Chemical Engineering researcher wins first place Postdoctoral Award

Dr Humera Ansari has been named overall winner of the Postdoc and Fellows Development Centre (PFDC) Rep Award.

The PFDC Reps Awards were introduced in 2015 to thank and recognise PFDC Postdoc Reps for their significant contributions as reps within their departments. Postdoc Reps are vital to fostering a sense of community amongst early career researchers at Imperial College London, acting as a link between the PDFC, Postdoctoral researchers and departments, and helping the PFDC keep abreast of the challenges facing Postdocs.

"I am extremely grateful to the PFDC, the Department of Chemical Engineering and colleagues who nominated me for this award. It is amazing to be recognised for my efforts and I look forward to supporting our postdocs even more." Dr Humera Ansari Department of Chemical Engineering

Dr Ansari is Chair of the Postdoc and Fellows Committee and is an active member of the Department of Chemical Engineering. She organises events, presents community feedback to departmental leaders, and champions the Postdoc experience within the Department. In addition to her role as Chair, Humera is a member of the Equality, Diversity and Culture Committee (EDCC).

Humera completed her PhD in the Department in 2021, and her research focus was on the supercritical adsorption of CO₂ and CH₄ on shales and other porous media (such as carbons and zeolites). Her current research centres around the production of low-carbon hydrogen, where she investigates the possibility of combining H₂ production with carbon capture and storage, a technology which can eventually enable global net zero greenhouse gas emissions.

Dr Ansari’s nomination stated: “Humera is always ahead of the game and is very efficient organising and coordinating the activities of the Postdoc Committee. She has been instrumental in putting together the programme for our yearly Departmental Postdoc Symposia.

She also organises weekly spotlight seminars for the postdocs in the various groups in the Department. I am very pleased to be able to nominate her for a PFDC Reps Award 2022, as a most deserving candidate.”

Commenting on her award, Humera said: "I am extremely grateful to the PFDC, the Department of Chemical Engineering and colleagues who nominated me for this award. It is amazing to be recognised for my efforts and I look forward to supporting our postdocs even more. I would also like to thank the rest of the Postdoc Committee for their remarkable work."

Congratulations also go to Dr Lucia Lombardi who was nominated for the PFDC Rep award.