Materials and Processes

• BSc (hons:1st class) Technology with Industrial Studies - CNAA
• PhD Mechanical Engineering (Shape Optimisation) - Edinburgh

• Fellow of The Institution of Mechanical Engineers
• Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

• Year 3 - Manufacture 3 (Comuter-aided Design)
• Year 4/5 - Digital Manufacturing 5

• Research Grants
• Full List of Publications
• Director of ShapeSpace Ltd
• Consultancies

• MEng, MSc, PhD, Chemical Engineering, Materials and Metallurgy

• Member, Institute of Cast Metals Engineers, UK
• Member, The World Society of Sustainable Energy Technologies
• Member, The World Science and Engineering Academy and Society
• Editorial Board Member, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Scientific & Academic Publishing Co. USA (2011-2015)
• Editorial Board Member, International Journal of Innovative Studies in Sciences and Engineering Technology (IJISSET)
• Editorial Board Member, Open Journal of Inorganic Non-metallic Materials

• Separation Processes 2, CHEE08013
• Chemical Engineering in Practice 3, CHEE09006
• Chemical Engineering Design 4 CHEE10010
• Chemical Engineering Study projects 4, CHEE10009
• Chemical Engineering Research projects 4, CHEE10009
• Chemical Engineering Industrial Projects 5, CHEE11014

• Particulate materials processing
• Multiphase flows in porous materials
• Photocatalysts
• Microwave assisted gas separation

Professor Guangzhao Mao

Head of the School of Engineering | Chair Professor of Materials Engineering

Professor Guangzhao Mao is a leading innovator in nanotechnology and materials engineering, shaping the future of nanomedicine and advanced sensor systems. As Head of the School of Engineering at the University of Edinburgh, she spearheads cutting-edge research that bridges engineering and medicine, unlocking groundbreaking possibilities in drug delivery and nanoscale material applications.

Her pioneering research focuses on two transformative areas:

Electrocrystallization & Nanosensors. Her research unravels the fundamental processes of nucleation and crystal growth in electrodeposition, applying these insights to develop next-generation gas sensors. Her work enhances sensor scalability, with impactful applications in medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and industrial automation. Her breakthroughs in integrating nanosensors into larger systems are redefining their real-world potential.

Nanotechnology & Neuroscience. Merging nanotechnology with neuroscience, Mao’s team is developing revolutionary drug delivery systems targeting the central nervous system. Her protein-drug nanoconjugates offer a novel way to bypass the blood-brain barrier (BBB), a long-standing challenge in treating neurological disorders. This innovative approach has already shown promising results in enhancing respiratory function for spinal cord injury, with significant implications for neurodegenerative disease treatments. Her latest advancements include a microfluidic cell-based assay that accelerates drug screening and preclinical evaluations.

Global Recognition & Leadership

Before joining the University of Edinburgh, Professor Mao led as Head of the School of Chemical Engineering at UNSW Sydney, where she continues as an Adjunct Professor. Her global influence is reflected in prestigious accolades, including:✔ Fulbright Senior Scholarship✔ Visiting Professorship at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces✔ Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)✔ Career Award from the U.S. National Science Foundation

With an impressive track record of driving scientific innovation, Professor Mao continues to push the boundaries of chemical & materials engineering, shaping the next generation of engineering solutions with real-world impact.

B.Sc., Ph.D.