Dr Edris Joonaki

My favourite subjects at school were chemistry, maths, physics, and I knew I wanted to work in these areas when I left school. When I was 14 years old, I took a tough entrance exam and got a high school place studying chemistry, maths and physics on a programme for developing exceptional talent. At high-school, I became so interested in learning chemistry and particularly organic chemistry in a much more fundamental way. I always took A-levels in chemistry and decided to study petroleum engineering at the Petroleum University of Technology (PUT), one of the best petroleum engineering universities in Iran.

Throughout my formative career, I have had the privilege of being guided by a series of remarkable supervisors and mentors. Particularly noteworthy were the individuals I encountered during my industrial placement, whose guidance and expertise significantly enriched my professional development within a relatively brief timeframe. Their unwavering support and encouragement instilled in me a deep sense of motivation and determination to pursue my career aspirations further. Additionally, I extend my heartfelt appreciation to my very nice PhD supervisor, Professor Bahman Tohidi. The invaluable experience of working under his tutelage has been truly transformative, offering me unparalleled insights and opportunities for growth within his respective research group.

The hydrogen economy and CCS are growing so fast! I’ve transferred the knowledge and skills I developed in oil and gas engineering and am now using them in new energy transition projects like industrial decarbonisation, clean fuels and reducing greenhouse gas emissions – so I know I’m having a direct, positive influence on tackling the challenges of climate change, and I’m helping to boost the transition to a more sustainable world. I love the fact that I can contribute to a greener, more sustainable future for our planet. Moreover, I really enjoy helping young people to find out about possible careers and training them in their early careers in the energy industry.

I voluntarily promote many MSc/PhD students outside the organisation through my work with universities in the UK, including the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), leading the students’ route to be future professionals and further engaging them in the UK’s energy sector. I was also involved in bp’s Education Platform–Energising Futures in partnership with ‘We are Futures’, aimed at inspiring the high school students in the UK and worldwide as the next generation. I will do my best to continue to be proactive in training and educating young people in their early careers in the industry. My advice to young students is always that the industry provides an opportunity for them to repurpose their chemistry skillsets and knowledge to help facilitate emerging energy transition strategies. The application of these chemistry skills to new green and clean projects will have a direct, positive influence on tackling climate change.

When I decided to move to Scotland to study a PhD in Petroleum Engineering at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, I loved the opportunity to continue my studying abroad – to see different cultures and experience different educational and working environments. Through this, I am privileged to be contributing to helping the UK achieve net zero by 2050 and am excited to see what the future holds.

During my time at Heriot-Watt University, I had the opportunity to publish a number of high-impact academic journal articles, as well as conduct ground-breaking research, winning numerous awards and recognitions in the UK and globally.