欧美高清

Doctor Xiaolei Zhang

Reader

Chemical and Process Engineering

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Personal statement

I am a Reader and a UKRI Future Leader Fellow (FLF). I joined University of 欧美高清 in July 2019 as a Senior Lecturer (Chancellor's Fellow) under 欧美高清 Global Talent Programme. I was promoted to Reader in February 2024. I received a Ph.D. degree from Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm, Sweden, and previously worked as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at University of Alberta, Canada. From January 2015 to June 2019, I worked at Queen鈥檚 University Belfast (QUB) as a Lecturer before joining University of 欧美高清.

I have secured approximately 拢4.5 million in research funding from a range of sources, including UKRI, EPSRC, BBSRC, the Leverhulme Trust, and industry partners. Currently, as a , I lead a 拢2.1 million project focused on accelerating the transition to net-zero by developing a pioneering Carbon Measuring Framework, a key step toward ensuring a fossil-free supply of carbon-based engineering materials. Additionally, I lead a team at the University of 欧美高清 that is part of the , one of six newly established centers dedicated to addressing the challenge of creating environmentally and economically sustainable bio-derived composites and plastics. GCSB unites expertise from the U.S., Canada, South Korea, and the U.K., and collaborates with global industry partners to drive innovative approaches in converting waste biomass into bioplastics.

My vision is to lead world-class research group in Sustainability and Decarbonisation, to solve macroscopic engineering challenges in this area by finding ways of valorising the wastes into valuable products (e.g., fuels and chemicals). The pathways to achieve circular economy and zero emissions are complex and requires the combined effort from academia, industry, and society. My research is centred on fundamental development of innovative waste valorising technologies using scientifically-proven principles such as Density Functional Theory and Molecular Dynamics. The technologies include (a). converting organic solid wastes, such as biomass, into liquid transportation fuels and value-added chemicals; (b). recycling waste plastics and composites; and (c). advancing carbon materials such as carbon-nanotubes, meso-porous carbon, and biochar.

I am currently on the editorial board of two international journals and I am an academic member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), a member of the Energy Institute (EI) and a member of American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). I am a Fellow of Higher Education Academy in the UK, and have taught core Engineering courses include Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, and Heat Transfer.

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Publications

, , ,
Applied Surface Science Vol 733 (2026)
Zhang Suyu, Zeng Yongjian, Zeng Chen, , Jiang Zhiwei, Chen Peirong, Garces Hector, , Simon Ulrich, Yan Kai
AIChE Journal (2026)
Liu Tianhao, Liu Chao, Wang Kui, , Zhang Lin, Wu Zhiping, Qing Yan, Jiang Jianchun, Wu Yiqiang
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry Vol 74, pp. 1037-1045 (2026)
Lin Xiran, Gong Zecheng, Zhu Mingyu, Yu Xiaoqing, Li Ming, Long Feng, , Chen Su, Ying Hanjie, Zhu Chenjie
SusMat Vol 5 (2026)
, , Osei-Amponsah Charity, Gebrezgabher Solomie, Mupangwa Walter, Adamtey Noah, Nartey Eric, Lord Richard, Ennis Chris, , , ,
(2025)
, Jafari Kimia, Velluva Abhijai, , Chatzitakis Athanasios,
Materials for Sustainable Development Conference (MATSUS Fall 25) (2025)

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Research Interests

  • Net-Zero, Decarbonisation, wastes valorisation towards a Circular Economy
  • Liquid transportation fuels and value-added chemicals from organic solid wastes, e.g. biomass
  • Recycling of waste plastics and waste composites
  • Advanced carbon materials, carbon-nanotube, meso-porous carbon, biochar

Available PDRA positions:

https://strathvacancies.engageats.co.uk/Vacancies/W/6494/0/440677/15019/research-associate-631968听

Available PhD positions:

PhD 1: Carbon Assessment of Transforming CO2 and Waste Plastics into Sustainable Fuels and Chemicals

PhD 2: Recycling and upcycling of End-of-life PHA-based 3D/4D printed materials;

Professional Activities

Invited speaker
17/6/2025
Speaker
4/6/2025
Invited speaker
19/2/2025
Participant
30/1/2025
Participant
30/1/2025
Invited speaker
6/12/2024

Projects

Zhang, Xiaolei (Principal Investigator) Johnston, Karen (Co-investigator) Lyth, Stephen (Co-investigator)
01-Jan-2025 - 31-Jan-2029
Fletcher, Ashleigh (Principal Investigator) Zhang, Xiaolei (Co-investigator)
09-Jan-2024 - 07-Jan-2025
Zhang, Xiaolei (Principal Investigator)
01-Jan-2024 - 30-Jan-2028
Neagu, Dragos (Principal Investigator) Zhang, Xiaolei (Co-investigator)
25-Jan-2024 - 23-Jan-2024
Neagu, Dragos (Principal Investigator) Somorin, Tosin (Co-investigator) Zhang, Xiaolei (Co-investigator)
01-Jan-2023 - 31-Jan-2027
Zhang, Xiaolei (Principal Investigator) Sprick, Seb (Principal Investigator) Connolly, Kevin (Principal Investigator)
01-Jan-2023 - 30-Jan-2026

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Contact

Doctor Xiaolei Zhang
Reader
Chemical and Process Engineering

Email: xiaolei.zhang@strath.ac.uk
Tel: 548 4131