Imperial ChemEng Cast: Researchers in Focus

Step into a conversation with Mohammed Redwanur Rehman and Dr. Md Tabish Noori, the minds behind Brilliant Dyes — a deep-tech powerhouse born from the Department of Chemical Engineering at Imperial College London. Together, the duo brings scalability to sustainable bioproduction.Inspired by the textile pollution Redwan witnessed firsthand in Bangladesh, this mission-driven startup is turning a PhD project into a global revolution. By harnessing microalgae to produce vibrant pigments, they are eliminating the toxic footprint of synthetic dyes. Their biomanufacturing platform, recognized by the H&M Foundation Global Change Award, is already attracting interest from giants like Ralph Lauren and L’Oréal.In this episode, join host Diya Agrawal as the team explores the challenges of upscaling from lab to industry, the grit required to lead a spinout, and how they are building the tech that promises a cleaner future for fashion. Discover how these scientist founders are proving that the future of industry isn't just sustainable—it’s brilliant! 🌿✨

Join host Diya Agrawal in conversation with Dr. Mehmet Mercangoz, ABB Associate Professor of Autonomous Industrial Systems. In this episode, they explore how AI and machine learning are transforming process systems engineering, and what this shift could mean for the future of chemical plants. Hear first-hand insights grounded in research and practice from a leading researcher shaping the next generation of intelligent industrial systems. 

Tune into a conversation with Professor Jerry Heng, a leading expert in particle engineering and crystallisation. Discover how engineering at the particle level drives innovation at scale; and explore the challenges, breakthroughs, and future of crystallisation  —  a science at the heart of food, pharma, batteries, and more. 

Professor Martin Trusler unpacks the thermophysical science that drives clean energy solutions. From carbon capture to sustainable liquid fuels and hydrogen as a fuel, we explore the challenges and potential of building a greener future. Stay tuned to discover how his lab is custom-built — not just for precision, but with purpose. 

In this podcast, we welcome the award-winning educator and researcher, Dr. Umang Shah. Umang is the Principal Teaching Fellow in Chemical Engineering, deeply involved in undergraduate teaching, particularly laboratory instruction. Let's hear from Umang on what it takes for a great educator to design impactful lab experiences, foster student engagement, and integrate sustainability into teaching practices. Join us as we explore the challenges and innovations in modern lab education and gain valuable insights from an expert in the field. 

With our new host, Diya Agrawal, engage in a conversation with the Season 1 ChemEng Cast host, Ben Strain. Find out about his academic work at Imperial and what it means to be associated with an industrial partner- from a postgraduate researcher perspective. 

In this episode, we speak to Jason Hallet,  Professor of Sustainable Chemical Technology in the Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London. He tells us all about his work involving the production of lignocellulosic biofuels, sustainable chemical feedstocks, vaccine manufacturing, and waste recycling, as well as discussing his journey to Imperial from the US.

In this episode, we speak to Lucy Barton,  PhD student in the Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London. She tells us all about her work designing experimental and mathematical tools to study carbon capture technologies, as well as discussing her journey to Imperial from the west coast of Australia.

In this episode, we speak to Kostis Flevaris, a PhD student in Computational Biology in the Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London. He tells us all about his work on modelling glycobiology- the biology of sugars- and how he is applying this to predicting and understanding health and disease.

In this episode, we speak to Tanuj Karia,  PhD student in Mathematical Optimisation in the Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London. He tells us all about his work on developing cutting-edge optimisation methods, how he is applying them, and why they are so important.

PhD student Sarat Alabidun discusses the future of battery technology and her work on understanding degradation mechanisms and solid electrolyte interphase(SEI) formation in sodium-ion batteries using mass spectrometry. She explains why we should be interested in her research and how sodium-ion batteries are vital for a more sustainable future.

PhD student Priyanka Kumar shares her research on the application of low-cost ionic liquids to the processing of waste products from the beer industry, to produce biomaterials and value-added products, including proteins. She also talks about her work at Lixea Co. (www.lixea.co), an Imperial start-up company, as an R&D scientist assisting in their process and product development. 

PhD student Noah Sprent shares his research in synthetic biology, or engineering biology as it's more commonly being described. He's currently working on using methane as a feedstock for cells, which can then be converted into other products like enzymes for laundry powder, or used to process food.

Professor Nilay Shah OBE talks to us about how he likes using mathematical models to look at processes that support reducing carbon emissions from energy and industry, and processes that help us produce different kinds of therapeutics such as vaccines more effectively.

In this episode we speak to Miriam Sarkis,  PhD student in Supply Chain Optimisation at the Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London. She tell us all about her work on supply chains and the tools she is developing to optimise them.You can follow Miriam on Twitter @SarkisMiriam.

In this episode we speak to Anouk L'Hermitte,  PhD student in Chemical Engineering & Materials Science at the Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London. She tell us all about her work in materials science, where she looks at ways of reducing CO2 and pollution in the atmosphere using porous boron nitride.You can follow Anouk on Twitter @AnoukLHermitte.-Music: What's The Angle? by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com