Department of Chemical and Process Engineering

I am a Senior Lecturer in Chemical & Process Engineering at the University of Canterbury, with research expertise in dynamic process simulation, engineering digital twins, and energy- and resource-intensive systems. My work integrates first-principles modelling, operational data, and optimisation to support decarbonisation, efficiency improvement, and informed decision-making in industrial and infrastructure settings.

Following my promotion to a research-inclusive Senior Lecturer role in February 2025, I am building a focused research programme centred on simulation-led digital twins for applications such as wineries, campus energy networks, and wastewater treatment systems. A distinctive feature of my work is the development of human-centred and informative digital twins, combining rigorous engineering models with immersive and adaptive interfaces to ensure complex analyses translate into practical insight and impact.

My research is strongly industry-embedded, with active collaborations that provide real-world data, validation opportunities, and applied Master’s and PhD research projects.

I studied at the University of Canterbury (UC) in chemical and process engineering as an undergraduate. I then went overseas to complete a PhD at the University of Cambridge, including a semester at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Following my PhD, I remained at the University of Cambridge, first as a postdoctoral researcher and then as a lecturer. I returned to UC in 2015 to raise my family here in New Zealand.

My research focuses on understanding the fundamental behaviour of chemical processes using advanced experimental techniques. Chemical and process engineering often depends on simplified models and heuristic equations to design processes whether for the production of fine chemicals (such as pharmaceuticals) or bulk chemicals (such as fertilisers). While these methods work well for established technologies, they are not always optimal for new manufacturing routes or innovative process designs. As we move to developing new, sustainable chemical and process engineering systems, it is important we develop a deeper understanding of what's going on inside the systems. This is where my research contributes.

Despite a strong interest in fundamental understanding, my research also has strong connections with industry. I have worked with a variety of companies around the world, ranging from major chemical companies, such as BASF, to IT companies like Microsoft Research.

Current research interests include:

• the development of novel structures that exploit additive manufacturing (3D printing) technology to design the next generation of sustainable process engineering systems.
• using machine learning to help elucidate the composition of chemical mixtures, especially for the analysis of illicit drugs.

I am an early career researcher with expertise in biochemistry and biotechnology. My previous research has focused on elucidating the role of immune cells, such as macrophages, in the inflammatory processes involved in atherosclerotic plaque development. Using excised plaques from human stroke patients and nanoparticle contrast agents incorporating gold and iodine, I have monitored cell behaviour via spectral photon counting computed tomography (SPCCT) imaging, successfully demonstrating non-invasive tracking and quantification of monocyte recruitment in atherosclerotic plaques. I have established protocols for distinguishing gold from calcium at atherosclerotic sites, characterized nanoparticle uptake in human monocytes and cell lines without affecting cell viability, and developed methods for studying live human atherosclerotic plaque sections. Currently, I am investigating the temporal dynamics of inflammatory cell interactions within atherosclerotic plaques, examining how diverse cell populations including T cells, macrophages, smooth muscle cells, and fibroblasts coordinate to drive atherogenic inflammation and plaque progression. My research combines live tissue culture analysis, advanced flow cytometry, and temporal analysis to link cellular composition to functional inflammatory responses, addressing critical knowledge gaps in cardiovascular disease mechanisms with significant implications for therapeutic development. Techniques employed for this research include cell and tissue culture, microscopy, flow cytometry, HPLC, spectrophotometry, western blotting and SPCCT imaging.

Kai Sellschopp is a Computational Materials Scientist with an interdisciplinary background, holding degrees in both materials engineering and physics from the TU Dresden (Germany). His PhD at the Hamburg University of Technology focussed on modelling interactions between small organic molecules and transition metal oxide surfaces. Following his interest in machine learning, he also spent 4 months at the EPFL in Lausanne as a visiting scholar. As a Postdoctoral Walter-Benjamin Fellow at the Institute of Hydrogen Technology at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Kai studied metal hydrides for hydrogen storage applications using atomic-scale modelling methods. He recently got appointed as a Lecturer of Chemical and Process Engineering at the University of Canterbury, where he now builds a group for the Computational Design of Sustainable Chemical Processes.

I’m a Mechanical Engineering researcher focused on making contact sports safer through next‑generation protective equipment. My PhD in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Canterbury explored softshell headgear for youth rugby, integrating safety and player acceptance to reduce head impacts and support real‑world adoption.

I now work as the Senior Tutor for Engineering 101 (Foundations of Engineering); a course for students to build strong technical foundations and develop engineering mindsets early in their studies.

With experience across five continents - from lecturing in Vietnam to working with diverse communities worldwide - I bring a global perspective to my research, work and teaching.

Ben started his research career at the National University of Singapore, and obtained his PhD of chemical and process engineering from the University of Canterbury. Afterwards, he undertook a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Advanced Membranes & Porous Materials Center of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), and led an industrial product R&D project in China. He returned to New Zealand with funding from the MacDiarmid Institute and worked at Massey University. He then worked as a research scientist at the New Zealand Institute for Minerals to Materials Research, before moving to the Robinson Research Institute at Victoria University of Wellington. In April 2025, he moved to the University of Canterbury where he currently works as a Senior Lecturer.

Professor Alex Yip received his BE(Hon) in Chemical Engineering from UNSW (Australia) in 2003. He obtained his Ph.D. from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (2009), studying heterogeneous catalysis. Professor Yip is the Principal Investigator of the Laboratory for Energy and Environmental Catalysis at the University of Canterbury. His research focuses on the design of supported metal catalysts, micro/mesoporous zeolites, converting biomass, syngas and carbon dioxide into useful chemicals and fuels. Combining state-of-the-art computational methods, Yip’s research group is also interested in identifying mechanisms and pathways for important catalytic reactions relevant to sustainable energy. Professor Yip studies the relationship between the catalyst structure, including morphology and pore size/shape, and reactions.

He has published over 100 papers in top international journals, including Advanced Functional Materials, JACS, Angew. Chem., J. Materials Chem. A, Chem. Mater., and Chem. Eng. J., etc. He is currently an editorial board member of ChemPlusChem, Adv. Powder Technol. and an associate editor of Frontiers in Catalysis: Heterogeneous Catalysis.

Kun Zhao is the Technical Services Manager for Chemical and Process Engineering, overseeing laboratory operations, specialist equipment, safety systems, and technical support that enable high‑quality teaching and research. With expertise spanning electronics, IT, and engineering systems, he ensures UC’s process‑scale and laboratory facilities are reliable, compliant, and optimised for staff and students. He also supports engagement with external users, helping industry and research partners access UC’s specialist engineering capabilities safely and effectively.