Jason Ferns
PhD Project: Investigation of the emissions from diesel powered trains, their impact on air quality and the role of biofuels
Background
Integrated MSc.+ PhD Bioenergy (University of Leeds) – 2016-present.
MSc. Refinery Design and Operation (University of Manchester) – 2013.
BEng (Hons) Chemical Engineering (University of Manchester) – 2012.
After graduating from the University of Manchester in 2013, I worked in a variety of different sectors, spanning from marketing in Beijing to teaching in the Caribbean before joining the integrated MSc. & PhD Bioenergy program in 2016. I completed 2 team projects as part of the Master’s section of the Bioenergy degree, both on alternative fuels, HVO in the first project and i-Butanol in the second project. Findings from the 1st project were used as part of an SAE publication, 2017-01-2400.
My PhD project involves investigating thermal stratification within an indoor building used to repair trains. As part of this investigation, a box model is being evaluated to determine if this indoor building is well-mixed. The project is primarily field based which was a major decision in choosing this project for my PhD and I have enjoyed liaising with personnel within the rail sector as part of the project.
Outside of my PhD project, I have supported the University’s CDT Bioenergy outreach activities including: a schools exchange visit at the University campus to engage young people’s ideas of a low Carbon future as part of the ‘Being Human’ initiative in 2016 as well as a separate community event to engage primary school children in renewable energy as part of the Royal Academy of Engineering Ingenious project in 2018.
I supported the CDT Bioenergy department’s sustainability assessment through the Green Impact scheme in 2017 and 2018 in which the department’s Energy Building was particularly successful. In 2017 and 2018, the Energy Building won back-to-back Gold awards for the building as a whole. In addition, the laboratories within the Energy Building were awarded a Gold award in 2017 and a Platinum award in 2018. These were presented at the University’s Annual Sustainability Awards event, which I was lucky enough to attend in 2017.
In my free time whilst at the University, I volunteered at two sustainable, garden projects within the University, known as Rooted (@luurooted) and the Sustainable Garden, which are unfortunately on hiatus due to COVID-19. I also participate in the language exchange programs run through the University’s language department to help international students improve their English.
Research Interests
Indoor thermal stratification, Indoor temperature inversions.
Why I chose the CDT in Bioenergy
The Bioenergy programme differed from other standalone PhD degree and offered a combined Master’s degree with a PhD, which I thought was really beneficial in blending taught modules with research skills.
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jasonferns2020/
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6279-098X
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57197744138
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jason_Ferns2