Postdoctoral researchers

The Department of Chemical Engineering has a thriving and talented postdoctoral staff community who are vital to our ability to deliver world class research and teaching. We value their contributions immensely and, along with providing professional opportunities, we ensure they are involved in all levels of key decision making through feedback initiatives and by inviting them to serve on departmental committees.

Events

Postdoctoral staff are invited to department social events such as the monthly all staff mixers and summer barbeque, as well as postdoctoral-only networking and social events. These are organised by the Postdoc Committee who have a dedicated budget with which they provide opportunities for professional development, networking and fun.

Postdoc events include Spotlight, where researchers present their work followed by a social with food and drink, and the Career Development Seminar series. Previous topics have included:

Top tips to communicate your research to non-specialists in the contemporary world
Transition from research dependence to independence
Building the foundation to a successful Career

Invites to events are often sent by email or via the Departmental Bulletin.

Postdoc Symposium

They also organise and host the annual Postdoc Symposium which provides an opportunity for postdoctoral researchers to showcase their research and where the Sir William Wakeham Award is presented. The Wakeham Award recognises early career researchers who have made a significant contribution to their research field and have advanced their professional development, and has a £2000 prize associated with it.

Current postdoctoral staff should visit the Intranet for further information including training, development, events and socials.

RAEng Research Fellowship

The Department is now accepting RAEng Research Fellowships applications as part of the College shortlisting process.

Forms to submit: 1) complete application (see template (Word)), 2) statements of support from up to 3 main collaborators and 3) draft HoD letter that will be finalised if you are shortlisted (you can reach out to Prof Camille Petit and your host if you have questions on the draft HoD letter).
Submit your application to Prof Camille Petit (camille.petit@imperial.ac.uk) with “RAEng research fellowship application – FIRSTNAME SURNAME” as the subject line.
Departmental shortlisting will take into account the RAEng assessment criteria and consider the suitability of hosting the fellowship in this department, in terms of how the proposed research ties in with and complements existing activities.
Timeline: see below.

Stage	Date
Candidates submit their proposal to Professor Camille Petit	Wednesday 21 June, 17.00
Departmental shortlisting panel	Tuesday 27 June
Cross-College shortlisting panel	July 2023
Internal interviews of shortlisted candidates	Late July-early August 2023
Deadline for submission to RAEng	Late September-early October 2023

Lyes Kahouadji

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Lyes Kahouadji Chair of the Postdoc Committee Other roles: Postdoc Committee chair, PFDC rep, EDCC member
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About

As the committee chair, my aim is to provide support for the postdocs in the department, ensure that we consistently deliver a beneficial programme of events, and build an engaged postdoc community.
Dr Othman AlMusaimi

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Dr Othman AlMusaimi Spotlight and Career Development Seminar series organiser
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About

I'm a Research Associate at the Department of Chemical Engineering, under the supervision of Professor Daryl Williams. My research interests focus on developing synthetic, separation and purification methodologies for therapeutic peptide entities.
Dr Lucia Lombardi

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Dr Lucia Lombardi Spotlight and Career Development Seminar series organiser
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About

My research interests focus on determining the solution aggregation propensity of peptide formulations, chemical stability of peptide formulations in simulated GI tract fluids and chromatographic determination of permeability and solubility performance of peptide formulations.
Pedro Verdía Barbará

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Pedro Verdía Barbará
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About

I am a PhD student in organic synthesis, with wide experience working with ionic liquids in different applications. My current research at the Hallett’s group is focused on the production of added value materials and chemicals from lignocellulosic biomass using ionic liquids as pretreatment media as a more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to the current methods employed in the paper and pulp industries. I am also a post-doc representative at the safety committee of the Chemical Engineering Department.
Giulia Tarantino

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Giulia Tarantino
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My research lies at the interface between catalysis and spectroscopy. As a member of the postdoc committee, I help with the organisation of events which are aimed at promoting interaction and collaboration amongst postdocs in the College.
Dr Yubing Hu

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Dr Yubing Hu Safety Rep and Research Associate
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About

I am a Research Associate and Assistant Supervisor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Imperial College London. I am a chemical engineer with expertise in organic synthesis, functional polymer materials, optical sensing and health-oriented engineering. I received a bachelor’s degree from Zhejiang University in 2016 and earned a Ph.D. degree from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in 2020. My current research aims to develop a variety of optical biosensors for wearable diagnostic devices. At Chem Eng Postdoc Committee, I serve as an assistant for the establishment of “Career Development Seminar Series” that aims to develop professional skills of the Research Staff at the department.
Dr Yuval Elani

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Dr Yuval Elani Postdoc Champion, UKRI Future Leaders Fellow and Lecturer
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I keep in regular contact with the PFDC reps to ensure that postdocs have a voice at the Departmental and Faculty level and assist with organising relevant events. Additionally, I can provide advice on available development training and support.
Mingxia Guo

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Mingxia Guo
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Affiliations

I completed my B. Eng. in Chemical Engineering at Nanjing Tech University in 2013 and undertook my Master research in small molecule crystallisation in Tianjin University between 2014-2017. Then I was awarded the China Science Council scholarship to carry out my PhD research on macromolecule crystallisation under the supervision of Professor J. Heng at the Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, which I successfully defended in May 2022. I am currently a Research Associate exploring peptide crystallisation.
Paulina Quintanilla

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Paulina Quintanilla
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Affiliations

I am a PDRA from the Papathanasiou’s Lab Group at the Sargent Centre for Process Systems Engineering. My expertise is in dynamic modelling for model-based control and optimisation. Currently, I am working on supply chain optimisation for healthcare manufacturing, design space, machine learning, and control for bioprocesses and energy systems.
Sneha Saunders

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Sneha Saunders Administration Manager and Staffing Coordinator
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About

I am the key contact for postdoctoral research staff in relation to contracts, welfare, probation, visas, appraisals and ongoing advice and support. I also work with the PFDC Reps and the PFDC to organise events and develop strategies to support research staff.