Fanran Meng

Dr. Fanran Meng is a Lecturer in Sustainable Chemical Engineering at the University of Sheffield's School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering, where she also serves as USIC Tutor and Level 4 (undergraduate) Director. She joined the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of Sheffield in 2023 after holding postdoctoral positions at the University of Nottingham and University of Cambridge.

Dr. Meng received her BEng (Hons) in Materials Science and Engineering from China Central South University in 2013 and completed her PhD in Materials Engineering and Materials Design at the University of Nottingham in 2017.

Her research focuses on resource efficiency and engineering sustainability, applying whole systems approaches including process simulation, material flow analysis, life cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis to sustainable material and energy systems. Her work spans carbon fibre composite recycling, wind turbine blades, lithium-ion EV batteries, and plastics supply chain, with emphasis on understanding the transition towards a low carbon economy. Dr. Meng has published approximately 30 research papers in top journals including Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), Nature Climate Change, and Environmental Science & Technology.

Analysis of Dr. Meng's recent publications reveals a strong focus on circular economy approaches across multiple sectors including transportation, renewable energy infrastructure, and materials management. Her work demonstrates increasing integration of life cycle assessment with techno-economic analysis to provide comprehensive sustainability evaluations.

• Associate Editor, Journal of Cleaner Production
• Editor, Resources, Conservation & Recycling Advances
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
• Member, EPSRC ECR Forum (Manufacturing and the Circular Economy Research)
• Recipient of The Royal Society International Exchanges Scheme funding

Dr. Meng has secured research funding from The Royal Society, Wilson Biochemicals Ltd., and Saudi Aramco for projects including multi-scale simulation of climate change interactions with road infrastructure and life cycle assessment for Sustainable Aviation Fuel. She teaches courses in Heat Transfer, Energy Systems and Management, and Sustainability and the Materials Lifecycle. Her professional memberships include the International Society for Industrial Ecology, Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, The Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, and the Royal Society of Chemistry.