About

Dr. Daniel Niblett

Senior Research Associate, PhD & MEng in Chemical Engineering.

Senior Research Associate (2024 – Present)
Leading development of models and manufacturing of next-generation materials used in electrolysers, fuel cells and batteries. Developer of ‘Porous Microstructure Generator’ and named researcher on global hydrogen production technologies (HyPT).

  • Named Researcher – EPSRC Global Hydrogen Production Technologies (HyPT)
  • £30k North East Net Zero Accelerator – PI – Scaling of membraneless electrolyser.
  • £4k Vacation Scholarship – PI – 3D printing of metal electrodes for alkaline water electrolysis.
  • £12k Royal Society International Exchange – PI

Research Associate (2022 – 2024)
Mathematical modelling of membrane-less electrolysis using analytical and computational fluid dynamics to couple two-phase flow, electrochemistry and fluid-structure interaction. Researcher on EPSRC Ocean Renewable Fuels.

£60k – PI – EPSRC Connected Everything Feasibility Study II: Design and Manufacture of 3D Printed Electrodes.

EPSRC Doctoral Prize Fellow at The University of Manchester (2021 – 2022)
Predicting and manufacturing 3D printed carbonised gas diffusion layers for fuel cells. Using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to predict oxygen consumption in lab scale setup. Developing custom computational codes for artificial microstructure generation and simulation.

£30k – PI – EPSRC Doctoral Prize Fellowship: Predictive modelling of multiphase transport processes occurring in fuel cells to enhance performance through additive manufactured structures.

£0.5k – PI – Researcher to Innovator Programme

PhD Chemical Engineering at The University of Manchester (2017 – 2021)
Using CFD (OpenFOAM) to investigate effective transport properties of proton exchange membrane gas diffusion layers. Investigated electrical conductivity, permeability and water flooding in carbon paper and designed microstructures. Developed simulations for two-phase flow of water-air in porous gas diffusion layer and flow fields. Developed discrete particle model for two-phase flow in gas channels for prediction of two-phase flow regimes (MATLAB).

ICURe Entrepreneurial Lead (2018 – 2019)
Awarded £35K to carry out a research commercialisation role into the application of pore scale simulation methods to approach the challenges faced by different industry. Direct interviews and presentations to over 30 companies and attended 7 international trade shows over 3-months. Pitching and network building experience developed over this programme.

Process Engineer at AstraZeneca (2015 – 2016)
Developed knowledge of solid oral dosage form processes from spray drying, powder granulation, tablet compaction and tablet coating. Developed predictive mechanistic model for coating drying and tablet movement in a coating pan, able to predict coated appearance before manufacture. Provided alternative to scale up procedure and used particle imagery velocimetry PIV.

MEng Chemical Engineering at The University of Manchester (2013 – 2017)
Developed dynamic continuous stirred tank reactor model (CSTR) for conversion of glucose into levulinic acid, solving kinetic reactions explicitly using ordinary differential equations (MATLAB).

BP Summer Intern Programme at The University of Manchester (2014)
Worked in team to develop processes required for conversion of wheat straw into ethanol and other useful intermediate chemicals.

Student scientist (CREST gold award) at Innovia Films (2012)
Investigated different compositions of film coatings on the heat seal strength and opacity as part of the CREST gold science award.

GET IN TOUCH

I’m always available for side collaborations, talks and consultation worldwide. If you want to chat about research, fuel cells, 3D printing, or anything else, don’t hesitate in reaching out.