Avtar Singh Matharu

Professor Avtar Singh Matharu is a distinguished academic at the University of York, serving as Deputy Director of the Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence (GCCE) and Course Director for the MSc in Green Chemistry and Sustainable Industrial Technology. His research focuses on converting low-value waste streams into high-value products through innovative biorefinery processes, emphasizing circular economy principles. He leads projects funded by EPSRC, InnovateUK, and others, collaborating with universities and industries to address sustainable supply chain challenges.

• Affiliations: University of York (Chemistry Department), GCCE, and editorial roles at Elsevier's Current Research in Green and Sustainable Chemistry.
• Research: Specializes in valorizing food waste (e.g., brewers' spent grains, citrus waste) and lignocellulosic biomass via microwave-assisted technologies to produce biofuels, chemicals, and materials. Key innovations include one-step depolymerization and microbial fermentation.

His work bridges academia and industry, with notable contributions to pilot-scale processes and doctoral training programs like the EPSRC Mobility DTP in Circular Manufacturing. He actively promotes diversity in STEM through initiatives like decolonizing chemistry curricula and inclusive PhD pathways.