Staff
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Professor Sir Brian HoskinsChair |
Professor Sir Brian Hoskins was the Founding Director of the Grantham Institute and is now its Chair. He has been a Professor in Meteorology at the University of Reading for more than 35 years and now fills the position on a part-time basis. For 10 years he also held a Royal Society Professorship. His research is in weather and climate, in particular the understanding of atmospheric motion on all scales. |
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Professor Ralf ToumiDirector |
Professor Ralf Toumi is the Director of the Institute. His ambition is to deliver the Institute mission by pioneering education, research, innovation and policy translation. The Institute is organised in pillars , with their respective leaders, which you will see below. His own research is focussed on the physics of tropical cyclones. He is also interested in the physical risk of climate change more broadly. |
People
Research
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Professor Joeri RogeljDirector of Research and Lecturer in Climate Change and the Environment |
Joeri works on connecting insights from geoscience with energy modelling and climate policy, in order to improve the understanding of solutions that can catalyse sustainable global transitions to a prosperous low-carbon world. His research focuses on actively informing the international climate policy debate through dedicated interdisciplinary research and analysis. |
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Dr Clair BarnesResearch Associate in the Analysis and Interpretation of Climate Data for Extreme Weather |
Clair works on attribution of extreme weather events, with a particular interest in developing and implementing robust statistical methodologies to understand the effect of anthropogenic climate change on the frequency and intensity of extreme weather. |
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Dr Ben ClarkeResearch Assistant in the Analysis and Interpretation of Climate Data for Extreme Weather |
Ben works on understanding the influence of climate change on extreme weather events, as part of the World Weather Attribution project. He's also interested in how to use attribution to understand some of the tangible impacts and plausible risks from climate change. |
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Dr Ed GryspeerdtProleptic Lecturer |
The research in Ed's group focuses on the physics and properties of clouds and their role in the Earth's climate system. A major part of this is in assessing changes in clouds and rain caused by particulates (known as aerosols), particularly from shipping and aviation. |
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Dr Joyce KimutaiResearch Associate in the Analysis and Interpretation of Climate Data for Extreme Weather |
Joyce's research work focuses on quantifying the role and contribution of anthropogenic climate change on extreme weather and climate events like extreme rainfall/floods, droughts and heatwaves. She also explores possible ways in which attribution science can support policy process like loss and damage, and climate litigation. |
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Dr Fengjie LiuAdvanced Research Fellowfengjie.liu@imperial.ac.uk |
Fengjie's research focuses on the impacts of human activities on ecosystem functioning and environmental health. He's particularly interested in the development and application of novel technologies and an interdisciplinary approach to solve questions in these areas. |
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Dr Shivika MittalResearch Fellow
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Shivika's research focuses on energy system modelling, low-carbon energy system transitions in developing countries from a technical and economic perspective, and climate policy. |
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Dr Gbemi OluleyeLecturer (Assistant Professor) |
Gbemi works on addressing the affordability and cost barriers affecting the uptake of clean technologies and fuels, especially for decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors. She develops holistic decision support frameworks for assessing cost-effective adoption and diffusion pathways, innovative interventions via market-based policies and business models , and the integration of clean technologies amid uncertainty. |
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Dr Friederike (Fredi) OttoSenior Lecturer in Climate Science |
Fredi's main research interest is on extreme weather events such as droughts, heat waves and storms, and understanding whether and to what extent these are made more likely or intense due to climate change - known by experts as 'climate change attribution'. |
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Dr Reshma RaoLecturer (Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellow) |
My research interests include developing electrochemical technologies that can produce clean fuels and chemicals from renewable energy sources. Particularly, I work on applying advanced materials characterization techniques to understand how catalytic materials operate and fail in these devices. |
Dr Fiona SimpsonNERC Independent Research Fellow
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Fiona is a geophysicist with broad interests in electromagnetic induction in the Earth and planetary systems that encompass tectonic processes, mantle plumes, the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary, space weather and icy moons | |
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Dr Mariam ZachariahResearch Associate |
Mariam works on near-real time attribution of extreme weather events, which involves analysing the event of interest within days of its occurrence, in order to understand whether and to what extent does human-induced climate change may have influenced its characteristics. |
Operations
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Dr Laila ReadDirector of Operations |
Laila leads on the overall operational management of the Institute. She supports the development and delivery of the Institute’s Business Plan, coordinates between programme, development, outreach and communication activities, and manages the Institute’s resources (staff and financial). |
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Gosia GayerInstitute Administrator |
Gosia provides executive level project management and administrative support to the Co-Directors. She also has responsibility for ensuring that the Institute’s day-to-day operations run smoothly, including its regular seminar and lectures, official visits as well as its facilities and central resources. |
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Chloe ThompsonPA and Administrative Assistant |
Chloe provides administrative support to aid the Grantham Institute’s activities in innovation, policy and translation. She also assists with the Institute’s annual COP delegation, the UK Universities Climate Network (UUCN), and the planning of the Institute events.
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Dora VrkicResearch and Project Support Administrator |
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Danielle SmithFinance Administrator |
Danielle handles all of the Institute’s day-to-day financial activities, advising and assisting staff and students with financial transactions. |
Education
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Anne HoustonDirector of Training |
Anne is responsible for delivering the Institute's education programmes. She manages all educational activities including the NERC funded Science and Solutions for a Changing Planet (SSCP) Doctoral Training Partnership and the MSc in Climate Change Management and Finance. |
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Christiane MorganDoctoral Training Coordinator |
Christiane supports the running of the NERC-funded Science and Solutions for a Changing Planet Doctoral Training Partnership. |
Victoria HallingTaught Programmes Coordinator |
Victoria supports the Grantham Institute’s taught programmes, including the MSc in Climate Change Management and Finance. |
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Alex GibbsEducation Programmes Manager |
Alex works on the Science and Solutions for a Changing Planet Doctoral Training Partnership and other education programmes. |
Policy & communications
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Dr Caterina BrandmayrDirector of Policy and Translation |
Caterina is responsible for making the link between our academic work and policy-makers, businesses, NGOs and other stakeholders. Her work involves engaging with a wide range of organisations and producing briefing papers, events and bespoke engagements that ensure that our work has impact. |
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Dr Neil JenningsPartnership Development Manager |
Neil supports the dissemination of our research outside of Imperial via briefing papers, events, animations and infographics and through the development of strategic partnerships with business, policy and non-governmental organisations.
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Nicole KuchapskiPolicy and Translation Support Officer |
Nicole supports the translation of scientific research into communication products such as briefing notes, infographics and videos. She also liaises with a variety of stakeholders and partners to coordinate projects and events that seek to link our academic research to policymaking and public engagement. |
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Jenny BirdCampaign Manager |
Jennifer supports the increasing use of research evidence by people and organisations outside of the academic community in order to work towards a zero-carbon society. |
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Simon LeveyCommunications Manager |
Simon’s role is to write news and organise events about climate and environmental research at Imperial, and coordinate public engagement activities and training. He also edits publications about climate science and policy for the Grantham Briefing Papers series. Simon is responsible for all communications about Grantham Institute staff, students and affiliates. |
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Linsey WyntonMedia and Outreach Officer
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Linsey coordinates public engagement activities and training, manages media enquiries and writes news stories for the website. |
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Sam Fraser-BaxterCommunications Manager |
Sam manages communications for the World Weather Attribution project. |
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Phoebe Ross
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Phoebe looks after the Grantham Institute’s social media platforms, newsletters, website and blog. |
Philippa Westbury
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Philippa works on stakeholder engagement with the CO2RE consortium and is based at the Grantham Institute. |
Innovation
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Alyssa GilbertDirector of Innovation |
Alyssa is spearheading our innovation work at the Grantham Institute to speed up the creation, development and scale up of innovative solutions to the climate crisis. She is the Director of Undaunted (formerly the Centre for Climate Change Innovation), a partnership between Imperial and the Royal Institution, and has as strong background in climate policy. |
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Professor Richard TemplerCo-Founder of Undaunted |
Richard co-founded Undaunted (formerly the Centre for Climate Change Innovation) as a partnership between Imperial and the Royal Institution. He is also a member of the London Sustainable Development Commission, where he advises the GLA on the development of London as a global hub for cleantech innovation. |
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Jim ShaikhHead of the Greenhouse at Undaunted |
Jim is Head of the Greenhouse at Undaunted and runs the Greenhouse climate innovation start-up accelerator, which supports new climate innovation start-ups with a 12-month programme of masterclasses, workshops, coaching, mentoring and a £20k stipend. The aim is to support new businesses to bring to fruition their climate innovation technologies and hence help to address climate change. |
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Cathal HughesProjects Manager at Undaunted |
Cathal leads on Undaunted’s projects supporting innovative early-stage cleantech SMEs, developing an active London climatetech community and advocating for climate policies and measures to accelerate the UK’s net zero transition. |
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Melissa MahdiProject Manager - Shared Prosperity Fund |
Melissa leads on the compliance and budget management of the centre that is partly funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). |
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Claudia CannonCommunications Coordinator at Undaunted |
Claudia supports the publicity, multi-channel communication activities and event management for the Centre for Climate Change Innovation. |
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Guillermo MonteroProject Manager at Undaunted |
Guillermo leads all project management activities for the Centre for Climate Change Innovation (CCCI). He is responsible for the relation and activities with the Greater London Authority and European Funding bodies for the CCCI. And financially manages all programmes and projects in the centre. |
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Nicole BachanovaProgramme Manager of The Greenhouse at Undaunted |
Nicole is responsible for planning and designing the programme of The Greenhouse. She ensures that the start-ups receive all the support they need via workshops, mentorship, networking and more. |
Kate FieldUndaunted Administrator |
Kate provides administrative support to aid Undaunted activities and operations. |
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Chloe JohnsonUndaunted Intern |
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Paul Rouse
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Paul will be working as Flexi Fund Manager for the CO2RE consortium and will be based at the Grantham Institute. |
Honorary and Visiting
Visiting Researchers
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Dr Ajay GambhirVisiting Senior Research Fellow |
Ajay's work focuses on the economics and policy of low-carbon technologies. |
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Dr Jeff HardyVisiting Researcher |
Jeff's research focuses on society-led low carbon energy transformations and associated strategic narratives. He was previously Head of Sustainable Energy Futures at Ofgem. |
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Dr Alexandre KöberleAdvanced Research Fellow |
Alex works on long-term scenarios of socio-environmental change, with special focus on the nexus energy-land-climate to assess potential trade-offs and synergies for concurrent achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He is currently adding to the development of the TIAM-Grantham model by improving the implementation of the agricultural and land use sectors to better represent land-energy interactions. |
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Dr Pauline PatersonVisiting Researcher |
Pauline is researching the public perceptions of the co-benefits of climate action in the UK, exploring which co-benefits resonate most with citizens and how this varies amongst different demographics. |
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Andrew PrentisVisiting Fellow |
Andrew is a veterinary surgeon who is working with researchers to help them understand how the veterinary industry works and what the drivers for actions are, focusing in particular on parasitic disease incidence in pets and people, and the use and environmental impact of parasiticides. |
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Ruben PrützVisiting Researcher |
Ruben’s research focuses on carbon dioxide removal, in particular, on enhancing the understanding of potential side effects of large scale deployment. |
Honorary Research Fellows
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Richard Black
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Richard’s interests encompass communication of climate change and decarbonisation, in particular the net zero transition. He was previously a BBC journalist and broadcaster, and founding Director of the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit thinktank. |
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Roberto Buizza
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Roberto is serving as Scientific Attaché at the Italian Embassy in London, where he supports the work of the Italian diplomacy and leads the embassy's scientific activities. He is an expert in numerical weather prediction, Earth-system modelling, ensemble methods and predictability. |
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Neil HirstHonorary Senior Research Fellow |
Neil works with the Chinese government and other international energy policymakers on the reform of global energy governance and China’s participation. |
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Leo Horn- PhathanothaiHonorary Senior Research Fellow |
Leo works on the nexus of climate change and human development, with a focus on the role of cities in driving a just transition to a climate safe future. He was a senior director at the World Resources Institute for twelve years, most recently serving as the Head of WRI’s UK office, and Director in the WRI Ross Centre for Sustainable Cities. |
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Professor Martin Siegert
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Martin was Co-Director of the Grantham Institute from 2014 to 2022. As a glaciologist, he is involved in the scientific exploration of Antarctica, leading the UK's participation in a series of geophysical programmes that have charted around 40% of the subglacial environment across the continent. |
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Dr Josué TanakaHonorary Senior Fellow in Climate Finance |
Josué teaches “Climate Finance: A Global Overview”, a module on the the Grantham Institute and Imperial College Business School Climate Change, Management and Finance MSc.
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