معرفی
Christopher John Ness is a Reader in Chemical Engineering at the University of Edinburgh's School of Engineering, where he serves as Deputy Director of Research. His research focuses on soft matter, particularly suspension rheology and granular materials. He leads an active research group investigating particle-based systems and their applications in industrial processes.
His educational background includes a PhD in Engineering from the University of Edinburgh (2012-2016) and a BA, MEng in Chemical Engineering from Clare College, University of Cambridge (2007-2011). Prior to his current position, he held a Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellow position at Edinburgh (2019-2025) and a Maudslay-Butler Research Fellowship at Pembroke College, Cambridge (2016-2019).
Ness's research interests center on rheology, soft matter, granular materials, and particle-based simulation. His work explores the relationship between particle characteristics (shape, size, surface details) and flow behavior, with applications in industrial processes like wet milling and extrusion. His group develops computational models to understand fundamental flows in suspension systems.
His recent publications show a strong trend toward understanding complex suspension behaviors, particularly in dense systems. His work spans both theoretical modeling and practical applications, with growing interest in the connections between microstructure and macroscopic rheological properties. Recent papers focus on homogeneous and inhomogeneous rheology, absorbing-state transitions, and nonmonotonic constitutive curves in granular flows.
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2022)
- Royal Society RAMP Award (2021)
- RSC Inspirational Committee Award (2021)
- European Federation of Chemical Engineering Award (2016)
- Leverhulme Research Project Grant (2022)
- Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellow (2019-2025)
Ness actively supervises PhD and Master's students, with a current group of eight researchers. His research is supported by multiple grants including a Leverhulme Research Project Grant and previously a Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowship. He is recruiting PhD students for 2025 with potential funding available. His group collaborates with researchers across disciplines, including work with G. Melaugh, C. MacPhee, and S. Haeri on various projects.
The Ness research group operates within the Chemical Engineering department at the University of Edinburgh, maintaining active collaborations with other institutions and participating in major conferences including the Granular GRC and IWNMNNF meetings. The group has produced numerous publications in high-impact journals and maintains a strong presence in the rheology and soft matter research communities.
