RAEng Fellowship for UofG engineer
Published: 20 October 2026
A University of Glasgow engineer whose research is exploring new ways to transform contaminated land has won a prestigious research fellowship.
A University of Glasgow engineer whose research is exploring new ways to transform contaminated land has won a prestigious research fellowship.
Dr Carla Comadran Casas of the James Watt School of Engineering is one of 24 early-career researchers who has been selected for Research Fellowships and UK Intelligence Community Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (ICRF) by the Royal Academy of Engineering.
Engineering innovation is essential to solving the challenges that will define our future, from climate change and healthcare to AI and national security. Through these fellowships, the Academy is supporting early-career researchers to develop the technologies and leadership that will help shape the UK's future prosperity, global competitiveness and to build up the UK’s next generation of researchers.
Dr Comadran Casas aims to transform contaminated land into a resource by developing microbial technologies that simultaneously remove pollution, permanently capture carbon dioxide in stable minerals, and improve soil strength. This integrated approach will accelerate sustainable land regeneration while supporting net-zero and biodiversity goals.
Dr Comadran Casas’ research is investigating naturally occurring soil microbial communities for their ability to perform a dual function: breaking down organic contaminants and permanently storing carbon dioxide underground.
These microbial communities can potentially capture the organic pollutants derived carbon dioxide into stable minerals that remain locked in the soil, while also strengthening the ground for future construction. The fellowship will investigate how to optimise this process under realistic contamination conditions, measure its overall carbon impact, and demonstrate its effectiveness at field scale.
The goal is to create a practical, carbon-negative solution that helps regenerate contaminated land, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support more sustainable infrastructure development.
Dr Comadran Casas said: “I’m pleased and proud to have been selected to receive a Research Fellowship by the Royal Academy of Engineering. The fellowship will empower me to make new advances in my research into microbial biotechnology and develop new nature-based solutions to urgent environmental problems.”
The Research Fellowships, which are funded by the Department of Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST), support outstanding early-career researchers to become future research leaders by providing funding for an ambitious five-year programme of independent research.
Co-funded for the first time by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) alongside the Government Office for Science, which has supported the programme for ten years, the ICRF is designed to promote unclassified basic research over a two-year period in areas of interest to the intelligence, security and defence communities.
So far, the ICRF programme has awarded £13.7 million over 10 years supporting 62 researchers, and since 1999, the Research Fellowships have awarded £133.1 million, supporting almost 300 early-career researchers.
Professor Charlotte Deane, UKRI Senior Responsible Owner for IS8 National Security and Defence, said: "These fellowships support outstanding early-career researchers to pursue ambitious fundamental research while working closely with partners across the national security community.
Through our partnership with the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Government Office for Science, the programme creates valuable connections between researchers and technical experts. Together, we are helping to build the talent and research capability needed to address future national security challenges and strengthen the UK's research and innovation ecosystem."
Dr Christina Guindy, Associate Director of Research Programmes, Royal Academy of Engineering, said: “This year’s incredible awardees embody the Academy’s mission of Engineering a Better Future. From addressing long-overlooked challenges in women’s healthcare to advancing pioneering research in areas like AI and clean energy, these researchers are pushing the boundaries of engineering innovation. Supporting early-career researchers is essential to strengthening the UK’s global competitiveness and economic growth, while helping to develop the next generation of research leaders whose work will shape our future.”
First published: 20 October 2026