Dr Meredith Barr

I am a senior lecturer in the Division of Chemical & Energy Engineering. I joined LSBU in 2023, having previously worked at Imperial College London. I received my PhD in Chemical Engineering from Queen Mary University of London, and my first degree in Chemical-Biological Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

I am a chemical engineer interested in how bio-based and waste-derived materials can be designed to support both human and environmental health. My research brings together sustainable materials, environmental biotechnology, resource recovery, and materials characterisation, with a focus on understanding how material structure, chemistry, and processing influence real-world function.

My current research includes using ionic liquid fractionation to produce lignin-based photoprotective materials; developing biochar-based approaches for regulating plant nutrient availability; investigating biochar–microbe interactions through 3D X-ray imaging, automated image analysis, and computer vision; and applying ionic-liquid-based processing to wet microalgal biomass for low-energy extraction of high-value products. These projects are connected by a common aim: to develop more sustainable materials and processes that contribute to pollution prevention, circular manufacturing, resource-efficient biorefineries, and resilient environmental systems.

A major strand of my work focuses on biochar–microbe interactions, particularly how biochar structure and pore morphology influence microbial attachment and environmental function. I use imaging and image analysis to connect the internal architecture of biochars with their performance in applications such as pollution prevention, antimicrobial resistance mitigation, wastewater treatment, and nutrient management.

I also coordinate the Environmental Biotechnology Network Biochars for Pollution Prevention Working Group, which brings together academics, industry partners, and wider stakeholders interested in biochar for pollution prevention and environmental remediation, particularly in relation to microorganisms. The group supports knowledge exchange, collaboration, and pathways to impact across this emerging area: https://ebnet.ac.uk/wg-details/wg-biochar/

ECR Representitive for the College of Technology and Environment