THE HUB TEAM

Mirjam Röder is a Reader at the Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute (EBRI) at Aston University. Her research interests focus on bioenergy sustainability including environmental, social and economic aspects.

Mirjam’s research includes sustainability modelling, community-based and co-developed business model designs, public perception, political economy, policy analysis and the assessment of bioenergy with carbon capture and storage/utilisation and CO2 removal technologies.

Mirjam has a strong background of whole systems and interdisciplinary approaches using quantitative and qualitative methods, including carbon modelling, life cycle assessment, multi-criteria assessment, qualitative interview methods and focus groups.

Within the Supergen Bioenergy Hub Mirjam leads research on sustainability trade-offs of bioenergy deployment and scale-up to enable innovation, economic growth and societal benefits.

Email: m.roeder@aston.ac.uk

Durga Prasad has recently joined the team as Supergen Bioenergy Hub Project Manager. Durga carries over 18 years’ experience of industry and academic engagement. Durga works with the Core Management Group, the Advisory Board, the research team at Aston University, industrial partners and the SHARE network to deliver the proposed programme of activities for the Supergen Bioenergy Hub. A key part of Durga’s role is to facilitate events which bring together the community of academic, industrial and policy stakeholders to discuss, develop and promote the work we are doing.

He Joined Aston University in 2019 as an Industry Engagement Officer to support the European regional development fund project. Prior to joining Aston University, Durga worked on the UK Visas and Immigration project where he was responsible for looking after the UK visa application process and complaints across the Asia Pacific region

Joanna is the Biomass Policy Fellow for the Supergen Bioenergy Hub and provides a crucial role in connecting the research community and policy makers working in areas relating to sustainable biomass supply and utilisation. Joanna’s links with key government departments enable the hub to work directly with the policy-makers coordinating responses to consultations and produce briefing papers on current policy related to bioenergy.

Joanna is also works with three of the BBSRC Networks in Industrial Biotechnology (the High Value Biorenewables Network, the Biomass Biorefinery Network, and the Carbon Recycling Network) as a Biomass Policy Fellow.

Rebecca is an experienced Communications and Engagement Manager with over 20 years working on funded projects, predominantly across the education sector, in the UK and Europe. Rebecca previously worked on the Erasmus+ mobility programme for the European Commission at the National Agency in Birmingham UK.

Rebecca is currently covering maternity leave for Catriona Heaton as Stakeholder Engagement Manager. The role involves dissemination, outreach and engagement activity for the hub, which works with academia, industry, government and societal stakeholders to develop sustainable bioenergy systems that support the UK’s transition to an affordable, resilient, low-carbon energy future.

Catriona joined Aston in February 2019 as Stakeholder Engagement Manager for the Supergen Bioenergy Hub. The role involves dissemination, outreach and engagement activity for the hub, which works with academia, industry, government and societal stakeholders to develop sustainable bioenergy systems that support the UK’s transition to an affordable, resilient, low-carbon energy future.

Before joining Aston, Catriona was working as Internal Communications Manager at Queen Mary University of London, where she was responsible for communications with the staff and student body.

Patricia Thornley is the Director of the Supergen Bioenergy Hub.

She is a chartered physicist with over 25 years’ experience of bioenergy in the commercial and academic sectors. Her main research interests are in engineering sustainable bioenergy systems that reconcile disparities between environmental, economic and social impacts of energy provision. Her particular expertise is in process design, modelling and life cycle evaluation.