Biography
Niall English obtained a First Class Honours degree in Chemical Engineering from UCD in 2000. In 2003, he completed a Ph.D. at UCD (Dept. of Chemical Engineering) on the molecular simulation and theoretical analysis of the effect of electromagnetic (e/m) fields on the crystallisation kinetics of methane hydrates. During 2004-2005, Niall carried out further simulation and theoretical studies on hydrate dissolution and on the effect of e/m fields on water and metal oxides at the National Energy Technology Laboratory, a U.S. DOE research facility in Pittsburgh, in conjunction with Dept of Chemical Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh. During 2005 to 2007, he worked for the Chemical Computing Group in Cambridge, GB. Here, Niall developed molecular simulation codes, protocols and methods for biomolecular simulation, used chiefly in structure-based drug design applications in the pharmaceutical industry. Niall commenced his position as a lecturer in the School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering in January 2007, being promoted to senior lecturer in January 2014 and professor in February 2017. He is currently lecturing on chemical-engineering design, thermodynamics, experimental design, process control and molecular simulation, as well as coordinating final-year and Masters-level research projects. He is the director for the Chemical-Engineering MEngSc programme, and the upcoming one on Engineering of Advanced Interfacial Materials (starting 2021-22). His research interests encompass nanoscience (such as nano-bubbles), energy and materials - e.g., gas hydrates, solar and renewable energies, and simulation of e/m field effects on (nano)materials and biological systems. He has a special interest in water, whether in the bulk or at interfaces or in (nano-)confined systems. He is also co-founder of two campus spin-out companies, BioSimulytics and Aqua-B.
Role
- Funded Investigator
Institution
- UCD
Research Area
- Earth Resources
Expertise
- Offshore basins
