ECR Alumni Case Studies

Our ECR programme provides opportunities for early career researchers to network, develop skills and gain new knowledge and experiences.  But what impact does it have?  Read the case studies below to hear about a wide variety of ECR career journeys and the part that the UKCCSRC has played in those…

• Juan Alcade – Tenured Scientist at CSIC
• Abdul’Aziz Aliyu – Technology Analyst at IEAGHG
• Mai Bui – Director of Climate Science at Supercritical
• Diarmaid Clery – Lecturer at University of Manchester and member of Tyndall Centre
• Suzie Ferguson – Carbon Capture Lead Consultant at Wood
• Catrin Harris – Researcher at Utrecht University
• Michael High – Sustainability Specialist at Sizewell C
• Gareth Johnson – Head of CCS Sustainability at Drax
• Jen Roberts – Senior Lecturer at University of Strathclyde and Deputy Director of UKCCSRC
• Chris Wiseall – Head of Growth and Supply Chains for CCUS at DESNZ

Juan Alcade

Juan is a Tenured Scientist at CSIC (Spanish National Research Council), having studied at the Universities of Edinburgh and Aberdeen. He’s shown great resilience as his journey to this point has been bumpy, due to the timing of several economic crises. The state of play of CCS in Spain is also very different to CCS in the UK.

Abdul’Aziz Aliyu

Abdul’Aziz Aliyu began his university career in Nigeria, going via the Universities of Leeds and Sheffield to his current role as Technology Analyst at IEAGHG, where he works on technical studies that address key barriers to the development and deployment of carbon capture technologies. One of the pivotal moments on his career journey was attending IEAGHG’s Summer School in 2019, before coming full circle as one of the organisers of the 2025 Summer School!

Mai Bui

Mai Bui is Director of Climate Science at Supercritical.  She began her CCS journey in Australia, studying at Monash University and working with CSIRO before a change in government and policy catapulted her halfway around the world to do her postdoc in the UK.  She’s now part of a very exciting start-up…

Diarmaid Clery

Diarmaid Clery started life as a straight-up Mechanical Engineer but found himself drawing the social aspects of CCS into his knowledge and skillset through a number of different opportunities.

Now he combines his role of Lecturer in Engineering for Net Zero at the University of Manchester with being part of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research. Find out why the social sciences side of CCS is so important to its success…

Suzie Ferguson

Suzie Ferguson’s role as Carbon Capture Lead Consultant at Wood is incredibly varied and has already led to three overseas assignments, as well as attending COP26 as an observer (during Covid!).  She’s also worked on several important benchmark and guidance documents, and occasionally considers becoming a politician…

Catrin Harris

Catrin Harris, is a Researcher at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. Her interest in CCS happened very organically (in both senses of the word!) and has led her on a journey of several international collaborations to her current destination of utopian Utrecht! 

Michael High

Michael High is a Sustainability Specialist at Sizewell C.  Like many of our alumni, he’s had a fascinating journey through different academic institutions, taking advantage of a range of opportunities and navigating bumps in the road thanks to Covid, to get to his current role working in the nuclear industry…

Gareth Johnson

Gareth Johnson, Head of CCS Sustainability at Drax, has been involved with the UKCCSRC since its inception in 2005! His career journey has, unusually, moved from academia to industry and back several times. Find out about the pros and cons of that, as well as the importance of the synergy between the two.

Jen Roberts

Jen is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Strathclyde, as well as the UKCCSRC’s Co-Deputy Director and ECR Champion.  Like many ECRs, she experienced the lows of funding challenges, as well as the highs of great collaborations, mentors and opportunities.

Chris Wiseall

Chris Wiseall, Head of Growth and Supply Chains for CCUS at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, has moved from a technical EngD into policy roles in government. His career journey has had to pivot several times but, in an industry where many jobs of the future don’t yet exist, he exemplifies the importance of developing your skills, knowledge, experience and networks, ready for when the job you really want is finally created!