
Chemical Engineering

- PhD in Chemical Engineering, University of Naples, Italy, 1994
- Laurea summa cum laude in Chemical Engineering, University of L'Aquila, Italy, 1991
- Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics 3 CHEE09011
- Adsorption CHEE11016
- Chemical Engineering Industrial Project 5 CHEE11014
- Chemical Engineering Research Project 5 CHEE11017
- Chemical Engineering Study Project 4 CHEE10009
- Carbon capture
- Adsorption and membrane gas separations
- Diffusion in nanoporous and porous materials
- Fluidization
- Director of Chemical Engineering Discipline
- Cavaliere dell'Ordine della Stella d'Italia
- Recipient of the Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award (2001)
- Recipient of the Philip Leverhulme Prize (2001)
- Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers
- Senior Member American Institute of Chemical Engineers
- Member International Adsorption Society and British Zeolite Association
- Member of the Directorate of the Scottish Carbon Capture and Storage centre
- Research area champion for adsorption and membranes of the UK Carbon Capture and Storage Research Centre

I graduated from the University of Science Malaysia with a B.Eng. in Materials Science & Engineering and achieving a First in 2011. In 2013, I received the prestigious Warwick Chancellor's International Scholarship to carry out my Ph.D. research in Chemistry at the University of Warwick, UK, exploring carbon nanomaterials for electroanalysis and electrocatalysis. In 2017 I began a Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at the University of Cambridge, UK, working on novel porous materials for electrochemical gas sensing. I joined Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) at the University of Warwick in 2019 as a Research Fellow working on the development of lithium ion technologies (lithium ion battery and lithium ion capacitor). In 2020, I joint Teesside University to take up an appointment as a Lecturer (then promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2022) in Chemistry at School of Health & Life Sciences, working primarily on electrochemical sensor (biosensor and environmental sensor).
I joined the School of Engineering at The University of Edinburgh as a Lecturer in 2022. I am affiliated with the discipline of Chemical Engineering and I am a member of the Institute for Bioengineering, where I carry out research in the area of nanoscale/microscale electrochemistry, electroanalysis, electrocatalysis, development of electrochemical sensor (biosensor and environmental sensor) and electrochemical energy storage.
My work has been published in reputable journals such as Nature, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, Carbon, Journal of Physical Chemistry C, Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, and Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry. I have received several awards, including the Best Oral Prize at the RSC Materials Horizons Symposium (2025), poster and oral presentation prizes at Warwick (2015–2016), the Gold Award in British Invention Show (BIS, London, 2011), the Romanian Best Innovation award in BIS (London, 2011), the Gold medal Award in National Research and Innovation Competition (NRIC, Malaysia, 2011), and the Sustainable Green Technology Award in NRIC (Malaysia, 2011).
In 2019, being awarded the prestigious Talented Program organised by Hebei (China), I aim to facilitate interdisciplinary collaborations on electrochemical sensors with Hebei University of Technology and Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
- PhD in Chemistry, University of Warwick, UK, 2017
- Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering, First Class, University of Science Malaysia, 2011
- Postgraduate Certificate In Learning and Teaching In Higher Education, University of Teesside, UK, 2022
- Chartered Chemist (CChem)
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), United Kingdom, PR253148
- Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Member, 98359847
- The Royal Society of Chemistry, MRSC, 549655
- The Society of Chemical Industry membership, 71669
- (CHEE08020) Applied Chemistry and Biochemical Engineering 2 (Credits 10)
- (CHEE11030) Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering 5 (Credits 10)
- (CHEE10002) Chemical Engineering Design: Project 4 (Credits 40)
- (CHEE09015) Chemical Engineering Design 3 (Credits 20)
- Nanoscale/microscale electrochemistry
- Electroanalysis
- Electrocatalysis
- Gas sensors
- Biosensors
- Biomedical wearable devices
- Advanced drug delivery systems
- Biomaterials
- Nanomaterials and nanotechnology
- Energy storage materials
- Zinc-ion battery

I became Professor of Interfacial Science & Engineering in Edinburgh in 2020 (and was Director of Chemical Engineering from 2020 to 2024) after eight years at the University of Northumbria at Newcastle where I was first Executive Dean of the Faculty of Engineering & Environment and then Pro Vice-Chancellor (REF). Prior to that I spent twenty two years as as an academic at Nottingham Trent University where I was a Professor and Head of the Research & Graduate School (Science & Technology) in the College of Arts & Science and formerly Head of Physics & Mathematics. In my earlier career I held a Royal Society European Fellowship at the University of Paris VI (Pierre et Marie Curie) and both gained a PhD in Applied Mathematics and was awarded a BSc (Hons) First Class in Mathematical Physics by the University of Nottingham.
My research involves wetting, interfacial science and engineering and is undertaken as part of the Institute for Multiscale Thermofluids. It has attracted many funding awards including over twenty RCUK/EPSRC grants, mainly as Principal Investigator, and including both an EPSRC Platform Grant (awarded only to world-leading groups) and an EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training. I have published over 250 refereed journal papers, which are cited ca. 1200 times annually (Google Scholar), and have been awarded seven patents. I am a Fellow of the Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures & Commerce (FRSA), a Fellow of the Higher Education Academic (FHEA), a Fellow of the Institute of Physics (F.Inst.P) and a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers (SMIEE). I am a member of the EPSRC Peer Review College and lead a UK Fluids Network Special Interest Group. I have previously been a Board Member of the Award Winning BIM Academy Enterprises Ltd, an Editorial Board member of Advances in Colloid & Interface Science, a UK Management Committee representative on COST Actions, and I was a member of sub-panel 13 for "Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Metallurgy and Materials" for the UK Research Excellence Framework (REF2014).
- BSc (Hons) First Class, University of Nottingham, 1983
- PhD University of Nottingham, 1986
- Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts, Manufactures & Commerce (FRSA, 2017)
- Chartered Physicist (CPhys) and Fellow Institute of Physics (FInstP, 2002)
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA, 2007)
- Senior Member Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers (SMIEEE, 2002)
- Member of the International Society of Bionic Engineering (MISBE, 2019)
- Member of the Advisory Board for the Key Lab in Bionic Engineering, Jilin University, China (2019-2022)
- Year 3 Chemical Engineering Laboratories
- Year 4 Chemical Engineering Study Projects
- Year 5 Research Project and Industrial Project Supervisor
- MSc Research Project Supervisor
- I am always open to enquiries to supervise PhDs (self-funded, via University or Other Scholarships or sponsored PhDs) or host visiting researchers. University-funded PhD positions are either advertised on FindaPhD or applications can be made for agreed projects which, if a student receives an offer, enables application for University Scholarships, e.g.
- EPSRC Doctoral Training Awards (UK, EU and Overseas Students)
- Edinburgh Global Research Scholarship (for high quality Overseas Students)
- Principal's Career Development PhD Scholarships (UK, EU and Overseas Students)
- China Scholarship Council/University of Edinburgh Scholarships (Citizens and Permanent Residents of the People's Republic of China)
- Croucher Foundation Study Awards (Permanent Hong Kong Residents)
- The Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 (Industry-based PhD)
- I lead the UK Fluids Network (UKFN) Special Interest group (SIG) in Droplet and Flow interactions with Bio-Inspired and Smart Surfaces.
- I have a strong belief in public understanding of research and have co-developed Natures Raincoats exhibition and website.

I am Professor of Fluid and Suspension Dynamics. My research focuses on the modelling and simulation of complex fluids on microfluidic scales, for example suspensions of deformable particles or red blood cells. I am teaching Chemical Engineering in the second year. I am the Co-Chair of the University's Research Cultures Forum.
- PhD in Physics, Bochum University, Germany, 2011
- Diploma in Physics, Heidelberg University, Germany, 2007
- Institute of Physics
- Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine
- German Physical Society
- Modelling and simulation of complex fluids
- Microfluidics, suspensions and emulsions
- Blood flow in complex geometries and blood cell separation
- Inertial microfluidics
- Lattice-Boltzmann method
- Immersed-boundary method
- PhD in Energy, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona (Italy), 2009
- MSc in Mechanical Engineering, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona (Italy), 2004
- Chemical Engineering 1 Laboratory CHEE08001
- Engineering Mathematics 2 SCEE08010
- Chemical Engineering Design: Synthesis and Economics 4 CHEE10005
- Chemical Engineering Design 4 CHEE10010
- Chemical Engineering Study Project 4 CHEE10009
- Chemical Engineering Design Project 4 CHEE10002
- Chemical Engineering Research Project 5 CHEE11017
- Chemical Engineering Industrial Project 5 CHEE11014
Low grade heat, thermal energy storage, adsorption heating and cooling, adsorptiond desalination, solar thermal energy, temperature swing adsorption, heat transformers, thermodynamics, heat transfer, ionic liquids, ionogels.

I am a Reader in Chemical Engineering, investigating various aspects of soft matter including suspension rheology and granular materials. I am available for industrial consulting projects in any area related to suspension rheology (see my publication list here) and I am also recruiting PhD students.
- 2023-present: Reader in Chemical Engineering
- 2019-2025: Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellow, University of Edinburgh
- 2016-2019: Maudslay-Butler Research Fellow - Pembroke College, University of Cambridge
- 2012-2016: PhD Engineering - University of Edinburgh
- 2007-2011: BA, MEng Chemical Engineering - Clare College, University of Cambridge
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
- Associate Member of IChemE
- Associate Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry
- Associate Member of EPSRC Peer Review College
- Member of the Americal Physical Society
- Member of UKRI Early Career Forum (2021-2022)
- Member of RSC Formulation Science and Technology Committee
- Member of EPSRC Early Career Forum in Engineering (2018-2021)
Rheology, soft matter, granular matter, particle-based simulation
I am available for consulting projects in the fields of suspension rheology (colloids, granular suspensions) and gelation. I have experience of modelling fundamental flows that elucidate the relationships between formulation (particle shape, size, surface details) and processing and also in modelling processes such as wet milling and extrusion.
I am currently recruiting PhD students and may have funding available.
Please get in touch by email for further information.

- PhD in Chemical Engineering, University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom, 2015
- Master's Degree in Chemical Engineering, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Italy, 2011
- Bachelor's Degree in Chemical Engineering, University of L'Aquila, Italy, 2009
- Senior Consultant Engineer, Process Systems Enterprise, London, 2015-2019
- Chartered Chemical Engineer (Engineering Council)
- Member of the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE)
- Member of the Scottish Carbon Capture and Storage centre (SCCS)
- Member of the Association of Italian Scientists in UK (AISUK)
- Chemical Engineering Design: Synthesis and Economics 4 CHEE10005 - Course Organiser
- Chemical Engineering Design 3 CHEE10009 - UniSim Process Design
- Chemical Engineering Study Project 4 CHEE10009 - Supervisor
- Chemical Engineering Research Project 5 CHEE11017 - Supervisor
- Chemical Engineering Industrial Project 5 CHEE11014 - Supervisor
- Design and modelling of PSA/TSA/CSA processes for hydrogen purification, air separation, carbon capture, biogas upgrade, olefins/paraffins separation and NGL recovery
- Simulation, validation and optimisation of ethylene plants
- Low temperature assessment and flare capacity studies in the Oil & Gas industry

After beginning my career in industry as a Building Service Engineer, I went back into education to complete a BSc in Physics at Northumbria University. During this time I completed a project with the Smart Materials and Surfaces Laboratory in liquid-liquid capillary imbibition. This inspired to continue research in the field and went on to gain a PhD titled “Pinning-Free Evaporation of Sessile Droplets from Slippery Surfaces”. During my PhD my research was focused on manipulation of droplets using slippery surfaces and electric fields to modify evaporation behaviour. I am currently a Post-Doctoral Research Associate within the WISE laboratory in the Institute of Multiscale Thermofluids at the University of Edinburgh on an EPSRC funded project looking into the strain-dependant manipulation of sessile droplets on new metamaterials.