Dr Adam Clayton

Profile

Academic Positions

• Associate Professor, School of Chemical and Process Engineering & School of Chemistry, University of Leeds, UK (2024-present)
• University Academic Fellow, School of Chemical and Process Engineering & School of Chemistry, University of Leeds, UK (2022-2024)

Research Positions

• Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellow (2022-2027)
• Postdoctoral Research Associate, School of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Leeds, UK (2020-2022)

Education

• PhD, Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Leeds, UK (2016-2020)
• MChem (Hons), Chemistry, University of Huddersfield, UK (2012-2016)

Biography

I am currently an Associate Professor of Sustainable and Digital Chemistry and a Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellow at the University of Leeds. My research is based in the Institute of Process Research and Development, and focuses on the development and autonomous optimisation of multistep flow processes for the sustainable improvement of chemical manufacturing. I am also the Programme Manager for our MSc in Digital and Automated Chemistry.

Responsibilities

• Programme Manager for MSc Digital and Automated Chemistry

Research interests

Pharmaceutical manufacturing typically uses batch processing at multiple locations, resulting in a large carbon footprint. My research interests focus on designing and applying new digital technologies to accelerate the development of more sustainable chemical processes, with particular interest in multistep continuous flow synthesis and telescoped catalytic reactions.

Grant: Accelerated Development of Pharmaceutical Processes Through Digitally Coupled Reaction Screening and Process Optimisation – EPSRC (EP/Z531339/1)

Grant: Digitalising the Development of Chemoenzymatic Cascades – EPSRC (EP/Y014839/1)

Grant: Holistic Self-Optimisation of Telescoped Flow Sequences to Reduce the Manufacturing Costs of Essential Medicines – BMGF

Fellowship: Autonomous Development of Telescoped Catalytic Reactions – RAEng (RF2122-21-200)

• Accelerated Development of Pharmaceutical Processes Through Digitally Coupled Reaction Screening and Process Optimisation
• Autonomous Development of Telescoped Catalytic Reactions
• Digitalising the Development of Chemoenzymatic Cascades

Qualifications

• PhD in Chemical and Process Engineering
• MChem in Chemistry

Student education

I teach a range of undergraduate and postgraduate modules in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, including organic synthesis, digital chemistry, sustainability and reaction engineering. I also supervise masters and final year projects across both schools, focusing on continuous flow and process optimisation. 

Professional recognition: Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)

Research groups and institutes

• Institute for Process Research and Development