Dr. Ashfaque Chowdhury
PhD, MEng (Research), BScEng (First Class Honours with Distinction), FHEASenior Lecturer and Discipline Leader
School of Engineering and Technology
Hydrogen Renewable Energies Centre, Clean Energy Academy, Centre for Intelligent Systems
Gladstone Marina
Building 608 - Room G.09
Building 608 - Room G.09
About Me
Dr Ashfaque Chowdhury is a passionate and experienced engineering educator and researcher with over 20 years of academic and industry experience. He is currently the Discipline Lead for Engineering Foundations Studies at CQUniversity, where he oversees the curriculum development, delivery, and quality assurance of the engineering foundation courses. He is also a Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering, teaching subjects such as thermofluid engineering and material handling processes etc.
As a researcher, Dr Chowdhury has a strong interest and expertise in sustainable and resilient energy technologies, such as waste-to-energy, biohydrogen, and thermal comfort. He has published more than 60 peer-reviewed papers in reputed international journals and conferences and received two best paper awards. He is an active researcher in teaching practice who provides insights into curricula, assessment and pedagogy. He also serves as a member of various professional and technical committees and associations and volunteers his time to support the engineering profession and community. He was awarded the Young Engineer of the Year 2017 in the Central Region by Engineers Australia for his outstanding contributions to engineering education and research. He volunteers his time to hold various committee positions with Engineers Australia, Standards Australia, and the International Building Performance Simulation Association. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (FIEB) and a Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy (FHEA), which recognizes achievement under the UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF) for higher education teaching and learning support.
General
Awards
- 2021 The Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH) Award, Higher Education or Research
- 2021 Staff Service Award, Central Queensland University
- The 10th Anniversary best paper awards from Energies Journal, MDPI
- 2017 Young Engineer of the Year, Central Region, Engineers Australia
- Certificate of Outstanding Contribution in Reviewing, Applied Energy Journal, Elsevier
- 2016 Finalist, Opal Award for Engaged Education and Training, CQUniversity
- 2015 Certificate of Recognition from Dean of School of Engineering and Technology for achieving outstanding student satisfaction
- Best paper award for the paper at 12th International Conference on Sustainable Energy Technologies (SET)held in Hong Kong
- Excellence in Research Awards, Central Queensland University Postgraduate Research Students Committee, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton
- Strategic Research Scholarship, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton.
- Postgraduate Research International Scholarship, Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Health, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton.
- Centre for Sustainable Resource Processing (CSRP) Top up scholarship, Australian Resources Research Centre, Kensington, WA.
- Centre for Sustainable Resource Processing (CSRP) Conference Travel Award, Australian Resources Research Centre, Kensington, WA.
- Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Research Organization (CSIRO) Flagship Top-up Scholarship.
- Research Higher Degree Student Travel Award, Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Health, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton
- Student Scholarship, SimBuild 2006, The Second Conference of the U.S. Affiliate of the International Building Performance Simulation Association held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Boston, USA.
- Faculty Research Scholarship, Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Health, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton
- CRC for Integrated Engineering Asset Management (CIEAM) Top up scholarship .
- Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho: MEXT) Scholarship.
Media Citations
- Landfill waste turned into commercial-grade petrol, diesel in CQUniversity project https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-09/landfill-waste-commercial-grade-diesel-petrol-fuel-project-cqu/100647952
- Ashfaque's 'universal charger' idea a national campaign winner https://uninewsarchive.cqu.edu.au/uninews.cqu.edu.au/UniNews/viewStory3a55.html?story=6707
- Rockhampton duo plan to turn green waste into viable bio-oil https://uninewsarchive.cqu.edu.au/uninews.cqu.edu.au/UniNews/viewStory4f1e.html?story=4828
- Postgrad awards recognise excellence https://uninewsarchive.cqu.edu.au/uninews.cqu.edu.au/UniNews/viewStory63d2.html?story=3881
- Engineers inspire each other in challenging times https://uninewsarchive.cqu.edu.au/uninews.cqu.edu.au/UniNews/viewStory8801.html?story=6185
- Engineers' national president in Rocky to defuse population bomb https://uninewsarchive.cqu.edu.au/uninews.cqu.edu.au/UniNews/viewStoryc8cf.html?story=7327
- Visitor advocates systems at heart of better learning https://uninewsarchive.cqu.edu.au/uninews.cqu.edu.au/UniNews/viewStory10b3.html?story=4920
- New academics celebrate learning the ropes https://uninewsarchive.cqu.edu.au/uninews.cqu.edu.au/UniNews/viewStorya49c.html?story=4755
Professional Experience
- Jul 2021 - to date: Academic Lead, Engineering Foundation
- Feb 2016 – Jul 2021: Deputy Campus Leader (Engineering, Gladstone Campus)
- Feb 2019 – May 2019: Discipline Leader (Engineering Foundation Studies)
- Dec 2018 – Jan 2019: Acting Campus Leader (Bundaberg and Gladstone)
- Nov 2017 – Jan 2018: Acting Discipline Leader (Mechanical Engineering)
- Dec 2012 – Jan 2013: Acting Discipline Leader (Mechanical)
- Nov 2013 – Jan 2014: Acting Discipline Leader (Mechanical)
Professional Memberships
- Engineers Australia.
- The Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air conditioning and Heating (AIRAH)
- The Australasian Association for Engineering Education (AAEE).
- Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education (ASCILITE)
- The International Association of Engineers (IAENG).
- The International Building Performance Simulation Association (IBPSA), Australasia.
- American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).
- Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
- The Institution of Engineers (IEB), Bangladesh.
Responsibilities
- Member, Elsevier Advisory Panel
- Reviewer, Applied Energy - Journal - Elsevier
- Reviewer, Applied Thermal Engineering - Journal - Elsevier
- Reviewer, Energy Efficiency - Journal - Springer
- Reviewer, Energy, Ecology and Environment - Journal - Springer
- Reviewer, Journal of Engineering Science and Technology (JESTEC),School of Engineering. Taylor’s University
- Reviewer, Higher Education Research and Development – An International Journal (Special Edition on Work Integrated Learning), Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group [ISSN 1175-2882].
- Reviewer, Asia-Pacific Journal of Cooperative Education (Special Edition on Work Integrated Learning) [ISSN 1175-2882].
- Reviewer, International Journal of Education and Development using Information and Communication Technology [ISSN: 1814-0556]
- Reviewer, WSEAS Transactions on Fluid Mechanics (Special Issue on Sustainable Energy and Environmental Fluid Mechanics) [ISSN: 1790-5087].
- Reviewer, ACEN-WACE Asia Pacific Conference 2008, Sydney Australia, 30 September - 3 October, 2008.
- Reviewer, The 16th Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference, Gold coast, Australia, December 3-7, 2007.
- Reviewer, The Fourth IASTED Asian Conference on Power and Energy Systems (AsiaPES 2008), Langkawi, Malaysia, April 2 - 4, 2008.
- Reviewer , Australasian Association for Engineering Education Conference 2009, Adelaide
- Reviewer , Australasian Association for Engineering Education Conference 2013, Perth
- Member, International Program Committee, The 5th WSEAS International Conference on Heat and Mass Transfer (HMT'08), Acapulco, Mexico, January 25-27, 2008.
- Member, International Scientific Committee, The 6th IASME/WSEAS International Conference on Heat Transfer, Thermal Engineering and Environment (HTE'08), Rodos, Greece, August 20-22, 2008.
- Member, International Scientific Committee, The 6th IASME/WSEAS International Conference on Fluid Mechanics and Aerodynamics (FMA'08), Rodos, Greece, August 20-22, 2008.
- Reviewer, Research Project Proposals (RPP), Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Program
- Committee Member, Engineers Australia – Gladstone Regional Group (2014)
- Peer Support, Early Career Academic Program 2008, Division of Teaching and Learning, CQUniversity (2008).
- Student Member, Research Higher Degree Committee, CQUniversity (2009 - 2010).
- Student Member, Postgraduate Research Advisory Panel (PRAP), CQUniversity (2007-2008).
- Postgraduate Research Student Representative, Research Committee of the Academic Board (ReCAB), CQUniversity (2006 – 2007).
- Member, Postgraduate Research Student Committee, CQUniversity (2005 – 2006).
Professional Interests
- Member, H2Q Queensland Hydrogen Industry Cluster - End User Demand and Market Participation Working Groups
- Member, Standards Australia Committees and Joint Standards Australia/Standards New Zealand Committees SA TS 5342 and HB-194
- Member, E3 Industrial Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) Technical Working Group, Department of Environment and Energy, Australian Government
- Grant Assessor, Bangladesh Energy and Power Research Council, Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Bangladesh
- Member, Mechanical College Queensland, Engineers Australia (2021).
- Member (appointed regional representative), Queensland Division Committee, Engineers Australia (2020 - 2021)
- Chair, Gladstone Regional Group, Engineers Australia (2018)
- Co-Chair, Gladstone Regional Group, Engineers Australia (2019)
- Executive Member, Queensland Group Advisory Committee, Engineers Australia (2017 - 2018)
- Treasurer, Gladstone Regional Group, Engineers Australia (2016)
Editor
- Academic Editor, PLoS ONE [Q1, IF 3.24]
- Review Editor, Frontiers in Energy Research [Q2, IF 4.008]
- Guest Editor, Energy Procedia (Elsevier) Volume 160.
- Co-editor, Book Entitled Application of Thermo-fluid Processes in Energy System, published by Springer
- Editorial Board Member, Book Entitled Developments in Engineering Education Standards: Advanced Curriculum Innovation, published by IGI Global.
- Associate Editor, International Journal of Environmental, Cultural, Economic and Social Sustainability [ISSN 1832-2077]
- Advisory Board Member, Bioinfo Renewable & Sustainable Energy Journal [ISSN 2249-1708]
- Co-editor, CREC 2009 – Central Region Engineering Conference Proceedings, CQUniversity, Rockhampton, Australia.
- Co-editor, GECon2008 - Graduating Engineering Conference Proceedings, CQUniversity, Rockhampton, Australia.
Recent Research Projects
Solving the aquaculture bottleneck - reducing nutrients and repurposing waste to produce energy and bioproducts
From:
01/08/2024 to 01/08/2027
Grant: Competitive Grant (Category 2: Other Public Sector)
Funding Scheme: Advance Queensland Industry Research Projects (AQIRP)
Total Funding: $601,537.00
Grant: Competitive Grant (Category 2: Other Public Sector)
Funding Scheme: Advance Queensland Industry Research Projects (AQIRP)
Total Funding: $601,537.00
Assessment of exhaust emissions, engine performance and comparative toxicology of waste (biomass) derived fuels. Project Code: CN22-15SE-1612
From:
01/08/2023 to 31/07/2025
Grant: Competitive Grant (Category 3: Industry and Other)
Funding Scheme: KFAS 2022 First Call for Basic and Applied Research Proposals
Total Funding: $96,500.00
Grant: Competitive Grant (Category 3: Industry and Other)
Funding Scheme: KFAS 2022 First Call for Basic and Applied Research Proposals
Total Funding: $96,500.00
Australia-Bangladesh Collaboration in Bangladesh Energy and Power Sector's Infrastructure and Connectivity Development
From:
05/06/2023 to 29/11/2023
Grant: Competitive Grant (Category 2: Other Public Sector)
Funding Scheme: Dept of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) Australia Awards Fellowships 2023
Total Funding: $395,014.00
Grant: Competitive Grant (Category 2: Other Public Sector)
Funding Scheme: Dept of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) Australia Awards Fellowships 2023
Total Funding: $395,014.00
Cheaper greener Queensland: Optimising renewable fuel production from mixed-waste (AQIRF037-2021RD4)
From:
03/01/2022 to 31/07/2025
Grant: Competitive Grant (Category 2: Other Public Sector)
Funding Scheme: Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowships 2021
Total Funding: $360,000.00
Grant: Competitive Grant (Category 2: Other Public Sector)
Funding Scheme: Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowships 2021
Total Funding: $360,000.00
Research Infrastructure Block Grant Application 2013 - Funding for ANSYS Fluent Software
From:
01/12/2013 to 31/03/2017
Grant: Competitive Grant (Internal)
Funding Scheme: Research Infrastructure Block Grant Applications 2013
Total Funding: $0.00
Grant: Competitive Grant (Internal)
Funding Scheme: Research Infrastructure Block Grant Applications 2013
Total Funding: $0.00
Research Supervision
Accreditation
I am currently accredited for supervision in the following:
- 4012 Fluid mechanics and thermal engineering
- 4101 Climate change impacts and adaptation
- 4017 Mechanical Engineering
- 3302 Building
- 4010 Engineering practice and education
Current Capacity
I am currently available to supervise more research candidates
Current Supervision
Master of Research
Development of a Low Energy Building using an Integrated System of Bio-Phase Change Materials and Rooftop Greenery System
Associate Supervisor
Doctor of Philosophy
Hydrogen production from waste plastics through pyrolysis using Pd-membrane separation process
Associate Supervisor
Doctor of Philosophy
Process development for hydrogen production from food waste using solar energy driven bio-digester.
Associate Supervisor
Doctor of Philosophy
Design and Development of a Hybrid Renewable Energy System for Far North Queensland, Australia
Associate Supervisor
Doctor of Philosophy
Investigation of Performance, Emission, and Combustion Characteristics of Diesel Engine using Waste Plastic Derived Fuels through Pyrolysis and Post-treatments
Associate Supervisor
Doctor of Philosophy
Process development for hydrogen production from food waste using solar energy driven bio-digester.
Associate Supervisor
Master of Research
Improving Energy Efficiency in Aluminium Smelting Process Through Heat Recovery Techniques
Associate Supervisor
Doctor of Philosophy
Investigation and Assessment of Pyrolysed and Post-treated Waste Plastic-Derived Fuels on Diesel Engine Performance, Emissions and Combustion Characteristics
Associate Supervisor
Research Interests
Education
Curriculum and Pedagogy - Science, Technology and Engineering Curriculum and Pedagogy
Engineering
Interdisciplinary Engineering - Computational Fluid Dynamics
Engineering
Mechanical Engineering - Energy Generation, Conversion and Storage Engineering
Thermofluid Engineering, Low energy Cooling Technologies, Building Energy Performance, Thermal Comfort, Biohydrogen, Renewable Energy and Sustainability, Biofuel, Engineering Education
Publications
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Teaching
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