

Commonwealth PhD Scholarships for Low Income Countries:

https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-phd-scholarships-for-least-developed-countries-and-vulnerable-states/

Other issues on concerns please reach at d.orejon@ed.ac.uk

Practical Engineering Education Conference 2026

I am Conference Chair for PEE26, and looking forward to hosting colleagues from across the world in Edinburgh on 2nd and 3rd July 2026.

Visit our PEE26 conference website for further information.

Dr Martin Sweatman Research Group web pages

• PhD Theoretical Physics, University of Bristol, 1995

• Statistical mechanics, classical DFT, molecular simulation, carbon capture

My work centres around the development of understanding and mathematical models for complex multiphase flow patterns to tackle various industrial problems like cleaning, oil-gas transport, slurry transport, distillation, absorption, thermal management of microdevices and biological problems such as cerebral temperature regulation and lung function.

PhD, Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, 2004

• Thesis Title: Multiphase Fluid Dynamics in Structured Packing

• Member of American Association for Advancement of Science
• Member of American Physical Society
• Member of Indian Society for Surface Science Technologists
• Associate Member of IChemE

• Fluid Mechanics 4 (Chemical) CHEE10004
• Chemical Engineering Industrial Project 5 CHEE11014
• Chemical Engineering Research Project 5 CHEE11017
• Chemical Engineering Study Project 4 CHEE10009
• Chemical Engineering Design Projects 4 CHEE10002
• Chemical Engineering 1 Laboratory CHEE08001
• Chemical Engineering in Practise 3 CHEE09006

• Transport phenomena (e.g. phase change, reaction-diffusion transport)
• Multiphase (& single phase) fluid dynamics: Development of numerical (CFD/DNS) and analytical (stability theory) tools (e.g. oil-gas-solid pipeline flows, industrial cleaning and fouling)
• Biological fluid dynamics (e.g. brain temperature mapping, arterial flows, enzymatic kinetics)

• Head of Graduate School (2018 - present)
• Deputy Head of Graduate School (2016 - present)
• Acting Deputy Head of Graduate School (2015 - 2016)