Alan Stephen

Centre for Doctoral Training Doctoral Researcher               

Alan Stephen

Address

School of Chemical Engineering
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
B15 2TT
United Kingdom

Email

AJS578@student.bham.ac.uk

Lead Supervisor

Professor Lynne Macaskie

Research Summary

Alan joined the Centre for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Research in October 2015 as part of the CDT. Prior to this, he graduated from the University of Oxford in July 2015 with his master’s degree in Biochemistry. The aim of his current research is to synthesise bio-nanoparticles for polymer electrolyte fuel cell catalysts.

He is funded through the EPSRC CDT  in Fuel Cells and their fuels: EP/L015749/1.

Qualifications

Masters (Hons) in Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Oxford. (4 year MBiochem)

Biography

Alan graduated from his MBiochem degree in 2015. During his Master’s year, he investigated the intracellular localisation of the different isoforms of the RGS3 protein and their involvement in neuron development at the Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics at Oxford. He also took a masters level course on the metabolic engineering of biofuels and pharmaceuticals. 

Research

Alan’s current research focuses on utilising Rhodobacter species to produce Biohydrogen from organic acids.  He aims to increase the efficiency of this process and minimise the production of by-products. He further aims to utilise the waste biomass in fuel cell catalyst synthesis. By utilising waste bacteria as a scaffold he synthesizes nanoparticles that can be utilized as catalysts in PEFC.   

His main areas of interest are in bio-hydrogen production and bio-synthesized nanoparticles. 

Other activities

Outside of his PhD Alan has a keen interest in volunteering and charity work. He previously worked with various education charities including EPAfrica which invests in sustainable projects to improve the quality of education in rural East Africa. 

Publications