Dr Yousef Faraj
Senior Lecturer
Biography
Yousef is a Senior Lecturer in Chemical Engineering at the University of Chester, where he is involved in leading both BEng and MEng programmes. His research spans chemical, process, and materials engineering, with expertise in multiphase flow characterisation, industrial process tomography, advanced measurement techniques, and smart functional materials. Following his PhD, Yousef spent over six years at the University of Leeds’ Institute of Particle Science and Engineering, co-managing the On-Line Instrumentation Laboratory. There, he developed pioneering techniques for slurry and particulate flow measurement, visualisation, and two-phase flow regime recognition using Electrical Resistance Tomography. He has collaborated extensively with academic institutions and industry partners globally, including Shell, Schlumberger, TUV NEL, Cranfield University, and Cambridge University contributing to projects such as the European Multiphase Flow Metrology initiative and Visualisation and Metering of Multi-phase Flow. In 2017, he joined Sichuan University, China, as an Associate Professor, leading research on smart, stimuli-responsive functional materials and collaborative multiphase flow projects mainly with other Chinese Universities. He returned to the UK in 2020 to continue his research and teaching at Chester, advancing both chemical engineering and materials innovation.
Teaching and Supervision
Yousef has extensive experience teaching undergraduate and postgraduate Chemical Engineering courses, including Fluid Mechanics & Transport Phenomena, Separation Processes, Plant Design, and Process Control. His teaching has consistently received excellent evaluations, reflecting his dedication to student learning and engagement. He has been recognised with several awards, including Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), the University of Leeds Teaching Award, and multiple teaching excellence prizes at Sichuan University. Yousef adopts an active, student-centered approach, integrating pedagogical models such as Bloom’s Taxonomy, Think-Pair-Share, and peer instruction to encourage collaborative problem-solving and critical thinking. He employs technology-enhanced learning tools, including Mentimeter, to facilitate real-time feedback and interactive engagement. His teaching philosophy emphasizes helping students learn how to learn, develop problem-solving skills, and understand the societal impact of their work. Committed to preparing graduates for industrial careers, he designs modules and assessments aligned with professional standards, industry input, and best practices in engineering education. He champions equality, diversity, and inclusion, ensuring all students can thrive academically and personally. Through continuous professional development, pedagogical research, and innovative teaching strategies, Yousef strives to inspire and equip future chemical engineers for success in a global context.
Research and Knowledge Exchange
Yousef’s research is in the areas of chemical, process and materials engineering, in particular, multiphase flow characterisation, industrial process tomography, development of measurement techniques, as well as development of smart functional materials. His current research interests include: - Multiphase Flows and Processes: The research here focuses on both experimental and theoretical modelling work to enable understanding and prediction of a wide range of industrially relevant 2-and 3-phase flow situations such as gas-liquid, solid-liquid, liquid-liquid and gas-liquid-liquid, which are commonly encountered in the petroleum industry, the chemical industry, wastewater treatment, nuclear plants, mining and hydraulic conveying. The fundamental issues addressed here include the dynamics of particles in the carrier phase, phase interaction, interface phenomena and the effects of process parameters on the nature of multiphase and multicomponent systems. - Multiphase Flow Measurement Techniques and Sensors: The development of reliable, on-line, real-time measurement techniques and multiphase flow metering systems are another focus, which is vital in industrial practice for monitoring and optimisation of a range of industrial processes, as well as for validating the developed modelling tools. - Smart Functional Materials: The main focus here is on the design, synthesis, characterisation and application of smart materials and devices. Yousef aim at rational integration of organic (polymeric) and inorganic materials to realise smart functional materials with unique properties for multifarious applications. The emphasis is placed upon integration of stimuli-responsive materials, which are able to change their shape, chemical or physical properties in real time in response to external stimuli such as temperature, pH, electric or magnetic field and chemicals. Yousef actively investigates emerging applications of smart functional materials, including selective detection, sensing, and capture and separation technologies.