Michael Short

Dr Michael Short is an Associate Professor of Process Systems Engineering at the University of Surrey, affiliated with the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and the Surrey Institute for Sustainability. His research focuses on mathematical optimisation tools for sustainable process design, bioenergy systems, renewable energy integration, and pandemic risk modelling. Current projects include AI-driven biogas production optimisation and carbon-negative chemical synthesis.

• EPSRC-funded £1.7M project on AI for biogas production
• Co-I in £5M Supergen Bioenergy Impact Hub
• Developed open-source DECO2 software for ASEAN decarbonisation

His team applies mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) and machine learning to industrial challenges in pharmaceuticals, aquaculture, and microbreweries. Collaborations span Eli Lilly, Pfizer, and universities in Japan, Malaysia, and Brazil. Supervised projects address grid-scale energy storage, CO2 utilisation, and rural electrification.

Scientific Awards:

• 2021 EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account Commercialisation Fellow
• Best Speaker Award at 2020 Sustainable Process Integration Lab Conference
• Editorial Board Member of Journal of Water Process Engineering

Recent publications examine direct air capture integration, waste-to-energy brewing processes, and whole-system energy models. Supervises students in distributed energy systems, catalytic processes, and sustainable design.