ETC experts

Professor George Fern 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)

Dr Lorna Anguilano Lorna Anguilano is a Senior Research Fellow, Quality Manager of the Experimental Techniques Centre and the Assistant Director of the Wolfson Centre for Sustainable materials development and Processing. Lorna’s background is in applied mineralogy with a PhD in Archaeometallurgy and a wide experience of material characterisation through X-Ray Diffraction, X-Ray Fluorescence, Scanning Electron Microscopy and Electron Back-Scattering Diffraction. She provides consultancy in material characterisation and failure’s diagnosis as well as actively generates and develops research in materials characterisation and development. Her research focuses on the overarching concept of upcycling waste and recovery of secondary raw material with a keen interest on metal and polymer recycling for energy and aquaculture applications and phytomining of critical raw materials. Lorna is also continuing her research in the archaometallurgical field. Lorna’s research interests are focused on the upcycling of waste and contaminants for the manufacturing of high value product particularly for the energy and food industry. In collaboration with industrial partners Lorna’s activities is directed at identifying low energy routes for the manufacturing of composites and nanoparticles from materials such as aluminium swarfs, metal contaminants in soils, recycled plastic. Utilising the characterisation techniques optimised manufacturing conditions are developed and materials with unique characteristics are generated. In parallel Lorna carries out archaeometallurgical studies to understand the socio-economic factors driving the technological changes in the past. Material characterisation; X-Ray Diffraction; Electron Back-Scattering Diffraction; metal matrix composites; polymer composites; basalt fibres; soil contamination; phytomining; archaeometallurgy

Dr Sophia Haghani Sophia Haghani is a chartered scientist and deputy Quality Manager of the Experimental Techniques Centre. She has extensive experience in material characterisation through X-Ray Diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy, and X-Ray Fluorescence. She provides consultancy in material characterisation and material development. She is also a fellow of Higher Education Academy, with teaching experience in material charactrisation technques, water infrustructures and sea level change. Selected publications Haghani, S. and Leroy, S., 2020. Recent avulsion history of Sefidrud, south west of the Caspian Sea. Quaternary International 540, 97-110. Haghani, S., Leroy, S., Khdir, S., Kabiri, K., Naderi Beni, M., Lahijani, H.A.K., 2016. An early Little Ice Age brackish water invasion along the south coast of the Caspian Sea (sediment of Langarud wetland) and its wider impacts on environment and people. The Holocene 26 (1), 3-16. Haghani, S., Leroy, S., Wesselingh, F., Rose, N., 2016. Rapid evolution of coastal lagoons in response to human interference under rapid sea level change: A south Caspian Sea case study, Quaternary International 408, 93-112. Haghani, S. and Leroy, S., 2016. Differential impact of long-shore currents on coastal geomorphology development in the context of rapid sea level changes: the case of the Old Sefidrud (Caspian Sea), Quaternary International 408, 78-92. Akinlotan, O., Moghalu, O.A., Hatter, S.J., Okunuwadje, S., Anquilano, L., Onwukwe, U., Haghani, S., Anyiam, O.A., Jolly, B.A., 2022. Clay mineral formation and transformation in non-marine environments and implications for Early Cretaceous palaeoclimatic evolution: The Weald Basin, Southeast England. Journal of Palaeogeography 11(3), 387-409. Lahijani, H.A.K, Abbasian, H., Naderi-Beni, A., Leroy, S., Haghani, S., Habibi, P., Hosseindust, M., Shahkarami, S.,Yeganeh, S., Zandinasab, Z., Tavakoli, V., Vahabi-Asli, F., Azizpour, J., Sayed-Valizadeh, M., Pourkerman, M.,Shah-Hosseini, M., 2019. Sediment distribution pattern of the South Caspian Sea: possible hydroclimatic implications. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 56(6), 637.653. Leroy, S., Chalié, F., Wesselingh, F.P., Sanjani, M.S., Lahijani, H.A.K., Athersuch, J., Struck, U., Plunkett, G., Reimer, P.J., Habibi, P., Haghani, S., Naderi Beni, A.,Arpe, K., 2018 Jan. 2016. Multi-proxy indicators in a quasi-marine system: a depth transect of surface sediment in the S-E Caspian Sea. Geologica Belgica 21(3-4), 143-165. Bison, G., Pozzan, L., Haghani, S., Anguilano, L., 2017. Metalworking Evidence from a Late antique Context in the Forum of Grumentum. Science and Technology of Archaeological Research 3), 220- 237. Leroy, S.A.G., Lahijani, H.A.K., Reyss, J. L., Chalie, F., Haghani, S., Shah-Hosseini, M., Shahkarami, S., Tudryn, A., Arpe, K., Habibi, P., Nasrollahzadeh, H.S., Makhlough, A., 2013. A two-step expansion of the dinocyst Lingulodinium machaerophorum in the Caspian Sea: the role of changing environment. Quaternary Science Reviews 77, 31-45. Leroy, S. A. G., Lahijani, H. A. K., Reyss, J. L., Chalié, F., Haghani, S., Shah-Hosseini, M., Shahkarami, S., Tudryn, A., Arpe, K., Habibi, P. and Nasrollahzadeh, H. S., 2012. Lingulodinium machaerophorum expansion over the last centuries in the Caspian Sea reflects global warming. Biogeosciences Discussions, 9(11), 16663-16704.

Mr Nicholas Nelson

Dr Ashley Howkins Dr. Ashley Howkins is the Lead Scientific Officer within the Experimental Techniques Centre, and leads the team of Scientific Officers to provide materials characterisation on various different samples and using various different techniques. Ashley's own speciality is electron microscopy and analysis, including SEM, (S)TEM, FIB, EDX, EELS, cathodoluminescence, electron diffraction and EBSD. Ashley is also a member of the BSI Microanalysis subcommittee, responsible for the development of ISO standards in electron microscopy; an UKAS Technical Assessor for accredited electron microscope facilities; and member of the Royal Microscopical Society.

Dr Myles Worsley Myles Worsley is a materials scientist working within the Experimental Techniques Centre (ETC). In this role he uses his expertise as a chemist to assist in the characterisation of materials across a variety of academic and industrial research projects, from running samples to providing training for researchers to operate instrumentation themselves. He has extensive experience in a wide range of techniques, in particular optical spectroscopy (UV-vis, FTIR, Raman and fluorescence), scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Qualifications include a BSc (Chemistry) and MRes (Physical Chemistry) from the University of Surrey, plus a PhD (Nanostructured Materials) from Brunel University London. Additionally, he is a Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Before joining ETC in 2022 he worked on a variety of postdoctoral research projects in the UK and Netherlands, in areas including inorganic nanostructured materials, luminescence, heterogeneous catalysis and electrochemistry. Further information can be found on Myles' LinkedIn profile here.

Dr Uche Onwukwe Uche is a researcher with a background in Materials Science and a PhD in biomimetics towards the green synthesis of functional materials. They have extensive experience in the use of various characterisation techniques including electron microscopy (TEM and SEM), various spectroscopic techniques (Raman, FTIR, UV-VIS-NIR) , a range of X-Ray techniques (XRF, XRD) and an understanding of the use of different thermal techniques. Their research interests lies in nanomaterials synthesis and characterisation, biomimetics and presently in circular economy - specifically phytomining and hyperaccumulators. Uche has a wide range of interest which include biomimetics, nanomaterials synthesis and characterisation, catalysis, phytomining, microplastic investigation. Uche is presently involved in several projects within the realm of circular economy and how living organisms can be utilised as a green approach to reducing waste while be used as alternative means to synthesise high value materials. At heart, they are a true material scientist that hopes to use their expertise to collaborate on multidisciplinary and intersectional projects. Introduction of Mass Spectrometry Level: PostgraduateDate:Commensing in 2023

Dr Wayne Lam Wayne graduated in Materials Engineering from the University of Bath and went on to complete an MSc in Environmental Science. He worked for the International Tin Research Institute for over 20 years, during which time he completed a PhD in tin alloy coatings. As part of the Institute's evolution, Wayne oversaw the laboratory group's commercial testing activities, working on over 10,000 consultancy contracts and authored over 2,000 technical reports. In Jan 2023, Wayne joined the Experimental Techniques Centre at Brunel University as its Business Operations Manager.