Jon Powell

Dr Jon Powell is an Assistant Professor in Engineering (Engineering and Design) at the School of Engineering and Informatics, University of Sussex. A chartered engineer with over twenty years of industrial and academic experience, he bridges practical engineering expertise with academic rigor. His current role includes serving as Course Convenor for the Foundation Year in Engineering.

His educational background includes a PhD in Materials Engineering from the University of Birmingham (2007), an MSc in Environmental Pollution Control from the University of Leeds (2003), and professional certifications including Chartered Engineer status (2011) and Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (2017).

Dr Powell's research focuses on advanced materials engineering for sustainable energy systems, particularly developing ceramic and cermet materials for catalyst supports, solid oxide fuel cells, and hydrogen production technologies. His work integrates blockchain applications in engineering for enhanced process reliability. His 15 most recent publications (2009-2022) demonstrate consistent specialization in hydrogen production via biogas reforming, catalyst/sorbent development, and ceramic processing techniques, with strong emphasis on CO₂ capture integration.

His scientific recognition includes:

• Fellow of Advance HE (2024)
• Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (2017)
• Chartered Engineer status (2011)

As an educator, Dr Powell emphasizes reflective and independent learning, integrating technologies like Moodle, Python, and Jupyter notebooks. He has developed curricula, standardized assessment methods, and designed laboratory equipment to enhance student employability. His teaching spans mechanics, properties of matter, and applied technology, with strong focus on practical skill development for engineering careers.