David Ashworth

Dr. David Ashworth is a Research Fellow in the Department of Chemical and Process Engineering at the University of Strathclyde, where he has held an EPSRC-funded PDRA position since 2021. His research focuses on flexible metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for CO₂ capture and gas separation applications, employing techniques like X-ray diffraction, adsorption, and Raman spectroscopy. He completed his PhD in Chemistry at the University of Sheffield (2016–2020), followed by an EPSRC Doctoral Prize exploring scalable MOF synthesis methods.

Education:

• PhD in Chemistry, University of Sheffield (2016–2020)
• MChem with Study in Industry, University of Sheffield (2012–2016)

Research Interests: Design and characterization of flexible MOFs, high-pressure structural responses, gas adsorption mechanisms, and sustainable material synthesis. His work bridges fundamental material science and applied technologies like CO₂ capture and catalysis.

Teaching: Delivers tutorials for CP101 (Basic Principles in Chemical Engineering) and CP203 (Chemical Principles), and leads STEM outreach programs for K-12 students.

Awards:

• EPSRC Doctoral Prize (2020)
• EPSRC-funded PDRA position (2021–present)

Grants & Projects:

• StrathWide 2021 ECR Grant: Probing host-guest interactions in MOFs via Raman spectroscopy (£4,780)
• StrathWide 2021 ECR Grant: Squeezing MOFs into existence (£4,470)

Collaborations: Works under Prof. Ashleigh Fletcher and Dr. Iain Oswald, with interdisciplinary projects spanning chemical engineering and biomedical sciences.