Industrial Fellowship case studies
Zoë Broadbent - 2007 Industrial Fellow
Project: Treatment of colloids formed in the processing of radioactive wastes
An MChem graduate with first class honours from York University, Zoë moved via a Shell Technology Enterprise Scheme to Nexia Solutions where she quickly became a specialist in the key area of nuclear waste management and site environmental improvement. With these skills she was supported by her company to apply for a Royal Commission Industrial Fellowship to research the treatment of radioactive colloids formed in the processing of radioactive wastes. In short, she is exploring ways to lower the level of radioactivity in waste by trapping or cleaning out the impurities which hide the radioactivity, usually very small dispersed particles, or colloids, research which has potentially important applications for nuclear waste disposal worldwide. Zoë and Nexia Solutions are working with Dr Nicholas Bryan at the School of Chemistry at Manchester University, and her project has been accepted for a PhD programme.
Chris Poczka – 2006 Industrial Fellow
Project: STAPS: Smart Trap Acoustic Performance Sensor
Chris Poczka, since March 2005, has been a research engineer for Spirax Sarco, a world leader in design and production of steam traps, essential for efficient operation of steam systems. With increased pressure on energy efficiency, performance monitoring of steam traps had become increasingly important and Spirax Sarco developed monitoring systems in the 1970s and have since sole over half a million units. Now new developments in acoustic monitoring offer the potential for a greatly improved product and this is the basis of Chris’s research, being carried out in conjunction with the Department of Engineering and Design at Sussex University.
Chris gained his MEng at Exeter University where he worked as a fireman to support his studies. His research into advanced acoustic monitoring of steam traps forms a DPhil programme at Sussex University and is aimed to maintain Spirax Sarco’s market lead.
Dr Anna Gao - 2004 Industrial Fellow
Project: Development and application of molecular biological techniques for the rapid diagnosis of sight threatening bacterial eye infections
Originally qualified in medicine, Anna was awarded her Industrial Fellowship in 2004 to conduct PhD research for Micropathology Ltd, a company supplying a fast turnaround diagnostic service for infection and genetic studies to the NHS and elsewhere whilst further developing techniques for rapid diagnosis of both bacterial and viral infections of the eye. Many of these eye infections develop so rapidly that without very quick diagnosis, severe impairment of sight or blindness may result before treatment is possible. Without her Royal Commission Fellowship the company would have been unable to take on such a highly qualified researcher; now they are leading the way in developing ground-breaking techniques which could save the sight of many sufferers of debilitating eye diseases and these will have application in less developed countries.
Andrew Mackay - 2003 Industrial Fellow
Project: Active technologies research
After graduating from Glasgow University in 2000 with a first class honours degree in Mechanical Design Engineering, Andrew joined Group Lotus as a design and development engineer, specialising in vehicle refinement. Andrew's Fellowship, started in 2003, is to conduct research into active technologies which are used to cancel out vehicle noise and vibration. This programme, supported by the Royal Commission, allows Andrew and his company to lead cutting-edge research in vehicle refinement technologies with great commercial potential in global automotive markets. He has presented his work at a number of conferences.
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List of Fellows’ Companies 1994-2007
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AT&T Laboratories (4) |
Micropathology Ltd |
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