Former members and past students

Mai Bui, PhD, Monash University
Mai Bui joined the CTRC group in August 2011 as a PhD student in the School of Applied Sciences and Engineering, Monash University. She investigated  the dynamic behaviour of the PCC process during flexible operation. Mai conducted a dynamic operation study at CSIRO's PCC pilot plant in AGL Loy Yang and modelled the process in Aspen Plus® and Aspen Plus Dynamics®. This work developed a reliable technique for dynamic operation of a PCC plant,  also it identified key process parameters that influence dynamic behaviour. Since finishing her PhD in November 2015, Mai will work as a research associate at Imperial College London to assess the viability of biomass co-firing in power.


Jillian Dickinson, PhD, Monash University
Jillian Dickinson joined the CTRC in February 2012 as a PhD student in the School of Applied Sciences and Engineering, Monash University. She constructed a dynamic model to simulate the effects of oxygen in the capture of carbon dioxide by an amine solution. The degradation of the amine by oxygen, present in a power plant's flue gas, may determine the viability of the process. The reaction of the amine with oxygen is slow compared to that with carbon dioxide. The development of a mathematical model that incorporates oxygen and can simulate long periods of time is important in the assessment of carbon capture from power plant flue gases.


Rowena West, PhD, Monash University
Rowena completed a Bachelor of Science at Federation University Australia in 2015 and is currently undertaking her honours year. Rowena's honours project involves investigation of the synthesis of compounds produced during PCC. She has interests in both analytical and synthetic chemistry.


Dr Alicia Reynolds PhD, Monash University
Dr Reynolds specialises in analytical method development involving hybrid chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques.
Alicia has been involved in characterising and measuring a range of organic analytes and samples since 2007. She developed GC-MS/MS methods during her honours year and continued working for consulting and research organisations as an analytical chemist until 2010. She then completed a PhD in degradation of amine absorbents during pilot scale PCC before commencing in her current role with the Carbon Technology Research Center at Federation University Australia. In addition to overseeing the day-to-day laboratory activities, Alicia continues her research into the management of amine degradation during PCC.


Andrew Percy, PhD, University of New England
I work at the Gippsland Campus of Federation University of Australia as a lecturer in mathematics
and statistics.  My research interests include algebraic topology and mathematical modelling.
My interest in algebraic topology centres on the algebraic structure of integral cohomology groups together with all primary n-ary cohomology operations, stable and unstable. In particular, the Eckmann-Hilton duality of these ``H(R)-algebras'' and the ∏-algebras of homotopy theory, generating sets of integral cohomology operations, relations between these operations and the distinction between integral cohomology operations and those over field coefficients. I am also interested in the use of spectral sequences and aspects of category theory.
I am interested in collaboration across disciplines and indeed this has been my main focus in recent years, with more opportunity for publication. I find this research rewarding because the applications are usually of a less theoretical nature than algebraic topology, though these applications have still been at the forefront of genetics, microbiology and engineering. Currently I research 4 wheel drive/4 wheel steer vehicles and the modelling of CO2 capture from flue gas of coal fired power plants.