Dr. Saif Al Ghafri
Beng, MSc, PhDPrincipal Research Fellow
Research Division
15
Al Ghafri has recently joined CQU as a Principal Research Fellow within the Centre for Hydrogen and Renewable Energies (CHRE). Before joining CQU, Al Ghafri worked at Imperial College London (2014–2016) and the University of Western Australia (2016–2025). He is an internationally recognised research leader in clean energy, liquid hydrogen, fluid science, cryogenic system construction and thermophysical property measurements, and collaborates widely with a variety of national and international energy industry stakeholders, including NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre, Baker Hughes, GenH2, DeepC store, Woodside, INPEX, FFI, Eta Space, Mitsubishi and Samsung Heavy Industries. He holds an extensive background in the design, simulation and construction of cryogenic apparatuses for LNG, liquid hydrogen and liquid CO2, including setting up infrastructure and laboratory for liquid hydrogen research, construction of LNG and liquid hydrogen Boil-off gas setup, and construction of lab-scale liquefiers. Al Ghafri has a PhD (2009–2014) and MSC (2006–2007) from Imperial College London and a BEng (Hons) from Nottingham University (2003–2006).
Universities Studied At
2009 – 2014
Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering- Imperial College London; Thesis title: Phase Behaviour and Physical Properties of Reservoir Fluids under Addition of Carbon Dioxide.
2006 – 2007
MSc in Advanced Chemical & Process Systems Engineering- Imperial College London. Thesis title: Modelling and Optimisation of Hydrogen Production by Hybrid PSA-Membrane System.
2003 – 2006
B.Eng. Honours in Chemical Engineering- University of Nottingham, UK. Awarded with distinction. Thesis: Design and Simulation of Oligomerization Plant.
Universities Worked At
2016 – 2025 Senior Research Fellow. Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Western Australia (UWA), Australia
2013 – 2015 Post-doctoral Research Associate. Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London (ICL), UK
Awards
2016 - The Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference Award, for the best PhD dissertation of the year
2015 - Certificate for the Provost’s Award for Excellence in Health and Safety, due to making the lab fit for handling experimental equipment that utilise toxic gases
2014- Imperial College Dudley Newitt Prize for Experimental Excellence, due to exceptional merit demonstrated by experimental excellence
2013- Qatar Petroleum Medal for PhD Research Excellence in Clean Fossil Fuels, due to outstanding achievements in CFF research
Previous teaching
2019-2024 lecturer and coordinator of the unit: Advanced Thermodynamic and Mass Transfer Processes, undergraduate and postgraduate core unit in the Chemical Specialisation. UWA
2016-2020 Lecturer and coordinator of the unit: Unit Operation and Unit Processes, Level 3 core unit in the Chemical Specialisation, undergraduate. UWA
Professional Experience
2007 – 2009 Process Engineer. Shell and Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), Muscat, Oman
Professional Memberships
Associate member of the IChemE and AIChE; Gas Processors Association (USA)
Adjunct Senior Lecturer at UWA
Honorary Research Fellow of Imperial College London
Foundation Fellow of the Future Energy Exports Cooperative Research Centre
Chemical Engineering - Chemical and thermal processes in energy and combustion
Chemical Engineering - Chemical Engineering not elsewhere classified
thermodynamics and fluid science properties measurements and modelling, cryogenic engineering, techno-economic studies
Chemical Engineering - Process Control and Simulation
Process design and simulation related to hydrogen production, cryogenic fuels shippings (loading and unloading terminals)