Jude Onwudili is a Professor of Chemical Engineering at Aston University and a Fellow of The Royal Society of Chemistry. He was previously a Research/Teaching Fellow at the School of Chemical & Process Engineering, University of Leeds before joining Aston University as a lecturer in November 2015. 

Professor Onwudili is an expert on catalytic and non-catalytic thermochemical (hydrothermal, pyrolysis, liquefaction and gasification) processing of biomass, plastics, algae and municipal solid wastes for the production of fuels and chemicals as well as the recovery of materials.  

He is currently leading a Sustainable Fuels and Chemicals Research Team at the Energy & Bioproducts Research Institute (EBRI), Aston University, with a strong focus on sustainability through chemistry and engineering.

Professor Onwudili is a Co-Director of EBRI and a Co-Director & Industrial Engagement Lead of the Centre for Doctoral Training on Negative Emissions Technologies for Net Zero (NET²ZERO). He is also EBRI's Industrial Research Lead and Principal Investigator on several UKRI, EU and Industry-funded projects. 

Hydrothermal processing of biomass and organic wastes

Catalysis & applied catalysis for fuel & chemicals

Thermochemical (pyrolysis, liquefaction and gasification ) conversion of biomass, algae and plastic waste

Valorisation of solid wastes for energy and materials recovery

CO₂ utilization through chemical fixation

Emission control

2025 - Date: Professor, Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Aston University

2023 - 2025: Reader, Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Aston University

2020 - 2023: Senior Lecturer, Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Aston University

2015 – 2020 Lecturer, Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Aston University.

2006 – 2015: Research/Teaching Fellow, Energy Research Institute, School of Chemical & Process Engineering, University of Leeds, 

Fellow, Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC)

Associate Member – Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE)

Full Member – Society of Chemical Industry (SCI)

Senior Fellow – Higher Education Academy (HEA)

Chemical Process Design

Chemical Product Design

Renewable Energy Technologies

Advanced Renewable (Bioenergy) Technologies

Advanced Process Design

2024: BBNET -Industrial chemicals from waste biogenic CO2 derived from UK Anaerobic Digestion plants: a Feasibility Study

2024: Merck Global- Pyrolysis of laboratory plastic waste

2024: 2024: OFWAT Breakthrough Challenge: Catalyst: Transforming Bioresources - Benefits of Biochar

2024: EPSRC/BBSRC Centre for Doctoral Training on Negative Emission Technologies for NETZERO

2023: OFWAT Water Challenge project on "Renewable Energy from Valorisation of Aqueous Residues

2023: BEIS Fuel-Switching Project on "Demonstration of alternative low-carbon fuels usage in the glass industry"

2023: Innovate UK ECR9 Project on "Rice Straw-Powered Biowaste to Energy in Indonesia

2022: Innovate UK ECR8 PPA2 Project on Liquid Hydrocarbon Fuel Production from Agricultural Residues

2022: BEIS Hydrogen HAROW Project on Feasibility of a Novel Two-stage Reforming process for Biohydrogen Production

 2022: BEIS- IEEA Project on PATSIEA Project on Spent Grain Industry Efficiency Accelerator

2021: BBNet/Calor Gas Business Interaction Voucher Project on Catalytic Conversion of Bioderived Feedstocks to Bio-LPG Component Gases 

2021: Grand Challenges Research Fund (Aston) Project on Feasibility of Bio-LPG Production and Utilisation in Brazil 

2020: Innovate UK ECR7 Ethiopian Mini-grid Extensions & Energy Storage (EMEES) Project 

 2020: Marie-Curie Sklodowska HYDROGAS Project on Crude Glycerol Valorisation to Gaseous Fuels  

2019: Supergen Bioenergy Hub/SHV Energy Butyric Acid to Propane (HYDROPROPANE) Project

2019: UK Catalysis Hub Water-Energy Nexus Project; Energy and Fuels from Wastewater 

Editorial Advisory Board Member: Journal of Applied and Analytical Pyrolysis

Editorial Advisory Board Member: ACS Sustianable Chemistry & Engineering Journal

Editorial Advisory Board Member: RSC Sustainable Energy & Fuels

Editorial Board Member: Energies Journal

Consultant, Royal Society of Chemistry

Associate Editor: Frontiers of Chemistry (Chemical Engineering Section)

Ambassador: STEM Learning

Mentor: Windsor Fellowship Destination STEMM Programme - Chemical Sciences

Mentor: RSC Broadening Horizons Programme

Phone Number: +44 (0)121 204 4303
Email: [email protected]
Room Number: MB110E

Professor Onwudili's research focuses on hydrothermal processing of biomass and organic wastes, catalysis & applied catalysis for fuel & chemicals and thermochemical (pyrolysis.