Dr Andrea Patel

Professional biography

Andrea joined the OU as Staff Tutor in March 2022.

Previously, Andrea was Head of the University Graduate School at the University of Birmingham, where she was responsible for providing cross-university support for postgraduate research students to ensure a high-quality postgraduate experience, assure the quality of postgraduate research degrees and to assist in achieving key strategic aims for the university. Highlights from her role as Head of the University Graduate School included development of dedicated careers and entrepreneurial development support for postgraduate researchers, and establishing a vibrant postgraduate research community.

Prior to working at the University of Birmingham, Andrea was Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Technologies and Programme Manager for Extended Foundation Degrees at Harper Adams University. Within these roles Andrea taught renewable energy to undergraduate and postgraduate students, supervised PhD and postdoc’s whose research focused on bioenergy and lifecycle assessment, organised knowledge exchange events designed to support the rural sector to adopt renewable energy and delivered a KTP project that developed a small-scale anaerobic digestion system with a local company.

Academically Andrea holds a BSc in Biochemistry with Biotechnology, MSc Biochemical Engineering, PhD Biosciences (Novel bionanocatalysis for Cr(VI) remediation), MBA, Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education and Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy.

Research interests

Anaerobic Digestion

Transition to Postgraduate Education

Teaching interests

Sustainable Energy