Olga Chrobak

Olgas EngD project focused on the identification of new antimicrobial natural products from actinomycetes by exploring screening methods and –omics approaches. The project was in collaboration with Demuris a spin out company from Newcastle University which has the objective to discover, design and produce new biological products.

Olga received a BSc degree in Biotechnology from Edinburgh University.

Olga graduated in 2017 and works now as Postdoctoral Research Associate at University Maria Curie-Skłodowska, Lublin (Poland).

Emma Craughan

Emma’s EngD project focused on the development of cost effective biosynthetic processes for the production of small molecule pharmaceutical compounds. The work was done in collaboration with GSK Worthing.

Emma graduated with an MEng Biochemical Engineering with Bioprocess Management from UCL and worked at Lonza prior to joining the BBTC.

Emma now works Technical Sales Specialist at Bioprocess Engineering Services. She is due to graduate in 2018.

Ben Dannatt

Ben used a hybrid modelling technique for his EngD project to optimise gas to liquid processes in Biomass and Energy-from-Waste Power Generation plants. The  project was in collaboration with Compact GTL.

Ben holds an MEng degree in Chemical Engineering with Sustainable Engineering from Newcastle University.

Ben now works as a Division Manager (Power Generation) at Durham Filtration. He is due to graduate in 2018.

James Hendry

James’ EngD project focused on the applicability of cryogenic condensation to control benzene emission by means of a computational fluid dynamics model. The work was done in collaboration with Aesica Pharmaceuticals, a contract manufacturing organisation.

James graduated from Heriot-Watt University with a MEng in Chemical Engineering with Energy Engineering before taking up his EngD.

James graduated in 2018 and now works as a Research Associate at Newcastle University.

Kirsty McLachlan

Process Understanding and Design Methodology for Industrial Biotechnology

Kirsty’s EngD project focused on adapting a set of qualitative process understanding tools, which have been developed previously for chemical and physical processing, for the use in bioprocessing. The project was a collaboration with Britest a membership company for the pharma sector.

Kirsty graduated from Newcastle University with a BSc in Applied Biology, followed by an MRes in Industrial and Commercial Biotechnology.

Kirsty graduated with her EngD in 2017. She now works as Bid/Proposal Development Manager at the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI).

William Milligan

William's project objectives was to assess the scale up of manufacturing processes for a proprietary off-the-shelf cell therapy product, MultiStem, using microcarriers. The project was in collaboration with Athersys, a cell therapy company based in Cleveland, Ohio.

William graduated from Newcastle University with an MEng in Mechanical Engineering.

William graduated in 2017 and now works as a Senior Bioprocess Engineer at Exmoor Pharma Concepts.

Victoria Outram

Victoria investigated the in situ recovery of butanol during “acetione butanol ethanol” fermentation as a sustainable alternative to the petrochemical route. The EngD project was in collaboration with Green Biologics, a renewable specialty chemicals company.

Victoria graduated from Newcastle University with an MEng in Chemical Engineering before starting her EngD.

Victoria graduated in 2017 and works now Senior Research Assistant at the University of Southampton.

Ruth Rowland-Jones

Ruth’s EngD project focused on the application of spectroscopic techniques and multivariate analysis to improve the use of miniature bioreactors for the quick screening of mammalian cells for antibody production. The project was in collaboration with Lonza Biologics.

Before taking up her EngD Ruth graduated from the University of Exeter with a BSc in Biological and Medicinal Chemistry with a year in industry.

Ruth graduated in 2017 and now works as a Process Analyst at GSK in Stevenage.

Andrew Tait

Andrew's EngD project focused on the scalability and product quality control of continuous spray freeze drying process by using models and Process Analytical Technology (PAT). The project was in collaboration with Accelyo a developer for continuous manufacturing platforms.

Andrew graduated from King’s College London with an MEng in Computer Aided Mechanical Engineering before starting his EngD.

Andrew will graduate in 2018 and works now as a Fill-Finish Process Development Scientist at MedImmune.

Nicola Taylor

Nicki’s EngD project aimed to identify novel compounds from actinomycetes, in particular streptomyces, from under-explored habitats and the subsequent chemical and biological characterisation. The project is in collaboration with Demuris Ltd, spin out company from Newcastle University which has the objective to discover, design and produce new biological products.

Nicola holds a BSc degree in applied biology and a MSc in Industrial & Commercial Biotechnology from Newcastle University.

Nicola is working as Research Scientist at FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies. She is due to graduate in 2018.

Jennifer Wallis

Jennifers EngD project focused on the synthesis and characterisation of highly fluorescent phosphines based on the Bodipy scaffold, a fluorescence used in cell imaging and catalysis. The project was in collaboration with High Force Research Ltd situated in Durham.

Jennifer graduated from Newcastle University with an MChem with Hons in Chemistry, she then went on to successfully complete her MPhil in Chemistry.

Jennifer graduated in 2018 and now works as Business Development Executive at High Force Research.

Steven Wilkinson

Steven’s EngD project focused on helping to facilitate the scale-up of stem cell-based tissue engineering strategies for the treatment of osteoarthritis by developing a new characterised serum-free medium. This project was in collaboration with Arthritis Research UK, the leading charity.  

Prior to joining the BBTC Steven graduated from Keele University with a BSc in Biology with Psychology, before going on to complete an MSc in Cell and Tissue Engineering at this same institution.

Steven graduated with his EngD in 2018 and now works at the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI).