Centre of Excellence for Anaerobic Digestion
Source: https://www.york.ac.uk/biology/research/centre-of-excellence-for-anaerobic-digestion/ Parent: https://www.york.ac.uk/about/departments/
Transforming the potential of anaerobic digestion, to create a cleaner future.
The Centre of Excellence for Anaerobic Digestion (CEAD) is based at the University of York and Yorkshire Water’s Naburn Wastewater Treatment Works.
We co-design and deliver research with academic and industrial colleagues to better understand the processes that underpin anaerobic digestion (AD).
CEAD aims to transform AD performance and outputs. Our basic and applied bio-based research focuses on improving the recovery of resources from wastes. As part of BioYorkshire's bio/circular economy research portfolio we are contributing to York and North Yorkshire's carbon negative plans.
Contact us
- cead@york.ac.uk
- The Centre of Excellence for Anaerobic Digestion (CEAD), Department of Biology, University of York, YO10 5DD
- @CEAD_york
“We're focused on developing both our fundamental understanding of the biology underpinning anaerobic digestion and how we translate this knowledge into real-world applications, as a critical part of the UK/global drive towards net zero.”
Professor James Chong, Director of the Centre of Excellence for Anaerobic Digestion.
Our research areas
Microbial community dynamics
We are investigating how anaerobic microbiomes respond to changes in their environment.
Multi-omics analyses
We are developing methods for measuring and modelling process changes.
Resource recovery
We are testing and deploying novel technologies for recovering more from waste.
Industrial BioResource Engineering
We are working closely with industrial partners to co-design and execute research that provides solutions to be deployed at scale.
People
Professor James Chong - Microbial community dynamics
James is Head of the Department of Biology at the University of York and Director of CEAD. He has a background in molecular biology and biochemistry, and has held fellowships from BBSRC (David Phillips), the Royal Society (Industry) and Oracle.
His research uses multi-omics and computational approaches to understand anaerobic microbial community dynamics for resource recovery. In addition to the close collaboration with Yorkshire Water, through CEAD he works on interdisciplinary projects with a number of other other UK water- and waste-processing industrial partners.
Dr Sarah Forrester - Multi-omics analyses
Sarah is an Associate Lecturer within the Department of Biology and leads the Analytical Team within CEAD.
Her research involves the use of big data analyses to interrogate and understand microbial community interactions in AD. She uses multi-omic approaches to achieve this through the use of metagenomics and metabolomics. She is a co-lead of the EBnet Bioinformatics working group and has a keen interest in the development and delivery of bioinformatics training resources that are FAIR compliant.
She also lectures on reproducible data analysis and statistics at the University of York at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Dr Matthew Reilly - Resource recovery
Matt is a BIEI (Building Industrial Engagement and Impact) Research Fellow within the Department of Biology and leads the Experimental Team within CEAD. He is a bioprocess engineer with a background in industrial anaerobic digestion and fermentation.
Matt held an EPSRC Innovation Fellowship to investigate the exploitation of anaerobic gut fungi for their ability to rapidly convert cereal straws into industrially valuable products such as biogas and organic acids.
His BIEI role is to build and strengthen links between the university and industrial partners in the agricultural and water treatment sectors by delivering impactful solutions to address global challenges in waste management and resource recovery.
Mr Jon Brigg - Industrial BioResource Engineering
Jon is a Royal Society Entrepreneur in Residence embedded in CEAD with more than 30 years experience in the Water Industry.
Jon led Yorkshire Water’s bioresources department prior to ten years working to establish YW as a leader in the industry for innovation before heading the Innovation function for six years.
Before entering the water sector, Jon had a career in agriculture. He also runs his own advisory business working across water, agriculture and waste sectors to deliver innovative options for industry to implement.
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New £1.2m UK Centre of Excellence in York to turn waste into a resource
4 August 2021
The University of York and Yorkshire Water are establishing a Centre of Excellence for anaerobic digestion (AD) research.
A collaboration with Yorkshire Water
CEAD and Yorkshire water leaders describe how they’re working together to efficiently deal with growing amounts of waste, while keeping costs under control.
https://youtu.be/k2EpdcOxBwY?si=RmH52fTse1UoK3qK
The team
Find out more about who runs CEAD.
Facilities
Learn about our state-of-the-art equipment.
Research and outputs
See our publications and outputs.
Contact us
- cead@york.ac.uk
- The Centre of Excellence for Anaerobic Digestion (CEAD), Department of Biology, University of York, YO10 5DD
- @CEAD_york