Alastair Baker Ph.D FHEA

Profile

I am a Research Fellow in the School of Design developing sustainable renewable fibres.

Recently, I demonstrated the process intensification and effect of scale-up of solvent extraction using centrifugal contactors in the Nuclear Engineering group at the University of Leeds. I constructed a pilot scale centrifugal contactor cascade and multi-scale platform in the Leeds Nuclear Lab. I conducted trials on the effects of scale in the presense of solids on solvent extraction, using kilogram quantities of uranium.

I have worked in the UK Catalysis Hub across two campuses: the GlaxoSmithKline Carbon Neutral Laboratory for Sustainable Chemistry (University of Nottingham) and the Institute of Process Research and Development (iPRD, Leeds). The project investigated homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts for the valorization of feedstock ethanol and construction of a multifunctional flow platform for high throughput screening. The automated continuous high temperature and high pressure (High T/p) reactor with at-line GC with feedback loop is still operating in the iPRD performing Design of Experiments (DoE) and self-optimising reactions.

In 2021, I was awarded a Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) for lecturing, teaching and training in Higher Education across the UK, validating my track record of teaching in a University environment, with an enthusiastic approach to teaching core and research-led chemical engineering and chemistry topics across all levels. 

I received my Ph.D. in 2016 from Prifysgol Caerdydd/ Cardiff University upon completing my thesis in developing continuous flow reactors for the continuous synthesis of garlic metabolites, on a joint funded SME Industrial CASE award from Neem Biotech and the Welsh Assembly Government. I also have expertise in synchrotron techniques performed at European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), as well as compound synthesis, natural product isolation and characterization, 3D printing and rapid prototyping.

Research interests

• flow Chemistry/continuous manufacturing
• process intensification/process development
• sustainable lab practices
• multi-component reactions
• organic synthesis
• radiochemistry
• solvent extraction
• natural product isolation

<h4>Research projects</h4> <p>Any research projects I'm currently working on will be listed below. Our list of all <a href="https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/dir/research-projects">research projects</a> allows you to view and search the full list of projects in the faculty.</p>

Qualifications

• Ph. D. (2016)
• MChem (2011)
• FHEA (2021)

Professional memberships

• Royal Society of Chemistry (MRSC) (Member)
• International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (Affiliate Member)
• Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy

Student education

• Technical Skills and Applications – Project supervisor
• Nuclear Operations – Lecture
• Final year research-project supervisor/lecturer
• Tutorials

<h4>Postgraduate research opportunities</h4> <p>We welcome enquiries from motivated and qualified applicants from all around the world who are interested in PhD study. Our <a href="https://phd.leeds.ac.uk">research opportunities</a> allow you to search for projects and scholarships.</p>