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Centre members

Our founding members cover the research areas of the Centre and represent early, mid and late career academic staff. These members shape the direction of the Centre and lead active groups.

 

Leaders

Dr Eleni Iacovidou Dr Eleni Iacovidou
Email Dr Eleni Iacovidou Senior Lecturer in Environmental Management
My research focuses on environmental management, with emphasis on resource and waste management systems. Specifically, I develop methods for performing holistic and integrated environmental, economic, social and technical assessments of resource recovery systems based on a systems thinking approach. Using this approach, I combine environmental science and engineering with an understanding of the political, organisational, structural and cultural aspects that act synergistically in a resource recovery system to highlight areas of intervention for promoting sustainability. My research is predominantly desktop based and focuses on four key areas: food waste prevention and management plastic and plastic packaging system assessment construction components reuse and modular structures waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) repair and reuse I am also interested in the implications of technological and regulatory lock-ins, the role of stakeholders in sustainability transitions, the impact of informal recycling systems on environment and society, in waste infrastructure availability and adaptation based on area-specific characteristics, the use of smart technologies for tracking components and products across the value chain, and in circular economy. Since arriving at Brunel University in October 2018, I have been involved in teaching on the MSc programme in Environmental Management and the BSc programme in Environmental Sciences. I contributed to the "Environmental Management and Legislation" (MSc) and "Research Skills, GIS and Fieldwork II" modules (BSc - Year 2). This academic year (2019/20) I will lead the module in “Environmental Management” (MSc) and the study blocks in "Environmental Governance" (BSc - Year 3) and "Sustainable Development" (BSc - Year 3).
Dr Theodoros Giakoumis Dr Theodoros Giakoumis
Email Dr Theodoros Giakoumis Lecturer in Environmental Sciences
I am an environmental scientist with background in natural resources management, environmental technology and policy. My research focuses on applying systems thinking to address complex environmental problems, formulating evidence-based methodologies to enhance decision-making and facilitate the effective implementation of environmental policies. Before joining Brunel, I was a postdoctoral research associate at Imperial College London working in the NERC funded project “Defining the AMR Burden of Antimicrobial Manufacturing Waste in Puducherry and Chennai” (2019 - 2023) and in several Anglian Water funded projects (2018 - 2023) on the operation of the company’s Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs), the contaminants and risks associated with their discharges at receiving waters. During my doctoral research (2015 - 2019), I investigated strategies to adapt EU water policy and management to minimize the ecological and socio-economic consequences of water scarcity and ongoing global change. This research was conducted as part of the GLOBAQUA project, funded by the European Commission’s Seventh Framework Programme. Integrated Water Resources Management Systems Science Geographic Information Systems Policy Analyses Sustainability Module Leader: "The Sustainability Challenge" (ES2704) for the BSc Environmental Sciences "Strategic Sustainable Development" (ES5624/ES5701/ES3701/ ES3702) for the MSc Environmental Management Lecturer: "The Sustainability Challenge" (ES2704) for the BSc Environmental Sciences (2nd Year) "Research and Fieldwork" (GY1602-ES1708) for the BSc Environmental Sciences (1st Year) the BSc Geography and BSc Human Geography and Anthropology (1st Year) "Strategic Sustainable Development" (ES5624/ES5701/ES3701/ ES3702) for the MSc Environmental Management

Full members

Professor Andreas Kortenkamp Professor Andreas Kortenkamp
Email Professor Andreas Kortenkamp Professor - Human Molecular Toxicology
Traditional chemicals risk assessment has a quite artificial orientation: It treats chemicals as if they act in isolation, when in reality there is exposure to multiple substances. For more than 15 years, our team have been engaged in efforts to find ways of improving risk assessment by taking “cocktail effects†into account. This work has proceeded in stages: Firstly, when we have information about the toxicity of individual mixture components, is it possible to predict the effects of the combination? Working with mixtures of endocrine disrupting chemicals we have shown that this is achievable. Secondly, what is the composition of mixtures of environmental relevance, and what effects do they produce? Work on this aspect of the mixtures issue is currently proceeding in our group. We are also interested in making an impact on chemical regulation by addressing the questions: Which chemicals should be grouped together for mixtures risk assessment? What are scientifically sound grouping criteria? We have prepared scientific reports for the European Commission, including the State of the Art Report on Mixture Toxicology. Currently we are writing a State of the Art Assessment for Endocrine Disrupters, a project also commissioned by the European Commission. Another research interest is in unravelling the details of estrogen signalling and estrogen-mediated effects with a view to understanding hormonal cancers, especially breast cancer. Here, I closely collaborate with Dr Elisabete Silva. Qualifications1983: Degree in Chemistry, Philosophy and Educational Sciences from University of Muenster, Germany 1989: PhD (with distinction) from Bremen University, Bremen, Germany Career 1990-1991: Post-doctoral Fellow at Queen Mary London, University of London. 1991-2000: Lecturer in Environmental Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of London, London. 2000-2005: Senior Lecturer, School of Pharmacy, University of London, London. 2005-2007: Reader and Head of Centre for Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of London, London. 2007-2011: Professor for Molecular Toxicology, Head of Centre for Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of London, London. 2011-present: Professor in the Institute for the Environment, Brunel University. Research Activities: Research Projects My research interest falls into three broad areas: understanding the combined effects of mixtures of environmental pollutants on human health and wildlife, developing strategies for handling mixtures in chemicals regulation, and dissecting the events important in hormonal carcinogenesis. 1. Understanding combination effects of mixtures Not long ago, the topic of mixture effects of chemicals was deemed too difficult to be approached experimentally. There has been, and still is, a confusion of important terms and concepts in mixture toxicology, as well as experimental approaches. We have tried to understand mixture effects in terms of the toxicity of individual mixture components: Is it possible to predict accurately the effects of a mixture, when we have information about the toxicity of its components, and of the mixture ratio? Another issue arising from the experimental mixture studies is: How many chemicals are humans or wildlife exposed to simultaneously, and which of these contribute substantially to a specific combination effect? We are currently pursuing this problem by investigating mixtures that are modelled on realistic exposure scenarios. 2. Regulatory strategies for dealing with mixtures A new consensus is emerging that mixture effects should be the topic of chemicals risk assessment. Any strategy for dealing with combination effects has to address the question: Which chemicals should be grouped together to be subjected to mixtures risk assessment? There are at least two approaches to resolving this question: Firstly, those chemicals that humans and wildlife come into contact with simultaneously should be considered. Secondly, chemicals that can produce similar adverse outcomes should also be grouped together. Our team is engaged in developing viable, pragmatic grouping criteria for chemicals in mixture risk assessment. 3. Hormones and hormonal carcinogenesis While it is clear that hormones play a role in cancers of the breast, prostate and testes, their precise involvement in the disease process is far from clear. Our team is interested in studying the details of cell division and differentiation, and the role that steroid hormones and other hormonally active chemicals play in these processes. Here, we are collaborating closely with Dr Elisabete Silva. Current grants European Commission, £650,000 (over 3.5 years, ending 2012) for research into antiandrogens and human reproductive health, CONTAMED (Grant agreement number 212502) Oak Foundation (Geneva, Switzerland), £219,000 (over two years, ending 2012) for a project entitled “Combined exposures to endocrine disrupters: bridging the gap between science and chemicals risk assessment and regulation†European Commission (DG Environment), £253,000 (over 20 months, ending 2011) for a State of the Art Assessment of Endocrine Disrupters Food Standards Agency, £153,000 (over two years, ending 2012) for a project investigating the mixture effects of benzimidazole pesticides, contract T10053 European Commission, £150,000 (over 5 years, ending 2013) for research into combination effects of neurotoxic agents, ESNATS project European Food Standards Authority, £170,000 (over 1 year) for developing grouping criteria for pesticides that act by different modes of action (contract CFT/EFSA/PPR/2010/02) Completed projects European Commission (DG Environment), £ 150,000 for a State of the Art Report on Mixture Toxicology (completed 2009) Food Standards Agency, £482,112 (over three years) to investigate combination effects of multi-components mixtures of endocrine active food contaminants, contract T01045 (completed 2009) Bioforce Ltd, Switzerland, £85,000 (over three years) for a PhD studentship on the hormonal effects of plant extracts (awarded jointly to Dr Deniz Tasdemir, Centre for Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy), (completed 2011) 2004 Bioforce Ltd, Switzerland granted £75,000 (over three years) for a PhD studentship on adverse reactions to herbal medicine products (awarded jointly to Prof Heinrich, Centre for Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy) , (completed 2010) European Commission awarded 1,371,667 Euros (over four years, extended to 4.5 years) for research on endocrine disrupters. EDEN - Endocrine Disrupters: Exploring Novel Endpoints, Exposure, Low-Dose- and Mixture-Effects in Humans, Aquatic Wildlife and Laboratory Animals (EU-project Contract No QLRT-2001-00603), (completed 2007) European Commission awarded 264,322 Euros (over three years) for research on combination effects of aquatic pollutants with oestrogenic activity. ACE – Analysing combination effects of mixtures of estrogenic chemicals in marine and freshwater organisms (EU-project Contract No. EVK1-CT-2001-00100), (completed 2004) 1999 JNICT, Programa Ciencia, Portugal, awarded £55,000 (over three years) for support of a PhD project on mixture effects of xenoestrogens (completed 2002) Impact Our work is beginning to have significant political impact at the European Union level: In 2008 the Danish Government charged us with organizing an international workshop on combination effects of chemicals (28-30 January 2009, Hornbaek, Denmark) The outcomes of this workshop were taken forward by the Danish Government to the European Council and have contributed to the Decision of the European Council of Environment Ministers of December 2009 on combinations effects of chemicals. In December 2007 the European Commission, DG Environment commissioned a State of the Art Report on Mixture Toxicology which a consortium under our leadership won by competitive tender. The report was completed in December 2009 and was explicitly referred to in the European Council decision on combination effects of chemicals.
Mr Martin Scholze Mr Martin Scholze
Email Mr Martin Scholze Research Fellow
I am a mathematician with a strong background in statistics and biology. My academic research has covered a wide range of areas, encompassing epidemiology, ecotoxicology, toxicology and pharmacology. Having gained an international reputation for my research in biomathematics and statistics in various interdisciplinary international Research projects, I can draw on a wide range of expertise and experience. Since 2007 I am working mainly as an independent consultant, providing consultancy and training in biostatistics, biomathematics and data management to a broad client base in the UK and Europe. My clients include industry, government, international organisations and the academic world. My aim is to make biostatistics accessible and effective as a tool to solve practical problems, based on sound statistical knowledge and modern developments in biostatistics and biomathematics. Qualifications Diploma in mathematics (major subject: statistics) Prediploma in biology Post-graduate qualification in epidemiology (German society for medical informatics, biometrics and epidemiology) Career 2011 - present: Research fellow. Institute for the Environment, Brunel University2007 – present: Independent biostatistical Consultant (Scholze Consultancy, London, UK) 2003 – 2007: Research scientist in two European Union-funded research projects, Centre for Toxicology, The School of Pharmacology, University of London. 1997 – 2003: Research scientist and Co-coordination in two European Union-funded research projects, University of Bremen, Department of Biology and Chemistry. 1996 – 1997: Research scientist, University of Bremen, Department of Statistics, Germany. 1994 – 1996: Research scientist in Epidemiological studies, Bremen Institute for Prevention Research and Social Medicine, Germany. 1992 – 1994: Research scientist in Epidemiological studies, University of Bremen, Department of Statistics, Germany. My interest in research can be broken down into two related fields. One is focused on statistical and mathematical methods in dose-response analysis, with applications in biology, epidemiology, (eco)toxicology and pharmacology. The other is concerned with the impact of chemical mixtures on humans and the environment and how statistical and mathematical methods can provide assistance. It is in this area that I have concentrated most of my efforts, and for which I have an international reputation. Upcoming research areas include computational statistics and computational systems biology. Areas of expertise: Planning, analysis and assessment of dose-response studies Sample design, sample size estimation and power calculations Multiple testing Multi-component and Multivariate analysis Statistical methods in epidemiology Uncertainty analysis Deterministic and stochastic simulation techniques in bioscience (Monte-Carlo, Resampling, PK/PD simulation, process simulation) Analysis of microarray studies Quantitative methods in Chemical risk assessment PB/PK modelling
Dr Thomas Miller Dr Thomas Miller
Email Dr Thomas Miller Senior Lecturer in Environmental Sciences
As an interdisciplinary scientist with a background in biology and analytical chemistry, my research interests are focussed on the impact of chemicals in the environment and the interaction this chemical stress has with other environmental stressors. My expertise lies in small molecule mass spectrometry to determine chemicals found in the environment (especially in wildlife) and to determine biomarkers and pathways associated with adverse effects in exposed organisms. I am also interested in the integration of artificial intelligence within environmental toxicology to support and solve different environmental challenges. From the start of my PhD at King's College London my research was originally focussed on the uptake, biotransofrmation and elimination of pharmaceuticals in a freshwater invertebrate (Gammarus pulex) commonly found in UK rivers. I developed and validated machine learning models to predict these proccesses to support and potentially replace bioaccumulation testing during environmental risk assessments. I then moved into a postdoctoral position where I focussed on understanding the impact of pharmaceuticals by assessing behavioural disruption in these organisms. I developed and applied metabolomic workflows to gain a mechanistic understanding of animal behaviour and to link cause-effect relationships for different drug exposures. Here at Brunel, I will be working in three main areas concerned with chemical pollution. First is concerned with the determination of chemicals (and mixtures) using exposomics to characterise the chemical space in the environment, with a focus on internalised residues in animals. Second, improving mechanistic understanding of cause-effect relationships using metabolomics and lipidomics to determine biochemical changes that are phenotypically anchored. Finally, development and application of AI to support envrionmental risk assessment, replace animal testing and improve interpretation of complex datasets to better understand animal health. Environmental Toxicology Environmental Metabolomics & Lipidomics Animal Behaviour & Physiology Aritficial Intelligence & Machine Learning
Professor Rakesh Kanda Professor Rakesh Kanda
Email Professor Rakesh Kanda Professor - Exposome Science
I am an environmental scientist, Professor of exposome science, Fellow of the Institution of Environmental Sciences, a chartered chemist and Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry. My research covers a range of topics in environmental, analytical, exposome and water sciences. My research is focused on the development of analytical techniques for the determination of environmental contaminants to assess animal and human exposure to hazardous compounds in the environment. My work includes investigations into the occurrence and fate of emerging environmental contaminants and hazardous substances in the aquatic and terrestrial environment and the study of their behaviour during wastewater treatment and drinking water production. My research investigates the elimination of micro-pollutants from wastewater and potable water through conventional water treatment processes and I apply green chemistry principals and green technologies to eliminate or convert hazardous pollutants to less harmful or more biodegradable compounds. My research covers the formation and occurrence of disinfection-by-products resulting from conventional and advanced treatment. My studies involve the development of high resolution tandem mass spectrometry methods for the identification of contaminants in human body fluids, biota, potable water and wastewater samples. My research involves the development of new strategies in data interpretation using spectral and chromatographic deconvolution and chemometric methods of nontargeted analysis to address unknown hazards or "known or unknown unknowns." Career 2013 to Present, Professor in the College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ 2016 to 2023, Vice Dean International, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ 2005-2012 Principal Scientist, Severn Trent Laboratories, Reading 1999-2005 Principal Scientist, Water Research Centre (WRc-NSF), Medmenham 1990-1999 Principal Scientist, Water Research Centre (WRc), Medmenham analytical techniques; organic mass spectrometry, environmental contaminants; wastewater treatment; sewage sludge; disinfection-by-products; surface waters; sediment; soil; biota. Research Activities: My research covers a range of topics related to the development and application of analytical techniques for the determination of environmental contaminants in wastewater, sewage sludge, body fluids and human tissue and in environmental samples including surface waters, sediment, soil and biota. My work can be divided into the following areas: Development of analytical methods to determine environmental contaminants in wastewater and the aquatic environment. Focus on emerging contaminants e.g. endocrine disrupting compounds, pharmaceutical and personal care products, pesticides and pesticide metabolites and natural ecotoxins. Development of methods for assessing animal and human exposure to compounds in the environment by analysis of body fluids and tissue samples. Data is used to determine whether exposure to particular contaminants has taken place and to determine the magnitude of, and temporal variations in any exposure. Determination of the removal of priority pollutants and emerging hazardous substances in conventional wastewater treatment plants and by advanced tertiary treatment. The determination of the fate and behaviour of biologically active chemicals in the aquatic and terrestrial environment using non-target screening, effect-directed analysis and high resolution MS and MS/MS based techniques. Determination of the formation and occurrence of disinfection-by-products (and trace contaminants) in raw and potable water e.g. haloacetic acids, perfluorinated organics, nitrogented and halogenated DBPs. Development of new strategies in data interpretation using spectral and chromatographic deconvolution and chemometric methods to address unknown hazards or “unknown unknowns”. Key funding from 2000 to present: 2000 - 2003 Natural Environment Research Council awarded £85K for a two year project to determine steroid oestrogens in wastewater, river water and river sediments 2002 – 2003 Endocrine Disrupters in Sewage Sludge – Funding £84K (Funded by United Kingdom Water Industry Research) 2003 – 2004 Endocrine Disrupters in Sewage Influent : Analytical Method Development – Funding £37K (Funded by United Kingdom Water Industry Research, Sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) 2004 A review of Analytical methods to determine steroid oestrogens – Funding £12K (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) 2005 Unification of Analytical Methods to determine steroid oestrogens in surface waters, crude and treated sewage to meet the Environment Agency PNEC requirements, research in collaboration with the Environment Agency – Funding £27K (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) 2005 – 2009 EDC demonstration programme – Funding total value ca £2.7M over 3 years (Severn Trent Water, Southern Water, Northumbarian Water and Dwr Cymru Welsh Water) 2005 – 2007 Decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5) in the aquatic environment – Funding ca£120K (Unilever Safety & Environmental Assurance Centre) 2005 – 2009 Fate and behaviour of Pharmaceuticals in wastewater – Funding ca£110K (Pfizer Global) 2005 – 2012 Trace Organics in waste water (various contracts, e.g. Tamiflu, drugs of abuse, pesticides, DBPs) - T&D Severn Trent Water ca£2.5M over 6 years 2008 – 2010 Nitrosamines in drinking water - Funding ca£165K (Drinking Water Inspectorate) with WRc plc 2008 – 2009 PFOS in drinking water – Funding ca£80K (Drinking Water Inspectorate) with WRc plc 2009 – 2010 Perchlorate in drinking water - Funding ca£80K (Drinking Water Inspectorate) with WRc plc. 2010 to 2012 Haloacetic Acids in drinking water by ICMSMS - Funding ca£22K (Drinking Water Inspectorate) with WRc plc 2010 to 2012 Monitoring of Nitrogenated Disinfection By-Products in Drinking Water – Funding £95K Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) / Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) with Dr Michael Templeton, Prof Nigel Graham (Imperial College London) and Dr Howard Weinberg (University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, USA) 2010 – 2012 Chemicals investigation programme – Funding total value ca £3.1M over 3 years (Thames Water, Southern Water, Yorkshire Water, Dwr Cymru Welsh Water) 2013 - 2016 A comparative study on the IC-MSMS and methylation GEECD methods of analysis of haloacetic acids - Funding £89,000 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)/Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI). Principal Investigator 2014 - 2016 A Decoy Artificial Snail host to control Schistosoma mansoni - Funding $100,00, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Co-Investigator. Dr Edwin Routledge (PI) Teaching Responsibilities: I am Programme Lead of the MRes Environmental Management and MRes Environmental Science degree programmes. I lecture on a number of Environmental Science and Environmental Management degree programmes, including MSc Environmental Management and BSc Environmental Sciences. Co-ordination Roles Module Lead for Environmental Chemistry Module Lead Research Planning and Communication Skills Module Lead Dissertation for MRes Environmental Sciences Module Lead Dissertation for MRes Environmental Management Module Lead for Professional Experience (Environmental Science) Contribution to other modules Environmental Management Environmental Pollution Clean Technology and the Environment Data analysis and research skills in Environmental Science Research Dissertation - supervise Masters and Final Year undergraduate Projects (FYPs). My teaching activity: Starting 2021 – Programme Lead MRes Environmental Management/Environmental Science 2019-present – Module Lead BSc Environmental Chemistry 2016- 2019 - Module Lead MSc Environmental Management 2013 to present – ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½, Teaching on MSc Environmental Science programmes 2007 to 2013 – University of Reading, Department of Chemistry (MChem Chemistry) 2001 to 2010 - Leonardo da Vinci post graduate training programmes PhD Supervision I am first or second supervisor to a number of PhD students in Environmental Sciences. Other Academic Resposibilities I peer review articles for high quality environmental and analytical science journals including Environmental Science and Technology, Water Research, Journal of Chromatography,Environmental Pollution, Science of the Total Environment, Chemosphere, Current Pharmaceutical Analysis and others. I regularly serve as an internal and external examiner for PhD, MPhil and MRes awards in the UK and internationally. I have examined PGR students at Kings College London, Cranfield University, Kingston University London and the Australian National University. I am a member of a number of college and university level academic committees.
Dr Alice Baynes Dr Alice Baynes
Email Dr Alice Baynes Divisional Lead / Senior Lecturer in Environmental Sciences
My main interests lie in aquatic biology, specifically how anthropogenic stressors, such as environmental contaminants, can alter an animals' development, reproductive and immune systems (endocrine disruption). My focus has been to investigate environmental chemical disruption to fish and freshwater gastropod molluscs. Originally the emphasis of my research was on disruption to classic sex steroids (oestrogens and androgens), however recently my attention has been widened to include disruption to other parts of the endocrine system including thyroid and retinoid systems. Working in the field of endocrine disrupting chemicals, one area of research which I am keen to investigate is mollusc endocrinology. Much of my work with gastropods has found that, contrary to long-held views, molluscs may not use the same sex steroids as vertebrates. Without understanding how these fundamental developmental and reproductive processes work in molluscs, this huge and diverse group of animals are at risk of not being adequately protected using the current environmental endocrine disruption testing and legislation. Career Summary 2022-present Senior Lecturer in Environmental Sciences College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (CHMLS), ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ 2020-2022 Lecturer in Environmental Sciences. CHMLS, Brunel Univerity London 2014-2020 Research Fellow, Institute of Environment, Health and Societies, ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½, UK. 2012-2014 Postdoctoral Research Manager, Institute for the Environment (IfE), Brunel University, UK. 2009-2012 Postdoctoral Research Assistant, IfE, Brunel University, UK. 2008-2009 Research Assistant, IfE, Brunel University, UK. 2004-2008 PhD student, IfE, Brunel University, UK. 2002-2004 Fisheries Scientist, Environment Agency’s National Fisheries Laboratory, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, UK. I am an ecotoxicologist. My main focus is on the impact of environmental chemicals (pollution) to aquatic wildlife. My research specifically looks at how environmental chemicals can impact an animals development and reproduction - by disrupting it's endocrine (or hormonal) systems. I work both in the lab and field, mainly with freshwater fish and gastropod molluscs. Ecotoxicology, Endocrine disruption, chemical pollution, aquatic pollution, aquatic biology and ecology, fish and gastropod development and reproduction. Environmental Sciences BSc Level 5 co-ordinator Module Leader: Ecosystem Stressors (ES2706) Assessment block leader: Environmental Change and the Anthropocene - Synoptic Coursework (ES2801) Environmental Change and the Anthropocene - Synoptic Exam (ES2802) Additional tutor: Earth System Science (ES1703) BASc Global Challenges (Planetary Health) Additional tutor: Foundations of Planetary Health in Practice - Natural Systems and Processes (GC1804) Ecosystem Transformations and Health Impacts (GC2701) Environmental Change (GC2805) BSc Life Sciences Module Leader: Ecosystem Stressors (BB2818)
Dr Antonis Myridakis Dr Antonis Myridakis
Email Dr Antonis Myridakis Lecturer in Environmental Sciences
I am an analytical chemist, expert in small molecule profiling and quantification, mass spectrometry and multidimensional chromatography. My current research is focused on environmental chemicals and human health, with special interest in microplastics, emerging contaminants and endocrine disrupting chemicals. I have extensively developed and applied metabolomic and volatolomic approaches for cancer diagnosis and the investigation of the link between gut microbiome metabolites and the pathogenesis of cardiometabolic and neurodevelopmental diseases. During my studies, my main research activities were focused on the exposure assessment of endocrine disrupting and neurotoxic chemicals in pregnant women and their children. Bioanalytical chemistry / method development and validation / trace analysis Mass spectrometry (hyphenated with chromatography and direct sampling) Targeted/untargeted metabolomics/volatolomics Biomarker discovery Environmental exposure and risk assessment Microplastics, emerging contaminants and endocrine disrpupting chemicals Leading the "Anthropocene Case Studies" study module for the BSc Environmental Sciences programme (ES2701)
Dr Ovokeroye Abafe Dr Ovokeroye Abafe
Email Dr Ovokeroye Abafe Lecturer in Environmental Sciences
Dr Ovokeroye Abafe has extensive experience in applying chromatographic and mass spectrometric techniques for trace level analyses of legacy, emerging and novel chemical contaminants and pollutants in abiotic and biotic matrices including human tissues. He has particular interest in establishing the links between external exposure to environmental pollutants and their human body-burden using next generation exposure and risk assessment tools (e.g., 3D-models and organoids) and human biomonitoring. Prior to joining Brunel University, he was a Marie Curie Individual Fellow at the University of Birmingham. Dr Abafe was previously a senior research scientist and laboratory manager at the Agricultural Research Council- Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, where he was responsible for the South African National Residue Monitoring Programme for Antibiotics, Veterinary Drugs and Environmental Contaminants Residues in Food and Feed of Animal Origin including Livestock, Poultry and Wildlife. He has led several institutional, national and international projects; and led several training programmes in the area of food analytical methods, quality control and quality management systems for the United Nation's Food and Agricultural Organization/International Atomic Energy Agency. Dr Abafe received a Y1-rating (A researcher who is recognized as having the potential to establish him/herself as a researcher of considerable international standing on the basis of the quality and impact of his/her recent research outputs) from the National Research Foundation of South Africa in 2021. Career Summary 2023 –present: Lecturer in Environmental Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (CHMLS), ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½. 2021 –2023 - Marie Curie Individual Fellow, University of Birmingham 2016 – 2021: Senior Research Scientist and Laboratory Manager, Agricultural Research Council, South Africa. 2016 - Visiting Research Scientist, Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, Sweden. 2015 – 2016 - Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa. 2014 - Lecturer, Department of Chemistry, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa My research interests are focused on: Identification of emerging and legacy contaminants such as halogenated and organophosphate chemicals, PFAS, additive chemicals in micro and nanoplastics, pharmaceuticals, veterinary drugs etc. in indoor and outdoor environmental matrices, food and feed, food contact materials, consumer products and human biological tissues, using chromatography with non-targeted and target mass spectrometry. Human exposure and risk assessment of emerging and legacy chemical contaminants and pollutants using next generation 3-dimensional (3D) human organ equivalent models and organ-on-chip techniques as sustainable alternatives to animal and/or human tissues. Human Biomonitoring of persistent organic pollutants and emerging environmental contaminants.
Dr Abdul Chaudhary Dr Abdul Chaudhary
Email Dr Abdul Chaudhary Senior Lecturer
Qualifications 2002 – 2004 PGCert Brunel University, London, UK 1987 – 1990 PhD City University, London, UK 1984 – 1986 MSc University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan 1981 – 1983 BSc University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan Career 2002 - Present Lecturer, Institute for the Environment, Brunel University, London, UK 1998 – 2002 Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Environmental Research, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Brunel University, London, UK 1996 – 1997 Environmental Consultant, United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), Nuclear Institute for Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Pakistan 1991 – 1995 Research Fellow, Department of Chemistry, Brunel University 1986 – 1987 Research Officer, Ministry of Education, Islamabad, Pakistan Research Activities: Research Projects Development of Clean and Clean-up Technologies I have been intensively involved in environmental science research and consultancy work. The main aim of my research work is to develop and optimise both clean and clean-up technologies for environmental pollution control. Clean Technologies The development of clean process technologies involves the optimisation and improved control of chemical reactions in existing processes and development of new processes to achieve environmentally clean reactions. This research work has led to the development of at least three commercially viable clean technology processes by controlling the emissions of toxic pollutants into the environment. Some of these clean process technologies are now being used on industrial scales in the UK and abroad. Key areas include: Development of 'state of the art' clean process technology for selective metal removal and recovery Development of membrane systems appropriate for selective metal recovery and recycle Development of methods for the recovery of added-value chemicals from waste to eliminate or minimise the hazardous component Use of physical and chemical methods to concentrate harmful or valueless components from secondary metal waste arisings Development and use of ionic liquids in metal recovery and recycle Clean-up Technologies The introduction of new stringent environmental regulations means that industries are now being forced to comply with the strict discharge consent levels for both solid wastes and industrial effluent streams. The research carried out under this heading involves the development and optimisation of novel environmental clean-up technologies to remove toxic organic and inorganic pollutants from solid wastes and effluent streams to meet new consent levels. This research work involves the physical and chemical treatment of industrial effluent streams originating from textile, leather, petrochemical, pharmaceutical and chemical industries for the protection of the environment. This research work has led to the development of two patents for the control of environmental pollution. Key areas include: Development of clean-up technologies for metal removal and recovery Waste minimisation through recycling of materials from industrial and end-of-life wastes Development of clean-up technologies to remove dyes from textile effluent streams Photo-assisted electrochemical destruction of organic pollutants Separation and characterisation of intermediates formed during destruction of organic pollutants Determination of kinetics and mechanisms of degradation processes Grants Awarded Higher Education Commission (HEC) and British Council (BC), Pakistan in collaboration with Mr Suhail Soomro, Mehran University, Pakistan Waste Treatment and Management. £35,000 December 2007 – December 2009 EPSRC RAIS (GR/R54958/01 in collaboration with Professor Grimes (PI) and Professor John Donaldson Chemical reclamation of material from Aluminium furnace residue. £29,605 April 2001 – March 2003 EPSRC/DTI Link (GR/L96189) in collaboration with Professor Grimes (PI) and Professor John Donaldson Chemical reclamation of material from Aluminium furnace residue. £129,140 September 1998 – March 2001 Awards My research work on the development and optimisation of clean and clean-up technologies has led to the sponsoring companies (BEWT (Water Engineers) Limited and JBM International Ltd.) achieving the Queen’s Award for Environmental Achievement. I have been programme leader on the Legislation and Management course since 2004. I am also module leader for a 30-credit specialist module, Environmental Monitoring, which is a part of our modular postgraduate programme, Environmental Science: Pollution and Monitoring. In addition, I deliver lectures to cover some selective topics for 4 modules: Research and Critical Skills (IE5511) Integrated Pollution (IE5508) Environmental Management (IE5509) Principles of Sustainable Development (ME5518)
Professor Susan Jobling Professor Susan Jobling I am Director of the Institute of Environment, Health and Societies and a Professor of Environmental Toxicology, with a team comprising two postdoctoral researchers, and two current PhD students. I am interested in how environmental contaminants affect the health of wildlife and humans as exposure to these is a part of our everyday lives, particularly in urban environments where 80% of UK citizens live and work. The diversity and quantity of chemicals released into the environment has risen dramatically in the last few decades and this is causing serious concern about the possible adverse effects of mixtures of these multiple chemicals on human health. The effects of contaminants on wildlife have been studied for more than 30 years, since the publication of Rachel Carson's Silent Spring. My work over the last two decades has focused on the ability of environmental contaminants to mimic chemical messengers (hormones) and alter functioning of the reproductive and endocrine systems. My current research areas include exploring new methods and models with which to determine the safety of mixtures of industrial chemicals and understanding the role of exposure to these chemicals in the manifestation of effects in fish from individual to population levels. From a regulatory perspective, my work has been influential in the development of widespread controls on some chemicals and I am always keen to make sure that my research informs policy. I also have a passion for communication of scientific results and their interpretation to the lay public. Career I completed my PhD at Brunel University (Department of Biological Sciences) in 1991 and remained at Brunel first as Postdoctoral Researcher (1995-1999) and then as a (tenured) Research Lecturer until 2002; after which I became a Senior Research Fellow (100% research tenured post). From 2004, I set up and directed a consultancy which advises governments and industries on the risks posed by environmental chemicals. In 2010 I was promoted to Professor. ecotoxicology; environmental contaminants Research Activities: My research involves the development of collaborative inter- disciplinary approaches involving a wide range of specialisms to work towards an understanding of how contaminants influence wildlife and human health, from the individual to the population. Of great concern to me and an increasing number of other scientists is a group of contaminants known as endocrine-disrupting chemicals, endocrine disruptors or EDCs. EDCs are synthetic chemicals that interact with the human body's glands, hormones and hormone receptors, known collectively as the endocrine system. Health effects of EDC exposure can range from cancer to immune, endocrine, neurological and reproductive system impacts. I investigate effects right from the molecular level, through to the individual, right through to the population. My research can be divided into two main areas: 1. Environmental Health Investigation. This is looking at the real world and the health problems and their possible connection with the contamination of the world by chemical contaminants. These are daunting scientific challenges and tracing down the causes of health problems can be very hard. My introduction to research started when I was asked to find the contraceptive pill hormone in water and its possible link with feminisation of fish populations in UK rivers. I have spent almost my entire career since that time trying to understand exactly which mixtures of chemicals cause feminisation in fish and how they do it. Lately this has involved both laboratory studies, field data collection on both exposure and effects and statistical modelling of these data. I now want to develop and apply methods to assist in identifying health risks from the low-level environmental exposures of today - methods which are sensitive enough to tease out the often subtle health effects of complex mixtures of micropollutants. The new environment-health paradigm suggests that in utero neonatal exposures to mixtures of environmental toxicants at low doses alter susceptibility to disease later in life as a result of their ability to affect the programming of tissue function that occurs during development. My work here often involves a cross fertilization of ideas between toxicology and basic science as well as information science and mathematics. 2. The development of new models and test systems with which to test and predict the safety of chemicals and detect and monitor their presence in the environment. Society needs tools with which to protect us from any potential hazards posed by mixtures of contaminants; safety methods with which to test the chemicals we use, the air we breathe, the food we eat and the water we drink. Here, I have two interests: Exploration of new more ethically acceptable model test organisms with which to screen chemical safety: Current testing of chemicals (and medicines) is based largely on rodent models and public concern over vertebrate animal use in testing chemicals is increasing. The search for replacements to animals is a major long-term goal for medical research and now also for environmental safety testing. Two currently funded projects are exploring the use of snails as replacements for rodents in some reproductive toxicity screens. Our work here involves both fundamental research on the structure and function of the reproductive system in these new models and more applied reproductive toxicology research. Development of new intelligent biosensors with which detect and monitor the presence of contaminants and predict their effects on the health of humans and wildlife. This involves collaboration with materials scientists, biotechnologists and statistical modellers. Grants Awarded Since 2002, I have been awarded several grants, totalling £1,605,294.00 in research funding, and an additional £434,803.52 in research consultancy. 2001-2004: Effects of treated sewage effluents on fish (Co-investigator with Professor Tyler, Exeter University). Value: 132,000. Source: UKWIR and The Environment Agency. 2001-2004: Genotoxic Effects of Putative Endocrine Disrupters in (co-investigato Co-investigator with Tamara Galloway, University of Plymouth and Mike Depledge of Environment Agency). Source Leverhulme Trust. Value: 98,460 European Commission: £242,031 from 11/10/2002-31/03/2006 for a study entitled Comparative Responses of Vertebrates and Invertebrates to Androgenic and anti-androgenic chemicals (COMPRENDO). Co-investigator and work package leader. Natural Environment Research Council (NERC): £142,232 from 1/10/02-31/03/06 for a study entitled The Effects of Sewage Pollution on Freshwater Molluscs. (Principal and Sole Investigator) Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs: £162,941 from 01/05/04-30/04/07 for a study entitled "Investigations into Endocrine Disruption in UK Freshwater Molluscs". (Principal Investigator). An additional £30,000 was obtained from the Environment Agency and then a further £48,000 for an extension till 2009. Biology and Biotechnology Research Council (BBSRC): £181,011 from 2004-2007 for a study entitled "Characterisation and Functional Role of Novel Oestrogen Receptors in the prosobranch Mollusc Marisa cornuarietis. (Principal Investigator). An additional £48,000 was obtained from the Environment Agency. Leverhulme Trust: £190,430 from 01/06/2009-30/05/2011 for a study entitled "Modelling and Mimicking the Effects of Pollution from Molluscs to Men". Principal Investigator (co-investigators Ed Routledge and Jo Bridger who are both at Brunel and Les Noble at Aberdeen University). NERC: £180,602 from 01/09/09 to 31/08/12 for a study entitled "Population Level Consequences of Exposure of Fish to Oestrogenic Wastewater Treatment Works Effluents". Collaborative study with Professor Charles Tyler at Exeter University (lead institute). I am the principal Investigator at Brunel and John Sumpter is the co-investigator. National Centre for the Refinement Reduction and Replacement of Animals in Research (NC3Rs): £380,047 from 1/11/2009 to 31/10/2012 for a study entitled "Molluscs Mice and Men". Principal Investigator. Co-investigators are Ed Routledge (Brunel), Tim Williams (AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals in-kind contribution worth £80,000) and Les Noble and Catherine Jones (Aberdeen University). Brunel is the lead institution. Total value of the grant is £525, Research Related Consultancy 10. Environment Agency: Two contracts totalling £4869.53 from 17/07/2006-03/07 for reading and interpreting fish histopathology slides (Principle Investigator) 11. Melbourne Water: Three contracts (TO9724, TO9807 and TO9099 amounting to £56,610.65 from 01/2007-present for a consultancy and research project entitled "Survey of endocrine disruption in wild Black Bream (Acanthopagrus butcheri) from Australia". (Principal Investigator) 12. Severn Trent Water: Two contracts (TO9820) amounting to £110,728.59 from March 2008-Present for a study entitled "Feminizing Effects of Exposure to Ilkeston Sewage Effluents (Do improvements make a difference?)". Principal Investigator 13. Thames Water: £79,572.82 from 09/08-12/09 (Contract TO9870). To carry out Pair-breeding Tests on Fathead Minnows on Improved sewage effluent from Swindon STW as part of the UK Endocrine Disrupters Demonstration Programme. Principal Investigator 14. Wessex Water: £17,991.50 from 02/08-05/08 (Contract TO9800).To carry out and interpret the results of fish tests on the Swanage sewage effluent. Principal Investigator 15. Environment Agency: £21,892.50 from 02/08-07/08 (Contract TO9775) for carrying out Fish Histological Analysis for project entitled "Modelling the potential impacts of endocrine disruption of fish populations" 16. Severn Trent Water: Three contracts totalling £143,137.93 from 1/10/08-Present (Contracts TO9872 and TO9940, TO9950) for a research project entitled "Investigation of the role of anti-androgenic constituents of treated sewage effluents in causing feminisation of fish in UK rivers" (Principal Investigator. Collaborating also with Severn Trent Laboratories). Impact My research has led to regulatory action (through the EU and Member States) on some chemicals (e.g. nonylphenol and some phthalates) leading to those chemicals being severely restricted or banned. This has led to rapid improvements in water quality and hence aquatic life health. For example, my research on nonylphenols led to immediate reductions in its use (especially in industries such as textiles), and contributed significantly to the agreed phase out of this chemical throughout the European Union.
Dr Daniel Perkins Dr Daniel Perkins
Email Dr Daniel Perkins Senior Lecturer in Environmental Sciences
I am a foodweb ecologist interested in understanding the impacts of environmental change (e.g. land use change, climate warming and microplastic pollution) on aquatic ecosystems. An ecosystem is more than the sum of its parts and by studying species interactions (e.g. food webs) we can gain key information about the pathways of energy flow that bring about real change in natural systems. I use a range of approaches from small-scale laboratory experiments, field surveys and large ecological datasets to search for common mechanisms operating across freshwater and marine realms. Global change biology Aquatic food webs Metabolic scaling theory Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning I teach the following BSc modules: Climate Change Individual Project
Dr Julia Reiss Dr Julia Reiss
Email Dr Julia Reiss Senior Lecturer in Environmental Management
I am an environmental scientist with a particular interest in the taxonomy and ecology of aquatic organisms and pollution of aquatic environments. In my research I combine ecological theory and environmental topics (e.g., nutrient-, antibiotic- or plastic pollution of fresh waters) and focus on vulnerable taxonomic groups such as organisms that cannot be seen with the naked eye but that drive the bulk of ecosystem processes on earth. For example, freshwater quality (i.e., the health of groundwater, lakes or rivers) is maintained by a community composed of mostly tiny organisms. Before joining Brunel, I was employed at the University of Roehampton, London, as a senior lecturer. My work history also includes two post-doctoral research positions, at Queen Mary University of London and at the River Laboratory, QMUL (Dorset), respectively. My full research profile and a list of my publications is available here. I am an environmental scientist with a particular interest in the taxonomy and ecology of aquatic organisms and pollution of aquatic environments. In my research I combine ecological theory and environmental topics (e.g., nutrient-, antibiotic- or plastic pollution of fresh waters) and focus on vulnerable taxonomic groups such as organisms that cannot be seen with the naked eye but that drive the bulk of ecosystem processes on earth. For example, freshwater quality (i.e., the health of groundwater, lakes or rivers) is maintained by a community composed of mostly tiny organisms. Ecology, Aquatic Ecology, Aquatic Organisms, Pollution of Aquatic Environments, Theotretical Ecology, Allometric Scaling, Protists, Meiofauna, Macrofauna, Antibiotic Pollution, Microplastic Pollution I have been teaching since my PhD years and deliver research-led teaching in environmental sciences (including topics such as conservation, aquatic ecology, sustainability, global change, plastic pollution, experimental design, study skills and employability). At Brunel, I teach on undergraduate and post-graduate level modules for courses offered by the College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (Environmental Sciences topics) and the Department of Social and Political Sciences (Geography topics).
Dr Sibylle Ermler Dr Sibylle Ermler
Email Dr Sibylle Ermler Lecturer in Biosciences (Endocrinology and Metabolism)
Sibylle Ermler is a Lecturer in Biosciences (Endocrinology and Metabolism) in the Department of Life Sciences. She joined Brunel as a Research Fellow in Human Toxicology. She has expertise in the impact of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and genotoxicants on human and environmental health. Her research focuses on metabolic disorders and obesity, with additional interest in male and female reproductive health, and the developmental origins of health and disease. Furthermore, she is an expert in mixture toxicology with an interest in the translation of (mixture-) toxicology into chemical risk assessment. Sibylle’s research has a focus on the development and application of novel in vitro approaches with the aim of creating human relevant models for human disease, and reducing the requirement for animal testing. Additional interdisciplinary research interests include the impact of climate change on food systems and on human development and health. University positions 2022-current:Lecturer in Biosciences (Endocrinology and Metabolism), Life Sciences, ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ 2011-2022: Research Fellow, Enviromental Sciences, Life Sciences, ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ 2007-2011: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Centre for Toxicology, UCL School of Pharmacy, London My current research focuses on the effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals on adipogenesis. My aim is to elucidate how environmental exposures can lead to metabolic disorders such as obesity and which role different fat compartments, such as white and brown adipose tissues may play. A focus is on exposures in early life. In addition, my research interests are in the toxicology of chemical mixtures, the implications of mixture effects for human health and how mixture toxicology impacts on the need for cumulative risk assessment of chemical substances. In the past, I have also investigated the combined effects of genotoxic compounds with focus on aneugenic benzimidazole pesticides but also including agents which act via other modes of action. Furthermore, I studied the mixture effects of environmental and food contaminants that act as endocrine disruptors, in particular anti-antiandrogens and estrogens. I am interested in the hypothesis that cumulative exposure to environmental endocrine disruptors and other compounds contributes to the development of human diseases, such as obesity and cancer. Human toxicology; Metabolism disruption; Endocrine disruption; Developmental origins of health and disease; Mixture toxicology and risk assessment; Human relevant in vitro models; Novel foods; Space travel. Biomedical Sciences BSc Level 3 (FHEQ6) Co-ordinator for Biomedical Sciences Endocrine Disorders (BB3714) Environmental Scienes BSc Environmental Health (ES2601) block lead Contribution to other modules Final Year Project (BB3091)
Dr Nicola Beresford Dr Nicola Beresford
Email Dr Nicola Beresford Principal Technical Manager (Environmental Sciences)
I started working at Brunel University in 1996, after completing a Masters course at Napier University. I work in the field of ecotoxicology, and have been involved with a number of different grants, using a wide variety of techniques. In addition to doing research work, I provide laboratory support for staff, visitors and students, and I manage and maintain our Environmental Sciences laboratories. I also carry out contract work for external organisations. Qualifications 1979-1983: BSc. Applied Biology, Brunel University 1994-1995: MSc. Biology of Water Resource Management, Napier University 2013-2021: PhD. Thesis title: Oestrogens and anti-androgens in the aquatic environment and their effects on fish, ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ Career 2019 - present: Principal Technical Manager (Environmental Sciences), College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University 1996 - 2019: Senior Research Technician, Institute for the Environment, Brunel University 1985 - 1988: Research Assistant, Immunology Department, Liverpool University, Liverpool 1984 - 1985: Research Technician, Zoology Department, Oxford University, Oxford Publications Baynes A, Lange A, Beresford N, Bryden E, Whitlock K, Tyler CR, et al. Endocrine disruption is reduced but still widespread in wild roach (Rutilus rutilus) living in English rivers. Environmental Science and Technology 2023;57:12632-41. Hamilton PB, Baynes A, Nicol E, Harris G, Webster TMU, Beresford N, et al. Feminizing Effects of Ethinylestradiol in Roach (Rutilus rutilus) Populations with Different Estrogenic Pollution Exposure Histories. Aquatic Toxicology 2022;249:1-10. Hettwer K, Jähne M, Frost K, Giersberg M, Kunze G, Trimborn M, et al. Validation of Arxula Yeast Estrogen Screen assay for detection of estrogenic activity in water samples: Results of an international interlaboratory study. Science of the Total Environment 2017;621:612-25. Hassell K, Pettigrove V, Beresford N, Jobling S, Kumar A. No evidence of exposure to environmental estrogens in two feral fish species sampled from the Yarra River, Australia: A comparison with Northern Hemisphere studies. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 2016;131:104-17. Beresford N, Baynes A, Kanda R, Mills MR, Arias-Salazar K, Collins TJ, et al. Use of a battery of chemical and ecotoxicological methods for the assessment of the efficacy of wastewater treatment processes to remove estrogenic potency. Journal of Visualized Experiments 2016;115. Mills MR, Arias-Salazar K, Baynes A, Shen LQ, Churchley J, Beresford N, et al. Removal of ecotoxicity of 17α-ethinylestradiol using TAML/peroxide water treatment. Scientific Reports 2015;5. Runnalls TJ, Beresford N, Kugathas S, Margiotta-Casaluci L, Scholze M, Scott AP, et al. From single chemicals to mixtures-Reproductive effects of levonorgestrel and ethinylestradiol on the fathead minnow. Aquatic Toxicology 2015;169:152-67. Julis J, Bartlett SA, Baader S, Beresford N, Routledge EJ, Cazin CSJ, et al. Selective ethenolysis and oestrogenicity of compounds from cashew nut shell liquid. Green Chemistry 2014;16:2846-56. Bannister R, Beresford N, Granger DW, Pounds NA, Rand-Weaver M, White R, et al. No substantial changes in estrogen receptor and estrogen-related receptor orthologue gene transcription in Marisa cornuarietis exposed to estrogenic chemicals. Aquatic Toxicology 2013;140:19-26. Runnalls TJ, Beresford N, Losty E, Scott AP, Sumpter JP. Several synthetic progestins with different potencies adversely affect reproduction of fish. Environmental Science and Technology 2013;47:2077-84. Scott AP, Hill T, Ellis T, Beresford N, Runnalls TJ, Sumpter JP. Out-of-season production of 17,20β-dihydroxypregn-4-en-3-one in the roach Rutilus rutilus. Journal of Fish Biology 2013. Baynes A, Green C, Nicol E, Beresford N, Kanda R, Henshaw A, et al. Additional treatment of wastewater reduces endocrine disruption in wild fish-a comparative study of tertiary and advanced treatments. Environmental Science and Technology 2012;46:5565-73.
Ms Marta Straszkiewicz Ms Marta Straszkiewicz
Email Ms Marta Straszkiewicz Senior Technician - Analytical Chemistry
I manage the chemistry laboratories and provide technical support to academics, postdoctoral fellows and provide training to students and staff with particular emphasis on analytical chemistry.
Professor Danae Manika Professor Danae Manika
Email Professor Danae Manika Acting Executive Dean - CBASS / Professor - Marketing and Business Education
Danae Manika (PhD, University of Texas at Austin) is Professor of Marketing at Brunel Business School and Acting Executive Dean of the College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences (CBASS). Previously, Danae was Deputy Dean of CBASS and Associate Head of Brunel Business School. Before joining ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½, she was Professor of Marketing at Newcastle University Business School, where she led its London Campus as Academic Group Head and held the Deputy Director of Research role at Newcastle University Business School. Danae in the past has also held academic positions at Queen Mary University of London, Durham University and the University of Texas at Austin; and is currently Visiting Professor at Newcastle University and Queen Mary University of London. Prior to her academic career, Danae worked as an Account Planning Intern in advertising agencies such as Latinworks in Austin, TX, and DDB in New York. She obtained a Ph.D and a M.A. in Advertising from the University of Texas at Austin, and a B.A. Honours in Marketing from University of Stirling. Danae’s recent research has been published in journals such as: Journal of Service Research, Journal of Business Ethics, Tourism Management, Annals of Tourism Research, Psychology and Marketing, European Journal of Marketing, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Journal of Business Research, European Management Review, and International Business Review, amongst others. Using an interdisciplinary approach, Danae’s research focuses on effective message construction for behaviour change within the contexts of health, well-being and the environment. She is involved in various consultancies (e.g., Harrow Council, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council, RECOUP, Global Action Plan, Texas Comprehensive Cancer Control Coalition), and her research has been supported by £414,000+ of funding (e.g., CRUK, EPSRC/Innovate UK, NERC/NCAS, RED, and Arrow/ERDF). Danae is Section Editor for the Journal of Business Ethics (section: Marketing Ethics; FT50 journal), and Associate Editor (AE) for Business and Society and the Journal of Current Issues and Research in Advertising, while in the past she was AE for the Journal of Marketing Management (2017-21). She is also currently on the Editorial Review Boards of:Technological Forecasting & Social Change, and Journal of Marketing Management; with guest editor experience across multiple top journals. Danae also has experience as: funding reviewer for Cancer Research UK (2015-19); and track chair for the Academy of Marketing Science World Marketing Congress Conference in 2023, the Transformative Consumer Research Conference in 2021, and the European Social Marketing Association Conference in 2016. Using an interdisciplinary approach, blending the lines between marketing, advertising and psychology her research aims to answer a fundamental marketing research question: How to diminish the knowledge-behaviour gap? Particularly, her research focuses on effective message construction for behaviour change. It takes an information processing approach, which identifies, classifies and examines cognitive (e.g., knowledge, confidence, trust, values) and affective (e.g., pride, fear, disgust) factors that influence individuals’/consumers’/employees’ decisions and choices after exposure to campaigns/messages/interventions, and translate knowledge acquisition to behaviour change/formation. Her research is theory-based but practically applicable research, and often uses health (e.g., weight control, alcohol consumption, vaccination), well-being and environmental (e.g. energy saving, recycling) social issues as the venue for understanding the knowledge-behaviour gap, with direct implications for persuasive communication and behavioural interventions that motivate health and environmental action. The campaigns/messages/interventions often examined involve digital components (e.g., websites, social media, mobile applications, online tracking tools) and technology adoption behaviours (e.g., adoption and usage of technology-based solutions). Other projects with information technology and effective message construction focus include: social media service failure apologies, online petitions, and online political engagement. Side projects include innovative research methodologies, female-disparaging adverts, and consumer animosity, amongst others. Danae’s recent research has been published in journals such as Journal of Service Research, Journal of Business Ethics, Tourism Management, Annals of Tourism Research, Psychology and Marketing, European Journal of Marketing, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Journal of Business Research, European Management Review, International Business Review, Information Technology and People, Studies in Higher Education, Journal of Marketing Management, Computers in Human Behavior, International Journal of Advertising, Journal of Health Communication, Journal of Marketing Communications, Health Marketing Quarterly, and Multivariate Behavioral Research, amongst others. She often engages in research projects that require collaborations with other disciplines such as medicine, engineering and geography; and her research has been supported by £364,000+ of funding (e.g., CRUK, EPSRC/Innovate UK, RED, and Arrow/ERDF). She also strongly believes in the interplay and interdependence of academia, government, business and society and hence she is often involved in various consultancies (e.g., Harrow Council, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council, RECOUP, Global Action Plan, Texas Comprehensive Cancer Control Coalition), in line with her research (i.e., effective message construction for behaviour change). Danae is Section Editor for the Journal of Business Ethics (section: Marketing Ethics; FT50 journal), and Associate Editor (AE) for Business and Society and the Journal of Current Issues and Research in Advertising, while in the past she was AE for the Journal of Marketing Management (2017-21). She is also currently on the Editorial Review Boards of: Technological Forecasting & Social Change, and Journal of Marketing Management; with guest editor experience across multiple top journals. Danae also has experience as: funding reviewer for Cancer Research UK (2015-19); and track chair for the Academy of Marketing Science World Marketing Congress Conference in 2023, the Transformative Consumer Research Conference in 2021, and the European Social Marketing Association Conference in 2016. Knowledge-Behaviour Gap Effective Message Construction for Behaviour Change Information Processing & Persuasive Communication Health Communication (Employee) Pro-environmental Behaviour Technology Adoption for Behaviour Change Consumer Psychology Social Marketing Advertising
Professor George Fern Professor George Fern
Email Professor George Fern Academic Director/Professor
George Fern is a chemist by background who has worked in engineering since 2006. He has a broad skills set in developing and delivering collaborative research and development projects and consultancy with industry, from inorganic and organic materials chemistry to their integration into polymeric materials and electronic devices and has acted as an expert witness. His research focus is on polymer procesing, sustainable materials and opto-electronic materials and devices for applications ranging from horticulture to displays and lighting. He has teaching interests in chemistry, materials chemistry and charasterisation. He has a keen interest in materials characterisation, electron microscopy (SEM, TEM), X-ray methods (XRD, XRF) and spectroscopic techniquies (UV-Vis-NIR, FTIR, Raman) to study luminescent materials (cathodoluminescence (CL), photoluminescence emission and excitation (PL, PLE)) and is the Academic Director of the Experimental Techniques Centre and Director of the Wolfson Centre for Sustainable Materials Processing and Characterisation. He is a Chartered Chemist and Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a Fellow of the Royal Microscopical Society. Dr George Fern’s (GF) group has a focus to deliver exploitable knowledge and IP that is implemented for society by the many industry partners across a diverse range of applications, e.g. micro-displays, radiation sensors to plastic films. He has been researching luminescent and nano materials since 1998 and polymers since 2006, with industry and academia on funded IUK/TSB/DTI/EPSRC/NERC/BBSRC/BC, synchrotron and industry projects. His laboratories are exceptionally well equipped with chemistry synthetic labs, UHV processing for organic (clean room) and inorganic materials, polymer processing, optical and mechanical analytical laboratories. He is particularly interested in the characterisation of luminescent materials and composites properties using Brunel’s world class electron microscopy facilities available in ETC. Current Research Interests and recent projects Development and integration of luminescent materials for automatic sorting machine food packaging labels and processing of recycled polymer. This project is supported by various industry partners including the NEXTLOOPP network who he collaborates to ‘close the loop on food grade polypropylene’. Providing the 30% recycled content for food packing (PFP): An integrated stakeholder approach to solving 'hard to recycle' plastic packaging, G Fern (PI), L Henderson, K Tarverdi, D Smith, NERC, 2020-2023, £458,436. PRISM, J Silver (PI), GR Fern, K Tarverdi, EPSRC, 2015-2018, £166,565. Sustainability of polymers and recycling, development of horticultural polymers and propagation systems. Development of opto-materials, compounding, formulation of polymer/composite/nano-composites and extrusion processing and materials testing. Sustainable polymers, recycling and mitigation strategies. Reborn Homewares (10062038) Development of the use of recycled homeware products using 100% recycled polymer and manufactured in the UK, IUK, 2023-2024, G Fern (PI), E Lacovidou, £44,217. Using synthetic biology to manipulate bacterial social behaviours to maximise the microbial degradation of environmental waste plastics, R McCarthy (PI) and G Fern, NERC, 2023-2024, £80,629. (NE/X010902/1) Exploration of the Plasticisation of Thermally Processable PVOH, EPSRC DTP Studentship, 2022-2025, Mark Andrews, George Fern, EP/V519947/1:2686925 Designer plant burgers - use of targeted biochemistry and chemistry to generate flavour (taste and aroma) during extrusion of plant protein, 2022-2025, BB/T008776/1: 2743988, Chloe Mayo and George Fern PURELIGHT (132743), Horticultural Film/masterbatch development, IUK, G Fern (PI), J Silver and K Tarverdi, 2017-2020, £246,293. LIGHTWAY (132746), Artificial lighting for plant and algae growth, IUK, Dr Fern (PI), Prof Silver and K Tarverdi, 2017-2020, £246,053. AgriFlex: Human-Centred Design for Sustainable Agricultural Plastics E. Pei (PI), G Fern, K Tarverdi, IUK, 2021, £39,636. COVID-Secure High Street Work Stores, M Themis (PI), K Tarverdi, G Fern, IUK, 2020-2021, £75,369. Additional funding from the Royal Society of Chemistry and the EPSRC IAA account have also been secured to support impact generation in these areas, 08/21-01/22. Opto-electronic Devices for lighting and sensors FEUD - Field Emission Ultraviolet Device, G Fern (PI) and D Smith, UKRI, 2021-2022, £224,826 High Temperature Radiation Hard Detectors, EPSRC (EP/L504671/1) Ultra high vacuum processing/coating of commercially sourced electronic grade diamond wafers and assembly into ionising radiation sensors for use at elevated temperatures up to 250oC, 2013-2016, £637,000. Organic Lighting and Displays (OLED) Enabling technologies for Cd-free Quantum Dot Light Emitting Diode Displays and Signage (Qandela), (28271) Dr Fern (PI) IUK, 2019-2021, £528,000. Displays, Electronics and Lighting; Polymer Processing and Biopolymers; Nanomaterials, Nanoparticles and Nanocatalysts, ionising radiation Sensors, transmission electron microscopy, applications in horticulture, security and novel display technology. CL2600 Engineering Chemistry (Module Leader) CL3605 Chemical Engineering Design Project BE1613 Enginering Materials Academic Leader for the Formula Student Projects (ICE and Electric Teams) (2006-2021) ME0601 Communications, Projects and Electronics (Module Leader) (2006-2021) Prior to joining Brunel University I taught extensively across a range of Chemistry subjects as a teaching fellow/lecturer/senior lecturer at the School of Chemistry at Greenwich Univeristy (1998-2005)
Professor Eujin Pei Professor Eujin Pei
Email Professor Eujin Pei Associate Dean (Quality Assurance)/Professor
Academic Background Eujin is Associate Dean of the College of Engineering, Design and Physical Sciences (ADQA-CEDPS), working closely with colleagues to actively monitor and implement quality and standards in relation to academic programmes across the college and providing strategic leadership and management to the faculty. He is the Director for the BSc Product Design Engineering Programme, a Chartered Engineer (CEng), Chartered Environmentalist (CENv) and Chartered Technological Product Designer (CTPD). As a Product Design Engineer during the early days of his career, he developed solutions for companies including Motorola, Inc., LM Ericsson, Sennheiser GmbH & Co. KG, and Rentokil Initial. His research focuses on Additive Manufacturing and 4D Printing. He is the Chairperson for the UK National Standards Committee for Additive Manufacturing - British Standards Institute AMT/8; and UK Head of Delegate for ISO/TC261. He is the Convenor of the International Organisation for Standardisation ISO/TC261/WG4 that develops global Standards for Additive Manufacturing Data and Design; and Convenor of ISO/TC261/JG67 for Functionally Graded Additive Manufacturing. Eujin is a Full Member of the EPSRC Peer Review College as the national agency that assesses proposals for funding Research in Engineering and Physical Sciences. He is a Member of the EPSRC Engineering Prioritisation Panel, and Member of the EPSRC Engineering Fellowship Panel. In 2018, he became a Member of the EPSRC Early Career Forum in Manufacturing Research that involves participating in EPSRC strategic advisory activities. Eujin is the Editor-in-Chief for the Progress in Additive Manufacturing Journal (SpringerNature), Associate Editor for Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing (Springer) and Associate Editor for Assembly Automation Journal (Emerald). He is an Editorial Board Member for Rapid Prototyping Journal (Emerald), and Member of the Editorial Board for International Journal of Rapid Manufacturing (Inderscience). He is a reviewer for Cogent Engineering (Taylor & Francis); Journal of Manufacturing Processes (Elsevier); Manufacturing Letters Journal (Elsevier); Optics and Lasers in Engineering (Elsevier); Materials & Design (Elsevier); Nature Communications (Nature Publishing Group); International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management (Inderscience); Advances in Mechanical Engineering Journal (Sage Publishers); Journal of Engineering Manufacture (Sage Publishers); Journal of Mechanical Design (American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME); Recent Patents on Engineering (Bentham Publishers) and the International Journal of Design (Open Access). He is also reviews for Palgrave Books (Macmillan Publishers Ltd.), Laurence King Publishing Ltd. and SpringerNature AG. Research Eujin leads the Additive Manufacturing & 4D Printing Research Group with his interest focusing on Additive Manufacturing and Smart Materials. He is also the Co-Director for the Brunel Centre for Digital Manufacturing. He gained hands-on experience as a Research Fellow at Loughborough University, ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ and at the University of Southampton. He was a Visiting Scientist at Vaal University of Technology and at Central University of Technology in South Africa. His active involvement in professional Memberships enable him to be a step ahead in policies and emerging technologies. He is an active Member of the British Standards Institution TDW4/8 that develops Standards such as BS 8887 for Design for MADE; and BS 8888 for Technical Product Specification. He is a Member of ISO/JTC1/WG12 which develops standardization work for 3D Scanning and 3D Printing within the scope of Information Communication Technology. Eujin also regularly participates in ISO/TC 261/AHG 05; ISO/TC 261/AHG 06; ISO/TC 261/JG 74; and is a Member of ISO/TC 261/CAG Chairman's Advisory Group, and ISO/TC 261/JAG ISO/TC 261 - ASTM F42 Steering group on JG activities. As Convenor for ISO/TC 261/WG4, he oversees the work of ISO/TC 261 - ASTM F42 joint groups including ISO/TC 261/JG 54 Joint ISO/TC 261-ASTM F42 Group for Fundamentals of Design; ISO/TC 261/JG 57 Joint ISO/TC 261-ASTM F42 Group for Specific Design Guidelines on Powder Bed Fusion; ISO/TC 261/JG 64 Joint ISO/TC 261-ASTM F42 Group for Solid Modelling Support; ISO/TC 261/JG 70 Joint ISO/TC 261-ASTM F42 Group for Optimized Medical Image Data; and ISO/TC 261/JG 73 for Joint ISO/TC 261-ASTM F42 Group for Digital Product Definition and Data Management. Eujin is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering Designers (FIED). He is a member of the Engineering Council Registration Standards Committee (RSC) that publishes procedures, routes and requirements for the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC) for registration as Engineering Technician (EngTech), Incorporated Engineer (IEng) or Chartered Engineer (CEng) and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). He is a Member of the Design Research Society (DRS) and Co-Founder of the Inclusive Design Special Interest Group. At ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½, Eujin is a Committee Member for the Innovation Hub which spearheads new initiatives for student entrepreneurs. He has a track record of generating new knowledge and finding solutions for significant impact in the industry. He is active in Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP) and worked with BAE Systems Applied Intelligence Ltd. on several industry projects. In 2016, he was nominated for the BAE Systems Chairman’s Award that acknowledged the efforts and achievements of company partners who delivered performance and furthered the company’s values. Through Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, he has collaborated with SMEs, such as L'Earth Ltd. to conceptualise, develop and retail new 3D Printing bio-materials, in which the product and packaging were recognised with an International WorldStar Award in 2014 for Design excellence. He continues to advise SMEs including Quinteassential Ltd. and Watson EP Ltd. for New Product Development projects. Between 2013-2014, he collaborated and delivered projects for the Leicester Arts and Museum Service where important historical artefacts from the Anglo-Saxon and Roman period were completely digitised and faithfully reproduced using 3D Printing. He worked with the Leicester Transport Heritage Trust to undertake projects such as to completely reverse engineer a historically important Tramcar that was accurately scaled down and 3D Printed. In 2015, he was invited to lead a Masterclass at the Royal College of Art (RCA) for the Include2015 conference on the use of 3D Printing that could support Design practice. Professional Design Career As a Product Design Engineer, Eujin holds numerous Design awards, including the Wearable Master and Field Trial Winner for the Manchester Numbers That Matter Hackathon (2014), International WorldStar Packaging Award (2014), IDSA IDEA Award (2011), Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design 24 hour Inclusive Design Challenge (2011), Motorola Motofwrd (2006), Opus Eyewear (2006), UK Lighting Competition (2006), RSA Design Directions (2005), Popular Science / Core 77 Security Design Competition (2004) and the President's Furniture award (2003). His work has been published in leading international magazines such as Dwell, Icon, FX International and in national newspapers. He has also been interviewed on BBC Radio Leicester and on Power 98FM. Eujin was invited as a judge for the British Promotional Merchandise Association Design competition in 2010. He has exhibited at an international level, including MagicChef at the Panasonic Centre in Tokyo, Japan (2003); and the Clamplight at the NEC Lighting Show in Birmingham, UK (2007). In 2018, his Soundsphere project was exhibited at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum which is the only museum in the USA devoted exclusively to historic and contemporary Product Design. Eujin’s research centres on Additive Manufacturing, 4D Printing and Functionally Graded Materials, and serves as the Additive Manufacturing & 4D Printing Research Group Leader. In 2021, he was appointed Co-Director, Brunel Centre for Digital Manufacturing; and in 2023, appointed as Co-Director, Brunel Design Research Centre where he holds both concurrent positions. He is the Chairperson for the British Standards Institute AMT/8 Committee for Additive Manufacturing; and UK Head of Delegate for ISO/TC261. He has been the Convenor of the International Organisation for Standardisation ISO/TC261/WG4 working group since 2015, working with stakeholders to develop and publish global Standards for Additive Manufacturing Data and Design; and served as Convenor of ISO/TC261/JG67 for Functionally Graded Additive Manufacturing (2016-2020) responsible for the publication of ISO/ASTM TR 52912:2020. Upon completion of his PhD, he worked with Professor RI Campbell as a Postdoctoral Researcher to investigate aspects of Material Extrusion for Additive Manufacturing. Subsequently, he worked in South Africa under the supervision of Professor Deon de Beer to develop novel Test Artefacts for Additive Manufacturing. He also collaborated with Professor Mario Monzon to further develop his expertise in 4D Printing. He is also interested in aspects of Reverse Engineering, Topology Optimisation and Augmented Reality. Within the Department, Eujin is an active Member of the Design for Sustainable Manufacturing (DSM) theme and co-organises Research seminars. As a means to disseminate new knowledge, Eujin publishes in international peer-reviewed journals, conference papers, periodicals and books. In 2019, he published a book titled "Additive Manufacturing - Developments in Training and Education - Best Practices, Challenges and Opportunities” (ISBN: 978-3-319-76083-4) by Springer Nature; and contributed to a book chapter for "Additive Manufacturing: Applications and Innovations" by Taylor & Francis in 2018. In 2022, he was awarded by the American Society for Testing and Materials for the 2021 ASTM Additive Manufacturing Award of Excellence in Education. External sources of funding for Eujin's academic research have been received from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC); the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC); the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC); the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAE); Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE); the British Council; and from the European Commission. He was a Co-Investigator for the European Commission's H2020 Erasmus+ Capacity-building in the Field of Higher Education programme for “LeNSin - International Learning Network on Sustainability” which was completed in 2019. In 2018, he received funding as Work Package Leader for the European Commission's H2020 WIDESPREAD-05-2017 programme for "Increasing Excellence on Advanced Additive Manufacturing” (INEX-ADAM). In 2019, he also received funding as Work Package Leader for the European Commission's H2020 Erasmus+ Sector Skills Alliances programme for “Strategy in Additive Manufacturing” (SAM). In the same year, he received a grant from the EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) Engagement award. In 2020, he received a grant from the British Council Newton Institutional Links fund for “Direct Writing of Cementitious Inks to Scaffolds with Complex Microarchitectures (DIWoCIS)” as a Co-Investigator, as well as two additional grants from the Global Challenges Research Fund, Demonstrate Impact Programme. In 2021, he was funded by the European Commission's H2020 Erasmus+ Key Action 2: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices programme for Develop Engaging Massive Open Online Resources for Designers Innovative Education (DEMO). Eujin is also involved in the department's Co-Innovate programme which is an innovation support scheme for London-based SMEs and start-ups to help entrepreneurs achieve business growth through collaboration with the university's academics, supported by the European Regional Development Fund. Proven Track Record of Funded Research Projects (Ongoing - 2023) European Union Partnership for Excellence - Centres of Vocational Excellence grant: "Centres of Vocational Excellence in Aerospace & Defence for Advanced Manufacturing" - AILEEN (until 2027) European Union Erasmus+ Key Action 2 Programme grant: "Developing SustaINable Skills for DesiGners in Additive Manufacturing" - SING FOR GREEN (until 2025) European Union Horizon Europe grant: "Multi material additive manufacturing for lightweight and thermal management" - MULTHEM (until 2025) InnovateUK, Design Foundations Round 2: Net Zero Environments grant - Rethinking Phyona (until 2024) European Union Horizon Europe grant: "Boosting the Exploitation of Standardisation Inputs from European Projects" - STAND4EU (until 2024) European Union Erasmus+ grant: "Learning by Sharing Knowledge in Design for Additive Manufacturing" - ShakeAM (until 2024) Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) SSH Connections grant: "Pedagogic best practice for technology-driven design futures" - Design 4.0 (until 2023) European Union Erasmus+ grant: "Sector Skills Alliances in Additive Manufacturing" - SAM (until 2023) Successfully Completed Research Projects & Grants European Union Erasmus+ Key Action 2 Programme grant: "Develop Engaging Massive Open Online Resources for Designers Innovative Education" - DEMO (until 2022) European Union Horizon 2020 H2020-WIDESPREAD-05-2017-Twinning Programme grant: "Increasing Excellence on Advanced Additive Manufacturing" - INEX-ADAM (until 2022) Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and KTN - "Design Exchange Partnership" (DEP) grant (until 2022) British Council Newton Institutional Links Programme grant: "Direct Writing of Cementitious Inks to Scaffolds with Complex Micro Architectures" - DiWoCiS (until 2022) InnovateUK, Designing Sustainable Plastic Solutions grant - AgriFlex (until 2021) InnovateUK, Sustainable Innovation Fund Round 3 grant - MediFlex (until 2021) UKRI Global Challenges Research Fund, Demonstrate Impact Programme grant - AquaSense (until 2021) UKRI Global Challenges Research Fund, Demonstrate Impact Programme grant - BioSan (until 2021) Harrow Council Innovation Grant (until 2021) EPSRC Impact Acceleration Grant (until 2020) (full list of completed projects available upon request) Opportunities for PhD Study Enquiries are very welcome from those who are keen to pursue PhD and MSc degrees regarding Additive Manufacturing and Design. Joint supervision, industry partnerships and collaborative research opportunities are all very welcomed. PhD Research Supervision as First Supervisor Jessie Lei: 4D Printed Textiles and Applications in Fashion Design Jinghao Bai: Human Centred Design and User Interface tools for 4D Printing Christopher Biggadike: Leading Engineers in the 21st Century Using Complexity Leadership Theory Aymane Sahli: AI assisted Project Management: Predicting Patterns and Behaviours in Complex Projects Faten Ezrin Azhar: Improving Communication between Product Designers and Manufacturing Engineers when Designing 4D Printed Parts Peter Booth: 4D printing of Intelligent Bio-Materials with Self-sustaining Structure Harry Sutcliffe: Developing a Design for 4D Printing (Df4DP) Framework Alex Marler: Exploring the use of Fused Deposition Modelling for 4D Printing Seok Woo Nam: Programming 4D Printed Parts with Computer-Aided-Design Giselle Loh: 4D Printed Textiles and Functionally Graded Additive Manufacturing (completed 2022) James Burchill: Improving Dissemination of Radical Innovations in Material Science (completed 2020) Lulu Yin: Understanding the relationship between the environment and walking behaviour (completed 2019) Thomas Stead: Product Development of Self-Use Medical Devices (completed 2017) Jerry Tagang: Designing a framwork for footware solutions for diabetic patients (completed 2014) PhD Research Supervision as Second Supervisor Montida Lertnimanoradee: Upcycling of Materials in Thailand Zakaria Monteiro Najmi: Applications for Artificial Intelligence Edvard Schroeder: Developing Passive Flow Control Techniques for Quiet Wind Turbine Blades Aine Petrulaityte: Investigating Product-Service Systems and Distributed Manufacturing (completed 2019) Milad Areir: 3D Printed Active Carbon Electrode for Electric Double-Layer Capacitors (completed 2018) Mazin Al-Wswasi: Algorithmn-based Computer Aided Design for Digital Manufacturing (Research Development Advisor) Invited Visiting Academics and Postdoctoral Research Associates Dr Bahareh Shahri (Visiting Senior Lecturer, 2023) Dr Benjamin Watson (Visiting Professor, 2023) Dr James Self (Visiting Reader, 2023) Dr A. Uddin (Postdoctoral Researcher, ongoing - 2023) Mr J. Gooneratne (Research Assistant, ongoing - 2023) Mr S. Kumar (Research Assistant, ongoing - 2023) Dr M. Osmani (Postdoctoral Researcher, 2022) Dr S. Nammi (Postdoctoral Researcher, 2022) Dr S. Srinivasan (Postdoctoral Researcher, 2022) Dr Shahriar Bakrani Balani: (Postdoctoral Researcher, 2021) Dr Israt Kabir: (Postdoctoral Researcher, 2021) Dr Adeayo Sotayo: (Postdoctoral Researcher, 2020) Ms Daniela Ribeiro: FAPESP funded programme (Visiting Researcher, 2019) Dr Malte Ressin: EPSRC funded programme (Postdoctoral Researcher, 2017) Overseas Postgraduate Supervision Muhammad Kazimi bin Muhamad: Universiti Teknikal Melaka, Malaysia Nsengimana Joseph: Central University of Technology, South Africa Eujin plays a central role in Brunel Design as the Programme Director for BSc Product Design Engineering. He teaches second year undergraduates as Module Leader for Design Process Two and supports other subjects across the curriculum. Eujin believes in "Learning by Doing" that is achieved through practice and learning from experience. To establish this, industry projects are embedded in the curriculum to create a real-world learning experience for his students. Eujin worked as a Senior Lecturer in Product and Furniture Design at De Montfort University from 2010-2014 and played a key role in the re-accreditation of the BSc Product Design programme for the Institution of Engineering Designers, and was also the Subject Champion for the MA Design Programme. As a testament of his teaching excellence, he was nominated for the Vice-Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award in 2014, and nominated for the Lecturer of the Year Award in 2019. In 2019, Eujin was recognised as the PhD Research Supervisor of the Year in ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½. Eujin was the Director of Postgraduate Research at Brunel Design (2018-2021), where he worked to ensure that the quality and standards of the educational provision offered by the Department for PhD students are met. He was appointed as External Examiner for the University of East London's BSc Product Design Programme in 2017; as External Examiner for Cranfield University's MSc in Metal Additive Manufacturing Programme in 2019; and as External Examiner for Buckinghamshire New University 2021. He has examined postgraduate and doctoral work for Cranfield University's Centre for Competitive Creative Design (C4D) (UK), Cardiff Metropolitan University (UK), Aalto University (Finland), Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Arts et Métiers (ENSAM) (France), Vaal University of Technology (South Africa), Universiti Teknikal Melaka (Malaysia); as well as an internal PhD Examiner at ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½. In 2018, Eujin was appointed as a Visiting Erskine Fellow at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand, working with Professor Conan Fee to establish Design subjects within the newly formed School of Product Design. Opportunities for Industry Projects Eujin’s industry collaborations include local and international companies such as Dyson, Bosch, Mothercare, Canon, BAE Systems, A-Studio, Deliveroo, Flair, Xicato, Heatrae Sadia, Plumen, Frog Bikes, pladis Global, Lightly Technologies, Bubblegum Stuff, Salter, Kebony, Glen Dimplex, STG Aerospace and TP24. Other partnerships include the British Standards Institution (BSI), the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) and the Lighting Education Trust (LET). Enquiries are very welcome from companies and organisations who are keen to pursue collaborative partnerships for Level Two or Final Year projects. These projects support a richer learning environment for students and enable companies to develop new solutions for their products and services. As Module Leader for Design Process Two, Eujin has developed a range of exciting and original industry briefs, working closely with clients and mentoring students to deliver innovative and commercially-viable design solutions. Recent examples of students' work that have been mass produced and commercialised include: Sophie Skinner's (Level 2) concept from the Industry Project with Flair Leisure Products Ltd. that was put into full production in 2017; Oliver Lambert's (Level 2) concept from Project Zero with Bubblegum Stuff Ltd. was put into full production in 2018. Katie Price and Valentina Demarchi (Level 2) in collaboration with Xicato Ltd. have had their Lighting projects exhibited at "Light + Building" which is the world’s leading trade fair for lighting and building services technology in Frankfurt (2018). Jennifer Wong's (Level 3) final year project was recognised with the top prize in the Heatrae Sadia Design Award (2017). More recently, Anil Puri's final year project, Pet Calm received funding to be developed as a commercial product. Selection of Final Year Major Projects - Supervised by Eujin Pei (As First Supervisor) Above: Dom Lavender designed and built a device that would aid people with Parkinson’s to regain their voice through practice and to strengthen their vocal cords. This would help improve the quality of speech such as hypophonia (soft voice), vocal clarity and enunciation. The fully working electronics, powered by Arduino, contained a microphone, buzzers, speakers, vibration motors and a bluetooth communicate device. Dom graduated in 2024. First supervisor: Eujin Pei Above: Markella Viagkini developed an infusion pump that utilised a 4D Printed valve to control the speed and amount of liquid flowing through the tube. A fully working proof-of-principle prototype was developed from scratch, using Arduino and heating elements attached to the internal clamp. Investigations include use of Finite Element Analysis and understanding the behaviour of cell structures on how the clamping mechanism would work. Markella graduated in 2023. First supervisor: Eujin Pei Above: Kripa Gurung developed a pocket device that could aid patients to measure, carry and dispense liquid oral medication. Features include a transparent lid, a child-safety lock and a modularised and removable measurement container. Kripa graduated in 2022. First supervisor: Eujin Pei Above: Samantha Supan developed several final aesthetic models and proof of principle (PPP) working prototypes to describe the use of “ChatterLearn” as a voice-enabled smart speaker that uses conversational AI and gamification quizzes to help students share their knowledge and collaborate in secondary school classrooms. Sam graduated in 2022. First supervisor: Eujin Pei Above: Max Hill developed a bicycle frame jig for the hobbyist framebuilder where different geometry choices or tubing profiles can be accommodated. The fully working mechanical prototype was built from scratch. Max graduated in 2021. First supervisor: Eujin Pei Above: William Hardy developed a toolchanging 3D printer that utilised electromagnets, developing the hardware and software. The toolchanger is able to accommodate up to five different heads with an integrated wipe-tower to ensure clean prints. Effort was made towards the toolhead and extruder interface with an electromagnetic mating plate. In the final presentation, he was able to demonstrate the printing of two different materials in a single process. The fully working mechanical prototype was built from scratch. Olivier graduated in 2021. First supervisor: Eujin Pei Above: Pak Shing Lin developed a compact benchtop injection moulding machine that was designed to utilise 3D printed plastic waste material. Feasibility testing was carried out through accurately scaled down 3D Printed models produced using Vat Photopolymerization (SLA) where mechanical studies with use of Finite Element Analysis could be performed to better understand the structural behaviour, stress, displacement and strain. Ergonomic studies through rapid upper limb assessments were also carried out. Pak Shing graduated in 2021. First supervisor: Eujin Pei Above: Jesslin Ho developed a deployable wastewater treatment unit, in collaboration with a localcompany based in the UK, utilising Electro-Methanogenic (EM) technology to process and convert wastewater into energy and nutrients. The use of wires and sprockets with pulleys would allow full scalability of the set up. Design for Assembly and Manufacture was utilised to reduce the overall number of components. Jesslin graduated in 2020. First supervisor: Eujin Pei Above: Ajharul Choudhury developed a portable air quality monitoring device that utilises two arduino based sensors that continuously monitors three airborne pollutants - volatile chemicals (VOC), carbon monoxide (CO) and particulate matter (PM). The system creates an overall rating out of 100 for the quality of air which is displayed in the LED colour rating from turquoise to red, as well as the specific air quality on the digital display. The system can also monitor specific pollutants and has been programmed to update every 20 seconds. The fully working electronic prototype was built from scratch. Ajharul graduated in 2019. First supervisor: Eujin Pei Above: Thomas Mortimer developed a gesture input device using a system of Time of Flight (TOF) sensors that could create a gesture area of 1.2 by 0.5m. This input device was designed to be compatible with existing electronics in the home such as lighting systems. The fully working electronic prototype including a custom designed circuit board and optimizing the plastic enclosure using CAD and FEA was conducted. Tom graduated in 2019. First supervisor: Eujin Pei Above: Olivier Verbiest designed and built a fully working heart rate sensor connected to a novel 'sand-scape pattern' former that was controlled using magnets. The idea was to represent a user's bio-date and if the vitals are at a normal level, the circular path 'drawn' on sand would be smooth. The fully working mechanical prototype was built from scratch. Olivier graduated in 2019. First supervisor: Eujin Pei Above: Jinghua Li experimented with the use of the shape memory effect of 4D printed parts to design a self-locking wing system in which a single printed part can perform transformations without the need for actuators and linkages. This allows weight and space to be saved, thereby simplifying the overall structure of the drone. The fully working mechanical prototype was built from scratch. This project was undertaken in collaboration with BAE Systems Applied Intelligence. Jinghua graduated in 2018. First supervisor: Eujin Pei Above: Alex Francis developed a novel security key system as a tamper-proof seal. The fully working mechanical prototype was built from scratch. Central to this project was the use of specially treated 4D Printed material in which a specific temperature would be required to disengage the lock. The use of 3D Printing could allow for an infinite number of shapes to be randomly generated so that no single key would be exact. This project was undertaken in collaboration with BAE Systems Applied Intelligence. Alex graduated in 2017. First supervisor: Eujin Pei Above: Suzanne Robinson collaborated with Plum Products to redesign an outdoor swing seat that could be adapted to the physical growth of children as well as to add value with an engaging toy. The emphasis for this project was human factors and child safety. A well designed fastening system allowed accessories such as the T-bar and a back-rest to be added or removed on demand. Suzanne graduated in 2017. First supervisor: Eujin Pei Above: Emilios Farrington-Arnas developed a navigation tool for the visually impaired to assist users through the use of a tactile/haptic response rather than sound. The fully working electronic prototype was built from scratch. The discretion of the product was achieved by miniaturising the electronics into wearable products to improve styling and avoid social stigmatisation. Plenty of empathy testing and the use of simulation glasses, as well as several iterations of electronics testing using ultrasonic sensors was developed for this project. Emilios' work is on display at the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum in New York, USA. He graduated in 2017. First supervisor: Eujin Pei Above: Jack Biltcliffe's Major Project was to build a 3D Printer fully capable of forming objects using Portland Stone material. The fully working electro-mechanical prototype was built from scratch. Time was spent to understand the material rheology and to develop the mechatronics of the system. This was a collaborative project with the Portland Stone Quarry and A-Studio. Jack graduated in 2016. First supervisor: Eujin Pei Above: Rebecca Churn's major project was a collaboration with Wow! Stuff to design and build a toy hydrogen rocket. The fully working electronic prototype was built from scratch. Rebecca spent time with the chemistry lab to understand the electrolysis of water and to separate the gas mixture safely to propel the rocket. An understanding of electronics was critical for the design of a tipover switch and the use of dual Monostable Multivibrators as a timer for the electrolysis process and to activate the launch countdown. Rebecca graduated in 2016. First supervisor: Eujin Pei All work and photos displayed on this page are copyright of respective students © 2024.
Dr Fabrizio Ceschin Dr Fabrizio Ceschin
Email Dr Fabrizio Ceschin Reader in Design
I am a Reader in Design for Sustainability, coordinator of the Design for Sustainability research group and member of the Design for Sustainable Manufacturing research theme. I worked in the Design and Innovation for Sustainability research unit at Politecnico di Milano for six years before joining ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ in 2012. I carry out research in the area of: - Design for Sustainability and Circular Economy, and in particular in developing principles, strategies and tools to innovate and design products, services, product-service systems and business models integrating environmental, socio-ethical and economic sustainability; - Co-design, and in particular on how to support multi-stakeholder and participatory design processes. Over the past years I have been involved in several international and national research projects, funded by the European Commission, EPSRC, Innovate UK, the British Council, SMEs and multinational enterprises. My research projects have resulted in more than 80 journal and conference publications and 4 books. I have been teaching in the area of design for sustainability over the past 15 years. I am currently teaching modules on Fundamentals of Design for Sustainability and Advanced Design for Sustainability (BA and BSc), and I am director of the MSc Integrated Product Design. I am member of the EPSRC Peer Review College, the Design Research Society and the British Industrial Design Association, and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Education I obtained a BSc and MSc equivalent degrees in Industrial Design awarded by Politecnico di Milano in Italy. In 2009 I started my doctoral research in design for sustainability at Politecnico di Milano, which was completed in 2012. Design for sustainability and circular economy Product-Service System (PSS) design for sustainability Design for socio-technical transitions (transition design) Ecodesign Design for sustainable behaviour Design for energy access in low- and middle-income contexts Design for distributed economies Design for sustainable social innovation Codesign, crowdsourcing and participatory approaches Module Leader, DM2801 Fundamentals of Innovation and Sustainability (BA and BSc Design programmes) Module Leader, DM3611 Advanced Design for Sustainability (BA and BSc Design programmes) Supervisor, DM5551 Dissertation Project (MSc Integrated Product Design) Supervisor, DM3701 Major Project (BA and BSc Design programmes) Opportunities for industry projects: The MSc Integrated Product Design is characterised by a strong integration of industry projects in various teaching modules. As MSc course director, I welcome enquires from SMEs, multinational enterprises, design consultancies and other organisations/institutions who are keen to establish collaborations for students projects, dissertation projects and placement opportunities.
Dr Kok Siew Ng Dr Kok Siew Ng
Email Dr Kok Siew Ng Senior Lecturer in Chemical Engineering
Dr Kok Siew Ng is Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Chemical Engineering at ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½ and an NERC Fellow. He joined Brunel in March 2022 as a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) after the completion of his 4-year independent NERC fellowship at the University of Oxford. He is currently leading the Biorefinery and Resource Recovery Research Group and the interdisciplinary MSc in Advanced Chemical Engineering (Hydrogen and Low Carbon Technologies) at Brunel. Kok Siew was the Co-Investigator and Coordinator of the Oxford Agile project (Sprint 2) – a university-wide initiative focusing on tackling various environmental challenges using an interdisciplinary approach, funded through the £10 million NERC Changing the Environment programme, from 2022-2023. The sprint project aims to develop strategies for determining the best regional combination of nutrient recovery and utilisation options for both economic viability and environmental benefits. Prior to joining Brunel, Kok Siew was a UKRI/NERC Industrial Innovation (Rutherford) Research Fellow and Lecturer in Chemical Engineering at the Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, from 2018 to 2022. During his time in Oxford, he was a Principal Investigator for the SYNERGORS project 'A systems approach to synergistic utilisation of secondary organic streams' (£0.5 million), funded by NERC. The project aimed to explore novel approaches to addressing challenges in organic waste management and achieving circular economy. As the first Research Fellow in the Department to be offered a concurrent lectureship contract, he took on the role of delivering comprehensive full-module teaching. This includes conducting lectures, guiding tutorials, managing exams, and overseeing MEng project supervision. He completed his MEng Chemical Engineering with Chemistry (First Class Honours) in 2008, and later gained his PhD in 2011 from the Centre for Process Integration (CPI), The University of Manchester. After completing his PhD, he joined Process Integration Limited (PIL) as a consultant and later took up a position as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Centre for Environment and Sustainability (CES), University of Surrey. Kok Siew is a chemical engineer by training with >15 years of research and industrial consultancy experience in systems engineering, process integration, techno-economic analysis and environmental life cycle assessment (LCA). His research vision is to develop novel and sustainable solutions from a systems engineering perspective, to facilitate the transition of the chemical, energy and waste industries from a fossil-based, linear system to one that is fundamentally sustainable by using renewables as the mainstream resources and by fully embracing circular economy principles. He has contributed to more than 10 UK and international projects funded by NERC, Innovate UK, EU FP7, Royal Academy of Engineering and Newton Fund. His research is significant in terms of addressing global challenges in the 21st century, aligned with the UN SDG 7 and 12, the UK Industrial Strategy, and international ambitions to achieving circular economy and net-zero target. Kok Siew has published more than 40 articles including journals, book chapters and magazine articles. He has authored "A New Systems Thinking Approach to Sustainable Resource Management: Principles and Applications" (2024) and co-authored “Biorefineries and Chemical Processes: Design, Integration and Sustainability Analysis” (2014). His work related to decarbonisation of energy systems has been recognised by the IChemE Junior Moulton Medal award (best publication) in 2011. Furthermore, Kok Siew has been nominated for the University of Oxford Vice-Chancellor's Environmental Sustainability Staff Award in 2022 for his contribution in actively promoting environmental sustainability through his research vision, which develops sustainable solutions from a systems engineering perspective. He is an Editorial Board Member of Resources, Conservation & Recycling Advances (RCR Advances) journal and also a reviewer for French ANR and UKRI/EPSRC proposals. Kok Siew is enthusiastic in establishing international collaboration with researchers from multidisciplinary background. He has been working closely with international academic and industrial organisations in the UK, Europe, China and South East Asia. He has organised and participated in a number of British Council/Newton Fund workshops in Malaysia, Mexico, Brazil, Kazakhstan and China, and attended the Royal Academy of Engineering Frontiers of Engineering for Development Symposium “From feeding people to nourishing people”. He has a long-term ambition in influencing resources and waste management practices in developing countries towards sustainable development through cross-disciplinary and cross-sectoral collaboration between the UK and international organisations. His ambition in international development together with the objectives of SYNERGORS are well aligned with the UK Industrial Strategy in enhancing resource efficiency and mitigating pollution and waste materials, while achieving a sustainable industrial growth and a more resilient economy at global level. Awards and Achievements Nominated for the University of Oxford Vice-Chancellor's Environmental Sustainability Staff Award, 2022. Best Oral Presentation Award, Newton-Al-Farabi UK-Kazakhstan workshop “Low-carbon Future: Efficient Management of Resources and Energy”, 26-28 September 2016, Astana, Kazakhstan. IChemE Junior Moulton Medal for the best publication, 2011 - “Ng, K.S., Lopez, Y., Campbell, G.M., Sadhukhan, J., 2010. Heat integration and analysis of decarbonised IGCC sites. Chem Eng Res Des., 88 (2): 170-188.” PhD Scholarships (2008-2011): Overseas Research Scholarship (ORS), Manchester Alumni Funds, Process Integration Research Consortium (PIRC) Research Funds, School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science Scholarship MEng Chemical Engineering with Chemistry Specialist Subject Course Prize (ranked 1st in the cohort), 2008, The University of Manchester. Biorefinery system design (biomass and waste valorisation; gasification; pyrolysis; hydrothermal liquefaction; Fischer-Tropsch; sustainable aviation fuel production) Decarbonised polygeneration system design (carbon capture and utilisation; combined heat and power; fuel and chemical production) Resource recovery from waste and Circular economy (management and valorisation of municipal solid waste including food waste, residual waste, recyclable waste) My research involves multidisciplinary and international collaboration in view of promoting sustainability and circular economy practices in the developing countries and addressing global challenges. Our initiatives are featured in the SYNERGORS and AGILE (Sprint 2) Final Reports: Ng, K.S., Hatton, L., Martinez-Hernandez, E. (2021) SYNERGORS - A Systems Approach to Synergistic Utilisation of Secondary Organic Streams. Final Project Report. University of Oxford. Funded by the UK Natural Environment Research Council (NE/R012938/1). ISBN: 978-1-7397541-0-5 Re-organising Nutrients Flows in Leicestershire My research employs systems engineering approach (conceptual design, simulation and mathematical modelling and optimisation, process integration), techno-economic assessment, environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) and policy analysis in developing innovative strategies for sustainable industrial system design and resource management. More information can be found in my Research Group page. CL5613/5653 Emerging Low Carbon Technologies (Module leader) CL5612/5657 Advanced Process Engineering (Module leader) CL3605 Chemical Engineering Design Project (Project group lead) CL5650 Chemical Engineering Research Project (Project lead)

Doctoral Researchers

Miss Janna Aljoubory Miss Janna Aljoubory I am a Doctoral Researcher in Chemical Engineering specialising in Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) technologies in Residual Waste Incinerators. I have a master's degree in Sustainable Cities from King's College London University whereby my dissertation focused on the zero carbon future potential and lifetime costs of the London social housing stock of Catalyst Housing Association. Prior to this, I completed a bachelor's degree in Environmental Sciences from ÃÛÌÒ´«Ã½. Sustainable Development Resource and Waste Management Circular Economy Sustainability and Environmental Assessments (LCA/LCC) Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) Technologies Residual Waste Management