Professor Joan Cordiner
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Head of Department
Professor of Process Engineering
Full contact details
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
D58
Sir Robert Hadfield Building
Mappin Street
Sheffield
S1 3JD
- Profile
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I joined the department in 2020 as a Professor of engineering and external engagement before taking on the Head of Department role for the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering in 2021. Prior to that, I had a distinguished career at Syngenta which spanned several global and senior management positions. My career has given me a wealth of experience in leadership, Active Ingredient process design, complex process modelling, physical property prediction, Formulation Engineering, Process Safety leadership, Global Business Risk management and building relationships between academia and industry.
In our group we look to drive continual improvement in both process efficiency and process safety by employing cutting edge modelling technologies to gain an in-depth understanding of the physical processes and properties at play in the real world.
As Industry evolves, our approach to tackling engineering problems must evolve too. New and innovative solutions are required to counter the multitude of new problems arising as a result of the digital era. Problems being tackled by this group include:
- Physical property prediction
- Machine Learning-based predictive maintenance
- Process resilience models for early-stage design
- Scale-up robustness and sustainability
- Automated Hazop
- Modelling and mRNA production
- Scale up of novel processes for energy storage
- Hydrogen Safety for new and emerging processes
We're passionate about driving real change and strive to stay on the cutting edge by working on the interface between academia and industry.
External to the university, I am a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, IChemE, AIChE, and of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. I am a Chartered Engineer and enjoy serving the profession in a range of different committees and panels including the Royal Academy Policy committee, the National Engineering Policy Centre (NEPC), the Audit and Risk committee, previously the membership and several grant and award committees.
Previously, I have taken on advisory positions including: the Chairman of CAPEC Advisory Group (DTU Denmark), Chairman of FSSG IChemE, Directors of Britest, SIS, WBT and Industry Representative for the UK Distillation and Absorption ECHMA.
- Research interests
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My research interests focuses on using modelling :
Selection and design of Processes:
- Prediction and modelling of complex physical properties
- Particle processes including fluidization and crystallization
- Complex separation scheme design and optimising
- Visualization of systems that aid design and selection
- Formulation / Product design
- Formulant and Solvent selection,
- Polymer encapsulation
Scale up , robustness and sustainability built into design practices:
Scale up and robustness of processes and integrating these into the initial design methodologies.
- Particles Processing and scale up
- Sustainability
- Resilience to natural disasters (Hurricane, Flood, Pandemic)
- Scale up for new types of processes
- CPD- Scale up for academics and process design
Manufacturing optmisation and Process Safety:
Design, Process Safety, Operating and maintenance practice optimization
- Optimizing cleaning in pharmaceuticals and agrochemical processes
- Troubleshooting, training and guidance on plant from digital tools
- Optimising technician work and routes in chemical plants
- Process safety- digital tools and technician integration to reduce accidents
Employability, development and teaching :
Embedding employability into the undergraduate and post graduate curricula
- Publications
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Journal articles
- Development of a machine learning framework to determine optimal alloy composition based on steel hardenability prediction. Digital Chemical Engineering, 100118-100118.
- Integrating machine learning techniques into optimal maintenance scheduling. Computers & Chemical Engineering, 107958-107958.
- Towards Automated HAZOPs. Computer Aided Chemical Engineering, 50.
- Data visualization for Industry 4.0: A stepping-stone toward a digital future, bridging the gap between academia and industry. Patterns, 2(5), 100266.
- Accounting for interface behaviour in multi-stage aqueous two-phase extraction. Chemical Engineering Science. View this article in WRRO
- A modern approach to solvent selection. Chemical Engineering, 113(3), 30-43.
- Pure component properties from group contribution: Hydrogen-bond basicity, hydrogen-bond acidity, Hildebrand solubility parameter, macroscopic surface tension, dipole moment, refractive index and dielectric constant. Fluid Phase Equilibria, 231(1), 27-37.
- Challenges for the PSE community in formulations, 125-140.
- Synthesis, design and operational modelling of batch processes: An integrated approach, 245-250.
- Integrated synthesis, design and modelling of batch operations, 990-995.
- Optimal solvent design for batch separation based on economic performance. AIChE Journal, 49(12), 3095-3109.
- CAMD for Solvent Selection in Industry – II, 229-246.
- Use of prediction and modelling in early evaluation of process options, 27-40.
- DigiMOF: A Database of Metal–Organic Framework Synthesis Information Generated via Text Mining. Chemistry of Materials.
- Active Subsets as a Tool for Structural Characterisation and Selection of Metal-Organic Frameworks. Chemical Engineering Research and Design.
Chapters
- Wiz 4.0: A Novel Data Visualisation and Analytics Dashboard for a Graphical Approach to Industry 4.0, Computer Aided Chemical Engineering (pp. 1747-1752). Elsevier
Conference proceedings papers
- Multiple-output Gaussian Process based Global Sensitivity Analysis for the cost-performance of electric vehicle in the United Kingdom (pp 1433-1438)
- Challenges for the PSE community in formulations. Computers & Chemical Engineering, Vol. 29(1) (pp 83-92)
- Generation and use of local models for the prediction of product behaviour and formulation design. Aiche Symposium Series, 11 November 2003.
- Predictive Maintenance in the Digital Era. Computer Aided Chemical Engineering
- Predictive Maintenance in the Digital Era. Computer Aided Chemical Engineering
- Towards Automated HAZOPs. Proceedings of the 31st European Symposium on Computer Aided Process Engineering
Preprints
- Development of a machine learning framework to determine optimal alloy composition based on steel hardenability prediction. Digital Chemical Engineering, 100118-100118.
- Grants
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Grants as an Industrial Collaborator
Current:
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20/12/2021 173553 Digitised, small-scale and high-throughput process for distributed RNA production for therapy and pandemic preparedness WELLCOME LEAP INC
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20/05/2022 172093 Sustainable microwave manufacturing ENGINEERING AND PHYSICAL SCIENCE RESEARCH COUNCIL (EPSRC)
Past:
- EP/R008027/1 From Kinetic Theory to Hydrodynamics: re-imagining two fluid models of particle laden flows
- EP/N034066/1 A new Multi-Scale Paradigm for Particulate Flow- both with Prof R Ocone
- European 6th Framework grants & Danish Grants with CAPEC consortia and Prof R Gani and Prof SB Jørgensen
- EPSRC Grant with Prof CS Adjiman, Prof A Galindo, Prof G Jackson SAFT approach for surfactants
- EPSRC Grant with Prof CS Adjiman Solvent selection to improve reaction rates 2002-2005
- GR/T17595/01 Demonstration of the commercial potential of advanced molecular thermodynamics software Prof CS Adjiman, Prof C Pantelides, Prof G Jackson Prof A Galindo
- GR/L63020/01 Batch Route Innovation Technology Evaluation and Selection Techniques (BRITEST) also DTI Funding
- Case Award with Prof CS Adjiman as a new academic
- EPSRC Changing the Culture: To report for the EPSRC on the Strategy and Structure of Chemical Engineering Research in the USA July 1999 C Axon, Prof Howell, JL Cordiner et al.
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- Professional activities and memberships
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Memberships and Honorary Positions
- Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 2020
- Honorary Professor School of Science and Engineering Heriot Watt University 2019.
- Fellow of Royal Academy of Engineering 2017.
- Fellow of the Institute of Chemical Engineers 2002, Member 1994, Chartered Engineer 1994.
- Senior Member of American Institute of Chemical Engineers 2004.
- Visiting Senior Lecturer UMIST (Now University of Manchester) 1998-2001.
Major Academic and Advisory Activities
2019-2020 Royal Academy of Engineering Membership Panel- Chemical and Biological Engineering
2019- AIChE Policy Committee.
2017- Industrial Advisory Board of Chemical Engineering at Heriot Watt University.
2015- Collaborative Research with Prof R Ocone Heriot Watt University in Fluidization Modelling.
2002-2019 Visiting Lectures, Seminars and Keynote Presentations at Major Conferences.
2004-2008 Syngenta Liaison and recruitment lead for UVa, NC State, Virginia Tech and Auburn.
2002-2004 Chairman Advisory Board CAPEC Research Consortium Danish Technical University (DTU).
2000-2004 Board Member and technical lead for Britest Ltd (academic, industrial consortium).
2002-2003 External Examiner for PhD thesis defense M Eden DTU (Now Chair of Auburn University).
2002-2004 UK Industrial Rep on EFCE Distillation, Absorption and Extraction Working Party.
2001-2004 Chairman of Fluid Separation Processes Group of IChemE.
2003-2008 High Shear Mixing Consortia University of Maryland.
2001-2003 Accreditation Committee of IChemE.
1999-2002 Advisory Board Chemical Engineering Bath University.
1998-2004 and 2016-2018 PSE Consortium Member Imperial College.
1998-2002 Board Member CAPEC Research Consortium at DTU.
1997-2004 Co Supervisor of PhD Students at Imperial College and Danish Technical University DTU.
1992-2003 Non-executive Director/Trustee of two international charities (WBT/SIL in UK).
1990-1998 Consortia Distillation Design Prof M Malone & Prof M Doherty UMass at Amhurst & UCSB.
1991-1999 ICI/ Zeneca Industry Liaison and recruitment lead with Heriot Watt & Edinburgh Universities
- External activities
Invited Seminars
- Heriot Watt University- Global Priorities and Chemical Engineering Answers. 2017
- University of Virginia -Use of predictive methods in the early evaluation of Process Options. 2008
- Imperial College -Challenges in Formulations. 2003
- CAPEC Consortia DTU - Physical Property, phase equilibria prediction for VLLE and SLE and gaps. 2002
- Edinburgh University- 1999
External Reports
- Changing the Culture: A report to the EPSRC on the Strategy and Structure of Chemical Engineering Research in the USA July 1999 C Axon, Prof Howell, JL Cordiner et al
- CAPE-21 Computer Aided Process Engineering Tools & Techniques for the 21st Century Discussion Paper Properties of Materials and Mixtures Joan Cordiner et al.
External Courses and Conference Organization/Chairing
- 7th World Congress of Chemical Engineering Technical panel & international scientific committee
- AICHE National Fall Meetings chairing various sessions.
- PSE 2004 International Scientific committee
- Distillation and Absorption 2006 Technical panel & international scientific committee
- A one-day training course organized by the Fluid Separation Processes Subject Group Distillation Training Course UMIST, Manchester 17 September 2002- Chairman of organizing Committee
- Escape 11 Kolding Denmark May 2001- Session Chair and Keynote speaker
- FSPG Symposium: Sustainable Process Selection 5th April 2000 University College London – Chairman and organizer
- FSPG Symposium on Batch, extractive and reactive distillation Nov 1996, Huddersfield- Chairman and Organizer
- Poster competition judging PSE 2004, D&A 2006, Escape 11, Process Systems Engineering 2019 - Puerto Vallarta, and various consortia meetings.