KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 1 – Ir. Dr. Norhuda Abdul Manaf from the Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), has successfully completed a one-year postdoctoral research attachment at Imperial College London (ICL), United Kingdom.

Dr. Norhuda served as a Research Fellow in the Department of Chemical Engineering at ICL under the mentorship from August 2025 to July 2026. The postdoctoral attachment was supported by the Postdoctoral Programme, Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia (MOHE).

Dr. Norhuda’s research focuses on process systems engineering and its applications in energy and environmental sustainability. Throughout her attachment, she participated in regular research group meetings involving research fellows within Prof. Nilay Shah’s group, providing opportunities to exchange knowledge with researchers working on chemical engineering and sustainability-related projects. Through these engagements, Dr. Norhuda expanded her research perspectives and explored emerging research areas, particularly carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies, which are gaining importance in global efforts to address climate change and achieve long-term decarbonisation.

The experience also enabled her to identify potential research directions at the intersection of process systems engineering, energy transition and environmental sustainability, broadening the scope of her future research activities at UTM.

As part of her research development, Dr. Norhuda visited an advanced carbon capture pilot plant facility within the Department of Chemical Engineering at ICL, guided by Dr. Colin Hale, who oversees the facility. The visit provided practical exposure to industrial-standard carbon capture operations, including process operation, control, safety and efficient operation, as well as insights into the transition from laboratory-scale studies towards pilot-scale and potential industrial applications.

Dr. Norhuda also visited the undergraduate teaching laboratory facilities at the Department of Chemical Engineering, facilitated by Dr. Umang Shah, to gain insights into sustainable laboratory management and operations. The Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Teaching Laboratories have achieved LEAF Gold certification, recognising their implementation of sustainable laboratory practices. The visit provided perspectives on reducing material consumption, improving energy efficiency and integrating sustainability into daily laboratory operations, which could contribute to the continuous enhancement of sustainable research and teaching laboratory practices at UTM.

Beyond technical and research exposure, the postdoctoral attachment enabled Dr. Norhuda to establish connections with research fellows involved in projects with industry and government stakeholders. These interactions broadened her understanding of translating academic research into practical solutions for industrial and societal challenges while opening avenues for potential future collaborations.

The successful completion of the attachment reflects UTM’s commitment to strengthening global research engagement and developing academic expertise through collaboration with leading international institutions. Such opportunities enable UTM academics to gain exposure to advanced research facilities, international research practices and multidisciplinary networks while bringing valuable knowledge and expertise back to the university.