Editorial Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology www.ceb.cam.ac.uk Lent 2019 Issue 26 Supporting the Education of the Future at CEB CONTENTS 18 Visit from new CEB Teaching Consortium member INEOS Oxide Editorial.................................................... 4 Front cover article .................................... 5 Undergraduate Focus .............................. 7 Graduate Hub .......................................... 8 Teaching Matters ................................... 10 Research Highlights ...............................11 Biotech Matters...................................... 13 Research Impact ................................... 14 3 Acting HoD Professor Lisa Hall previously awarded CBE at windy CEB Innovation...................................... 16 Windsor Department Events ................................ 17 Industry Business .................................. 18 Achievements ........................................ 19 Alumni Corner........................................ 21 CEB Women .......................................... 23 Staff Room ............................................. 24 8 Teatime Teaser ...................................... 26 Cambike Challenge Team (Sensors CDT 2017 cohort) Letters to the Editor ............................... 27 2 | www.ceb.cam.ac.uk EDITORIAL Message from HoD n We are very proud to “Action on the shape of the restructuring congratulate John Den- of research support and the configuration nis on his appointment as Head of the School of and management of makerspaces is also Technology. On his elec- a high priority in the coming months and tion to Head of Department we will be embarking on an extensive of CEB in 2015, John re- flected on the stature and review of the Chemical Engineering successes of his predeces- Tripos.” sors and looked forward to Acting HoD Professor Lisa Hall, CBE the challenges of merging where we are cited. I think that this is a goal that we Chemical Engineering and could all take forward in preparation for REF2020. Biotechnology into a new building. Three years We will be working towards a ‘mock REF’ in the next later, it is our turn to reflect on the successes of 6 months which will give everybody the opportunity his leadership and the legacy of a forward-looking (both individually and collectively) to portray CEB dynamic Department that has presented itself with excellence in the context of the REF exercise. We honours through a strategic review. In the next have recently been receiving an increased num- months we will continue to build on the recommen- ber of approaches from industry and we hope that dations for CEB emerging from the review and it is this will lead to new opportunities for collaboration. an honour to serve as interim Head of Department Last month, for example, saw Ineos Oxide join the in the next months, during this important period of Teaching Consortium and a delegation visit CEB implementation. In particular, an appointment to and engage in some vibrant and thought-provoking a Lectureship in Energy has just been made and discussions on research challenges in process en- we hope that the appointee will be able to join the gineering. department early in 2019. A Communications Man- Meanwhile, as we fill up all the corners of our mar- ager will also be in post early next year. vellous building, we have begun to look at the way Action on the shape of the restructuring of research in which we use the building and we are seeking support and the configuration and management of inspirational approaches to our expanding shared makerspaces is also a high priority in the coming space needs. months and we will be embarking on an extensive As we look forward to an inspiring 2019, I am de- review of the Chemical Engineering Tripos. lighted to announce that Dr Katherine Smart, Uni- Everyone will recall that John’s vision for CEB was versity Lecturer in in Brewing and Distilling, has to be the leading Department in the world in our been appointed Technical Director, ISC in Diageo, fields of expertise and top of the league tables the world’s largest producer of spirits and a key producer of beer, and will take up position in Janu- ary 2019. We will not be losing Katherine; she will “Meanwhile, as we fill up all the corners of remain at CEB as 0.2FTE and will continue to build our marvellous building, we have begun a strong presence in the Department. to look at the way in which we use the Finally, as we aim to expand and evaluate our stra- building and we are seeking inspirational tegic priorities, we are looking forward to building stronger links with our alumni in industry and aca- approaches to our expanding shared demia and offer them opportunities to contribute to space needs.” our initiatives and support our students in any way possible. Lent 2019 Issue 26 3 Editorial Note n CEB Editorial Team: Chief Editor Elena Gonzalez with graduates Gem- ma Siddall, Sina Schack, Chyi Chung and Yong Tan and Postdoc Dr Ajay Mishra with undergraduate Publicity Rep Izzy Bentley The Editorial Team wishes its global readership a fantastic 2019! CEB Fo- cus Newsletter is the product of a joint team effort led by Chief Editor Elena Gonzalez assisted by volunteer edi- tors. Incidentally, we celebrate the ar- rival of the New Year welcoming the An ever-expanding Editorial Team three new members who joined the tion to the CEB Teaching Consortium and “Forbes 30 under 30” lists. Staff Editorial Team last term: Postdoc Dr of Companies, on their collaboration Room features insights from former Ajay Mishra, and research students with CEB. Teaching Matters focuses faculty member Sir David Harrison. Chyi Chung and Yong Tan. We would on the transferable skills offered by like to thank former undergrad mem- Department Events presents high- the new MPhil Biotechnology course. ber Bahumi Motlhanka for her time lights of key events last term such and effort devoted to the publication Research Highlights features an over- as the Xmas party at CEB and offers in the past. We wish her the best on view of the latest papers published more information on upcoming events this new venture as she focuses on by talented department researchers at CEB i.e. Mental Health session and completing her Tripos studies as well including a Nature paper published Science Festival Open Day at CEB. by Professor Alexei Lapkin, product as managing a charity. In this issue we also introduce ‘Letters of ground-breaking work undertaken The back end of 2018 was certainly to the Editor’ to feature alumnus Jaap at CARES Singapore, and Bioelec- hectic at CEB following preparations Brinkert’s correction to the airplane tronic Systems Technology (BEST) for REF submission and the launch circumnavigation puzzle solution fea- research on Gut-on-a-Chip models of the new MPhil in Biotechnology, tured in the previous issue. presented at the Advances in Cell and as well as highlight visits from alumni Tissue Culture conference recently On a final note, we wish webmaster and new industry partners. We are hosted by CEB. and long-serving member of staff Va- also delighted to announce that Pro- nessa Blake a very happy retirement Research Impact tells about the Inter- fessor Dennis was promoted to Head after nearly 23 years of continued disciplinary Research Collaboration of the School of Technology on 1 De- service. She had a key role oversee- (IRC) aimed at targeting hard-to-treat cember with Professor Lisa Hall jump- ing a migration to a new website and cancers, which CEB researchers from ing on the hot seat as acting HoD at content management system, was in Adsorption & Advanced Materials and CEB, whilst the Department under- charge of all web technicalities and BioNano Engineering groups are con- takes a formal search for a new HoD produced the fortnightly internal bulle- tributing to, whereas CEB Innovation this term. tin. She regularly provided photos for features the latest technology devel- The Main Article focuses on support- the newsletter and managed the de- opments focusing on CEB spin-out ing the education of the future and the partment website, intranet and photo Enval recycling initiative for pouches role our alumni play in it with insights archive amongst several other things. in collaboration with Little Freddie. from Dr Tony Gillham, a key CEB sup- A Communications Manager has porter and donor to the new building. In CEB Women, Dr Marta Serrani tells been appointed to take over. More on of her experience balancing mother- this to be reported in the next issue. Undergraduate Focus shares high- hood with her research career after lights of the undergraduate Christmas As usual we’d like to thank depart- returning from maternity leave. dinner whilst Graduate Hub presents ment members, alumni and partners the latest Sensor CDT cohort pro- Other achievements worth noting, in in industry and academia for their gress and developments, including addition to Professor Dennis’s promo- contributions and encourage them the Cambike team challenge, as well tion, are Professor Ian Wilson John to continue sending these to news- as insights from ACE students and A Brodie Medal award and Dr Jacqui [email protected]. Cole Royal Academy of Engineering a list of upcoming competitions and Also, if interested in joining the Edito- Senior Research Fellowship award in awards for students to apply for. rial Team and/or would like to have an Data-Driven Molecular Engineering of Industry Business gives an overview active role in it and have a say on the Functional Materials. of the latest exciting industry collabo- quality of the editorial content and the rations and developments featuring Alumni Corner reveals the CEB alum- design of the publication, please email a piece from INEOS, the latest addi- ni listed in “Top 100 in oil and gas” us on [email protected] 4 | www.ceb.cam.ac.uk FRONT COVER ARTICLEEditorial Supporting the Education of the Future at CEB Elena Gonzalez, Chief Editor As Tony Gilham was sadly unable to attend the Official Opening on 24 April last year CEB organised the November visit for him, which included a tour of the labs with a chance for him to talk to the enthusiastic researchers, which he very much enjoyed.