- More than £500k secured to train early career researchers to boost sustainability
- The University will host nine early career academics as part of the International Science Partnership Fund research fellowship programme
- Fellows from Jordan, Thailand and the Philippines will tackle sustainability challenges in their home countries.
An Aston University researcher has secured more than half a million pounds funding to train early career researchers to tackle sustainability challenges in their home countries.
The University will host nine early career academics for 12 months as part of the International Science Partnership Fund (ISPF) research fellowship programme.
Fellows from Jordan will focus on energy systems, those from Thailand will work on sustainable plastics and green solvents and researchers from the Philippines will specialise in sustainability assessments.
The £540,000 grant was awarded to Dr Abed Alaswad, from the University’s Engineering for Sustainable Development Research Centre. The ISPF programme aims to equip emerging academics with the expertise needed to solve major sustainable development challenges. The fellows - three from each participating country - will undertake projects aligned with their respective national sustainability priorities while receiving industrial mentoring and support to help establish their careers.
Dr Alaswad will lead the programme and directly supervise the Jordan cohort, with Dr Vesna Najdanovic overseeing the Thai researchers and Professor Mirjam Roeder guiding the Philippine fellows.
He said: “This achievement further enhances Aston University’s global research footprint and fosters international collaborations, contributing to the University’s strategic ambitions of impactful global partnerships and empowering the next generation of research leaders.”
Dr Alaswad previously secured £180,000 under the same initiative to host three researchers from the Philippines, further demonstrating the University’s commitment to advancing sustainable development research worldwide.
- Notes to editors
About Aston University
For over 130 years, Aston University has been making our world a better place through education, research and innovation. Our history is intertwined with the remarkable city of Birmingham, once the heartland of the Industrial Revolution and now the thriving base for an innovation ecosystem of global significance, which Aston is co-creating.
Our vision is to be a leading university for science, technology and enterprise, measured by the positive transformational impact we achieve for our people, students, businesses and the communities we serve.
Aston focuses on high-quality, exploitable research that has an impact on society through medical breakthroughs, advancements in engineering, policy and practice in government, and the strategies and performance of business.
The university offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes, as well as continuing professional development solutions.
Thanks to its focus on delivering excellent outcomes for students, Aston University's reputation continues to grow. It was recognised as the Daily Mail University of the Year for Student Success 2025, is second in England for social mobility (2023 HEPI Social Mobility Index), and is top 20 for graduate salaries (2024 Longitudinal Education Outcomes).
Aston University is now defining its place in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (and beyond) within a rapidly changing world.
For media inquiries in relation to this release, contact Nicola Jones, Press and Communications Manager, on (+44) 7825 342091 or email: n.jones6@aston.ac.uk