Young engineers take centre stage

The IChemE Young Engineers Awards for Innovation and Sustainability (YEAIS) 2026 again showed the extraordinary breadth of talent emerging across chemical, biochemical and process engineering. Here are the people and projects

Individual winners

Early Career Winner: Sajid Hassan

Project title: High Pressure Dewatering Rolls (HPDR) Mk-II: A Step-Change Technology for Sustainable Mineral Tailings Dewatering and Water Recovery

Details: Sajid took the Early Career award for a project addressing challenges in mineral tailings management and water recovery, critical to improving sustainability in mining and mineral processing operations. His HPDR Mk-II technology is a continuous dewatering system combining vacuum filtration, high hydraulic compression and shear to improve water removal from fine and ultra-fine suspensions. Using two semi-permeable rollers, the system forms and compresses filter cakes while extracting water through wedge wire screens.

Judges’ comments: “Sajid’s enthusiasm, clear objectives and focus on the technology’s impact were key to his success.”

Postgraduate Winner: George Creasey

Project title: Development of Photoelectrochemical Reactors for Solar Hydrogen Production

Details: George was recognised as the Energy and Climate Action category winner for his project on the development of photoelectrochemical (PEC) reactors for solar hydrogen production. His work focuses on designing PEC reactors for hydrogen production through a scale-up-led workflow, integrating materials, reactor and systems engineering to keep laboratory research focused on advancing technology readiness. His engaging video, which included laboratory demonstrations and filming across a variety of locations, helped bring the research to life.

Judges’ comments: “An excellent example of postgraduate-level research presented effectively to a wider audience.”

Undergraduate Winner: Laura Thompson

Project title: Pe(r)Fect Pack: Advancing Circular Pharmaceutical Packaging

Details: Laura, from the University of Bath, explored how pharmaceutical packaging could become more circular while maintaining the safety and performance required in healthcare. The highest-scoring undergraduate entry in the Waste Valorisation and Circular Economy category, it impressed judges with its rigorous material selection, high-quality CAD design work and clear, quantified benefits.

Judges’ comments: “This project brought renewed focus to an important issue that receives limited attention.”

President’s Award Winner: Gisoo Pasha Moghaddam

Project title: Pilot Plant Mass Spectrometer for Drying Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients

Details: The IChemE President’s Award recognised an engineer combining outstanding communication with a strong commitment to sustainability. Judges selected Gisoo as the inaugural recipient. Her project focused on increasing throughput at its pilot plant from 30 to more than 100 batches per year while reducing CO2 emissions per kilogram of product in line with its net-zero-by-2045 target.

Judges’ comments: “The project demonstrated substantial reductions in the amount of CO2 produced in the drying process.”

Project winners

Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence Winner: Karthigesan Velautham

Project title: Multi-Functional Regression (MFR) Using Python for Petroleum Property Inferential Development

Details: Development of a faster, more reliable and adaptive inferential solution for predicting petroleum properties leading to improved real-time decision-making, quality control, specification compliance, unit performance, yield optimisation and profitability.

Judges’ comments: “Clearly explained technical concepts with clear links to the Sustainable Development Goals.”

Engineering Biology Winners: Priyarubhini Krishnan and Angeline Sue Anne Sia

Project title: NanoSense: An Electrospun Nanofibre-Integrated Hyaluronic Acid Microneedle Patch for Localised Delivery of Diclofenac

Details: A transdermal patch designed to improve localised drug delivery for rheumatoid arthritis pain management by incorporating thermosensitive ELP nanofibres and microneedle technology.

Judges’ comments: “The approach has the potential to support more sustainable chronic care through biocompatible and biodegradable materials.”

Environmental Protection and Improvement Winners: Alina Tony and Theo Bockmuehl

Project title: Small-Scale Testing Solving Global Emissions Problems: Insights into Catalytic N2O Decomposition

Details: Research into small-scale catalytic reactor testing focused on iron zeolites for catalytic nitrous oxide abatement and its value in tackling rising global greenhouse gas emissions.

Judges’ comments: “Strong and well organised, supported by sound principles and robust experimental methodology.”

Excellence in Education, Skills and Training Winners: Rosaleen Knox, Sebastian Ridley, Vedaant Raghunath, Alexander Barton and Jasper Clark

Details: The university’s first fully electric Formula Student car – a live educational platform enabling students to develop research and technical skills in electric powertrain design and systems thinking.

Judges’ comments: “A unique and engaging presentation format helped communicate the project’s aims clearly.”

Food and Drink Winners: Lewis Philips and Reuben Selman

Project title: Design of a Community Garden Project for the Student Community at the University of Strathclyde

Details: A project linking engineering education with the practical application of sustainable technologies. Turning an underutilised campus site into a community hub gave students the opportunity to engage with real-world challenges through hands-on learning.

Judges’ comments: “A strong design approach and clear societal benefits, with practical use of engineering principles to support sustainability.”

Health and Wellbeing Winner: Setornam Gli

Project title: CaviTrace: Hydrodynamic Cavitation-Based Rapid Gram

Details: A triage screening platform being developed to rapidly classify bacteria as Gram-positive or Gram-negative by using acoustically detectable differences in cell wall structure to support antibiotic selection.

Judges’ comments: “The presentation was technically strong, well-structured, and included a feasibility Q&A as a valuable addition.”

Water and Sanitation Winners (UK): Ryan Oatley and Soluna Stojanovska

Project title: Natural Coagulation for Clean Water: A Moringa Oleifera Based Treatment System for Low-Resource Communities

Details: A gravity-fed and electricity-free water treatment concept using Moringa oleifera seed powder to provide a scalable solution for households and relief organisations.

Judges’ comments: “The presentation balanced technical data with clear explanation.”

Winners (Australasia): Sela Maka & Emma Cross

Project title: A Year in Action – Hybrid MABR-MBR WWTP in Te Kauwhata New Zealand

Details: A project to replace an ageing oxidation pond system with a biological treatment plant meeting discharge limits to culturally significant Lake Waikare.

Judges’ comments: “Outstanding presentation showing practical application with presenters who showed a high level of enthusiasm.”