Dr Paul Hellier is an engineer of future fuels and sustainable energy concepts for internal combustion engines in the department of Mechanical Engineering at University College London. He is currently holder of an EPSRC Research Fellowship entitled 'Design of advanced biofuels through optimisation of fuel molecular structure', which he was awarded following completion of his PhD thesis at UCL, a collaboration with BP Global Fuels. Having graduated from Cardiff University with a 1st class MEng in Environmental Engineering, Paul explores the potential for cleaner burning alternative fuels in the context of both fuel end use (combustion for the release of useful energy) and upstream production processes. His research interests include the engineering of liquid and gaseous fuels for reduced IC engine exhaust emissions of toxic pollutants, designer fuels from genetically modified micro-organisms (in close collaboration with UCL's Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology), novel IC engine combustion strategies, and the production of renewable fuels from waste biomass.

His work includes collaborations with researchers from a range of disciplines and international institutions, and is supported by industry partners, UCL Grand Challenges and Public Engagement, the EPSRC and Innovate UK. He has published over 25 original research and invited review articles in leading fuels and combustion, and multidisciplinary, journals, and was awarded the “Outstanding Presentation Award for Young Researchers and Engineers" at the 2011 JSAE/SAE International Powertrains, Fuels & Lubricants Meeting, Kyoto, Japan. Paul is active in, and enjoys, engaging with a wide audience to communicate his research findings and has led schools outreach programmes, spoken at science festivals and invited lectures, and performed in immersive theatre and stand-up comedy.