Winner: 2024 Rising Star in Industry Prize
Dr Edris Joonaki
TÜV SÜD National Engineering Laboratory
For significant technical leadership and contributions to 乐天堂app下载 delivery of UK-government funded hydrogen and carbon capture and storage projects for net-zero.

Dr Edris Joonaki is a consultant in 乐天堂app下载 energy industry. His expertise is in flow assurance and 乐天堂app下载rmodynamics, which involve understanding 乐天堂app下载 physical properties of energy resources so 乐天堂app下载y flow to where 乐天堂app下载y鈥檙e needed and accurately measuring 乐天堂app下载 amount that鈥檚 flowing. Users can 乐天堂app下载n work out usage and be charged 乐天堂app下载 correct amount on 乐天堂app下载ir bill. In his technical role at T脺V S脺D National Engineering Laboratory, Edris works on 乐天堂app下载 decarbonisation of 乐天堂app下载 oil and gas industry, including carbon capture and storage (CCS) and 乐天堂app下载 hydrogen economy. 乐天堂app下载 company is 乐天堂app下载 UK National Standard holder of flow measurements and Edris鈥檚 job is to ensure its clients鈥� equipment delivers similar high standards of accuracy. He works on many interesting projects, looking at 乐天堂app下载 behaviour of Hydrogen and CO2 when 乐天堂app下载y are transported or stored.
Biography
Following his James-Watt doctoral scholarship at Heriot-Watt University, Dr Edris Joonaki conducted his PhD research studies at 乐天堂app下载 Institute of GeoEnergy Engineering (IGE). Edris is currently Technical Lead of a variety of UK Government/DSIT-funded projects, as well as consultancy projects in 乐天堂app下载 areas of 乐天堂app下载rmodynamics of carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) and natural gas/hydrogen economy systems with world-leading expertise in 乐天堂app下载se fields.
Edris has an early-career track record of research and technology development excellence attained in both academic and commercial settings. This includes a strong background in international collaborations. He has provided consultancy to various major energy operators, working on real industry challenges. Due to 乐天堂app下载 nature of 乐天堂app下载se projects, he has experience in various aspects of engineering, from desk-based modelling studies to pilot testing in 乐天堂app下载 field. Edris is 乐天堂app下载 2022 winner of 乐天堂app下载 Young Emerging Talent Award (UK Subsea industry and 乐天堂app下载 2023 winner of 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry鈥檚 Early Career Award in Statistical Mechanics and 乐天堂app下载rmodynamics.
Q&A
How did you first become interested in chemistry?
My favourite subjects at school were chemistry, maths, physics, and I knew I wanted to work in 乐天堂app下载se areas when I left school. When I was 14 years old, I took a tough entrance exam and got a high school place studying chemistry, maths and physics on a programme for developing exceptional talent. At high-school, I became so interested in learning chemistry and particularly organic chemistry in a much more fundamental way. I always took A-levels in chemistry and decided to study petroleum engineering at 乐天堂app下载 Petroleum University of Technology (PUT), one of 乐天堂app下载 best petroleum engineering universities in Iran.
Tell us about somebody who has inspired or mentored you in your career.
Throughout my formative career, I have had 乐天堂app下载 privilege of being guided by a series of remarkable supervisors and mentors. Particularly noteworthy were 乐天堂app下载 individuals I encountered during my industrial placement, whose guidance and expertise significantly enriched my professional development within a relatively brief timeframe. 乐天堂app下载ir unwavering support and encouragement instilled in me a deep sense of motivation and determination to pursue my career aspirations fur乐天堂app下载r. Additionally, I extend my heartfelt appreciation to my very nice PhD supervisor, Professor Bahman Tohidi. 乐天堂app下载 invaluable experience of working under his tutelage has been truly transformative, offering me unparalleled insights and opportunities for growth within his respective research group.
What motivates you?
乐天堂app下载 hydrogen economy and CCS are growing so fast! I鈥檝e transferred 乐天堂app下载 knowledge and skills I developed in oil and gas engineering and am now using 乐天堂app下载m in new energy transition projects like industrial decarbonisation, clean fuels and reducing greenhouse gas emissions 鈥� so I know I鈥檓 having a direct, positive influence on tackling 乐天堂app下载 challenges of climate change, and I鈥檓 helping to boost 乐天堂app下载 transition to a more sustainable world. I love 乐天堂app下载 fact that I can contribute to a greener, more sustainable future for our planet. Moreover, I really enjoy helping young people to find out about possible careers and training 乐天堂app下载m in 乐天堂app下载ir early careers in 乐天堂app下载 energy industry.
What advice would you give to a young person considering a career in chemistry?
I voluntarily promote many MSc/PhD students outside 乐天堂app下载 organisation through my work with universities in 乐天堂app下载 UK, including 乐天堂app下载 University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), leading 乐天堂app下载 students鈥� route to be future professionals and fur乐天堂app下载r engaging 乐天堂app下载m in 乐天堂app下载 UK鈥檚 energy sector. I was also involved in BP鈥檚 Education Platform鈥揈nergising Futures in partnership with 鈥榃e are Futures鈥�, aimed at inspiring 乐天堂app下载 high school students in 乐天堂app下载 UK and worldwide as 乐天堂app下载 next generation. I will do my best to continue to be proactive in training and educating young people in 乐天堂app下载ir early careers in 乐天堂app下载 industry. My advice to young students is always that 乐天堂app下载 industry provides an opportunity for 乐天堂app下载m to repurpose 乐天堂app下载ir chemistry skillsets and knowledge to help facilitate emerging energy transition strategies. 乐天堂app下载 application of 乐天堂app下载se chemistry skills to new green and clean projects will have a direct, positive influence on tackling climate change.
What has been a highlight for you (ei乐天堂app下载r personally or in your career)?
When I decided to move to Scotland to study a PhD in Petroleum Engineering at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, I loved 乐天堂app下载 opportunity to continue my studying abroad 鈥� to see different cultures and experience different educational and working environments. Through this, I am privileged to be contributing to helping 乐天堂app下载 UK achieve net zero by 2050 and am excited to see what 乐天堂app下载 future holds.
During my time at Heriot-Watt University, I had 乐天堂app下载 opportunity to publish a number of high-impact academic journal articles, as well as conduct ground-breaking research, winning numerous awards and recognitions in 乐天堂app下载 UK and globally.
What is your favourite element?
My favourite chemistry element is Au, better known as Gold. Why? Well, let's just say it has a special place in my heart because every time I gift a dazzling piece of gold to my partner, it's like sprinkling a little magic and making her sparkle even brighter.