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Dr Avtar Matharu Highlights

Selected Recent Grants

  • 2015-20. Clark, J.H., Budarin, V.L. and Matharu, A.S. Integrated energy efficient microwave and unique fermentation processes for pilot scale production of high value chemicals from lignocellulosic waste. EPSRC. Total £3,182,328 in collaboration with University of Bath. 
  • 2016-18. Matharu., A.S. et al. Whole systems understanding of unavoidable food supply chain wastes for renutrition. EPSRC (EP/P008771/1).  In collaboration with University of Nottingham and Loughborough University. Total Award £822,615 (80% FEC).
  • 2016-20. Matharu, A.S.. Natural humectants and plasticisers for healthier confectionery fillings.  BBSRC Industrial CASE CSV, BB/P504919/1 in collaboration with Nestle UK. £ 96,696.
  • 2017-20. Clark, J.H., Matharu, A.S. et al.  STAR-ProBio: Sustainability Transition Assessment and Research of Bio-based Products. European Commission: £344,951.
  • 2017-19. Matharu, A.S.  Innovate UK:  Health and Life Sciences – Round 2:  A novel ultrafiltration process to extract valuable proteins from potato peelings and waste.  In collaboration with industrial partners. Total award £956,028
  • Matharu, A.S. Green Chemistry for Societal Needs: Healthcare, Pollution and Circular Economies. British Council. £29,100.
  • 2020-21. Matharu, A.S. Valorisation of wastes from coffee supply chain in Colombia and UK to develop novel products. British Council/Newton/Conayct in collaboration with Colombia.  £49,652.36.
  • 2020-26. Matharu, A.S. et al. EPSRC DTP Doctoral Mobility Pilot - Leadership and Excellence in Circular, Resource-efficient, Sustainable Manufacturing. EPSRC (EP/V519959/1).  £905, 293.

Recent Invited Lectures

  • 07/2016. “Accelerating Innovation for a Circular Economy”, Chatham House - The Royal Institute of International Affairs, London.  Invited.
  • 05/2016. Accelerating Green Chemistry at a Global Level: Building International Collaborations”, GC3 Innovators Roundtable, Burlington, USA. Keynote.
  • 07/2016. “Chemistry 4.0 – The Age of Application”, G2C2, 4th Annual Workshop & Symposium, Sichuan, China. Invited.
  • 02/2017. Indo-UK Scoping Workshop.  “Development of Rural Biorefineries in India – From Waste To Wealth.  New Delhi and Chandigarh, India. Keynote.
  • 06/2017. Biorefineries at 13th International Conference on Renewable Resources and Biorefineries RRB13, Wroclaw, Poland. Invited.
  • 06/2017. RSC Faraday Discussions: Bio-resources: feeding a sustainable chemical industry.  London.  Invited Speaker.
  • 09/2017. 4th International Congress on Green Chemistry and Engineering, Monterrey, Mexico. Keynote.
  • 10/2017. “IGCW CSIR-Industry Interactions”, 5th Industrial Green Chemistry World Convention, Mumbai, India. Keynote.
  • 04/2018. RSC Pan Africa Chemistry Network Congress 2018: Managing Resources Through Chemistry: Wealth not Waste.  “Green Chemistry and Sustainable Development Goals:  Exploiting Unavoidable Food Supply Wastes for Re-nutrition.” Nairobi. Kenya. Keynote.
  • 01/2019. International Conference on Green Initiatives in Science and Technology (GIST-2019). Faridabad, India. Keynote.
  • 06/2019. International RSC symposium on ‘Resourcing our Resources’, Chemspec Europe 2019, Basel, Switzerland. Invited.
  • 12/2019. RSC Green Chemistry Lecture, University of Lancaster. Invited
  • 11/2020. 5th Green & Sustainable Chemistry Conference (Virtual). Waste recycling and re-use: From e-waste to bioresources.  Dresden, Germany. Invited

Selected Editorial Roles

  • 2015    Green Chemistry.  Guest Editor for a special issue on “Elemental Recovery and Sustainability”. 2015.  Edited by Hunt, A.J., Matharu, A.S., King, A.K. and Clark. J.H., 17, 1929–2588.
  • 2016 – to date Journal of Cleaner Production, Guest Editor for Special Issue on “Food Waste: Challenges and Opportunity for the Emerging Bio-Economy”
  • 2015 – to date Current Opinions in Green and Sustainable Chemistry. Editorial Board Member.
  • 2016.  Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry. Champagne, P., and Matharu, A.(ed.), Bioresources, Biomass, Bio-fuels and Bioenergies, 2, 1-64.
  • 2018-to current: Current Research in Green and Sustainable Chemistry. Editor-in-Chief. https://www.journals.elsevier.com/current-research-in-green-and-sustainable-chemistry/
  • Education Session’ at “Sustainable Chemistry 2015 – the way forward”, Berlin, Germany. Co-organised and ran discussion group.
  • Accelerating Green Chemistry at a Global Level: Building International Collaborations”, GC3 Innovators Roundtable, Burlington, USA.  May 2016. Invited sessional Chair on international collaborations and as a Panel expert.
  • 02/2017. Indo-UK Scoping Workshop.  “Development of Rural Biorefineries in India – From Waste To Wealth.  New Delhi and Chandigarh, India. Organised and co-Chaired a one week conference in Delhi and Chandigarh.
  • 09/2017. 3rd EuCheMS Congress on Green and Sustainable Chemistry (EuGSC), York, England.  Local Organizing Committee.
  • Organised and Chaired. 12/2019.  Matharu, A.S., British Council. Green Chemistry for Societal Needs: Healthcare, Pollution and Circular Economies, Delhi, India.  Organised and Chaired a three-day workshop involving 50 delegates (20 UK, 20 India, 10 invited speakers).

Recent Conferences Chaired and co-Organised

Prizes and Awards

  • Bronze Medal: Malaysian Association of Research Scientists for the invention/innovation of “Cost effective displays using light as a tool: green technology”, Hegde, Yusoff, Komitov, Matharu, Rahman.  Malaysian Technology Expo 2013, Invention and Innovation Awards 2013, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  • Joint winner with Prof Clark: EAUC Green Gown Award for Research and Development.
  • Joint winner with Prof Clark: HEFCE S-Lab Award for Laboratory Based Teaching and Learning.

External Recognition and Esteem

  • 2012-2016.  External Examiner for MSc PGT Environmental Sciences and Green Technologies, Keele University.
  • 2017 to date Visiting Professor at Manav Rachna University, Faridabad, India.
  • 2017 to date Visiting Professor at Panjab University, Chandigarh, India.
  • 2018 to current.  International Sustainable Chemistry Collaborative Centre (ISC3). Berlin, Germany.  Scientific Advisory Board Member.
  • 2019 to current. Theme Leader on Unavoidable Food Supply Chain Wastes for GREEN CHEM – Global Green Chemistry Network, University of Gent, Belgium.