LIFD Early Career Researcher Spotlight: Ashley Sibanda
Thesis Title:
Bubble growth and gaseous release dynamics within viscoelastic waste sludges
School/Faculty:
School of Chemical & Process Engineering
Supervisors:
- Dr Timothy Hunter
- Professor Michael Fairweather
- Professor Jeffrey Peakall
- Dr David Harbottle
- Martyn Barnes (Sellafield LtD)
Tell us a bit about yourself
Ashley is a PhD student in the Department of Chemical and Process Engineering at the University of Leeds. She is a member of the Growing skills for Reliable Economic Energy from Nuclear Centre for Doctoral Training (GREEN CDT) with industrial supervision from Sellafield Ltd. Ashley is a class of 2021 University of Rochester Handler Scholar alum with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering. She is a 2024 Roy G. Post Scholarship recipient: a scholarship awarded as part of the WM (Waste Management) Symposia conference to develop careers in the safe management of nuclear materials. During her time at the University of Leeds, she has been a sustainability architect working with the purchasing department on achieving net zero targets, an intern at the Careers Centre organising workshops and a careers fair for PGRs, supervised master’s students' projects and assisted in teaching engineering modules like advanced reactor engineering.
What is your research about?
The research project “Bubble growth and gaseous release dynamics within viscoelastic waste sludges” is focused on hydrogen generation and hold-up in legacy nuclear waste. This is an experimental project simulating hydrogen production in granular waste columns to study release versus holdup rates. The study uses fundamental theories of multiphase systems with analysis techniques such as scanning electron microscopy and X-Ray computed tomography.
What did you wish you knew before starting a PhD?
Before starting a PhD, I wish I knew more about what is required to get more out of your program apart from academic achievements. For example, the need to be more proactive to get opportunities that widen your skills portfolio. I also wish I had done more research into career path options after a PhD to not only account for the benefits but also limitations of being a researcher in certain fields.
What are your plans for the future?
I will be working for a nuclear engineering organisation as a researcher.