Research in the Winterburn Group is centred on improving manufacturing efficiency of bio-based products through the development and application of innovative biochemical engineering approaches. We have recognised strengths in the areas of biosurfactant and biopolymer production, encompassing biomass feedstock pretreatment, fermentation process engineering, downstream separations, analytics, engineering biology approaches and end-use applications, aiming to engineer novel, robust fermentation and separation processes that valorise by-products and side streams.Our research is supported by funding from EPSRC, BBSRC, Innovate UK and industry partners.

I welcome opportunities for collaboration in areas related to biochemical engineering, fermentation process development, sustainable manufacturing, and scale up. Feel free to connect via LinkedIn (profile link above) or reach me via [email protected]. See the Winterburn Research Group video for further information.

James joined the Department of Chemical Engineering and as a Lecturer in 2013, was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2018, to Reader in 2021 and to Professor of Biochemical Engineering in 2025. His current research interests are focused around industrial biotechnology, fermentation processes and the efficient production and separation of bio-based products, including biosurfactants and biopolymers. James is the Academic Lead for Business Engagement and Innovation for the School of Engineering, establishing and nurturing industry-academia collaborations. James is a Co-founder of Holiferm Limited, spun-out from his research group in 2018. Holiferm have successfully commercialised biosurfactant production technology and manufacture sophorolipid biosurfactants at ktonne scale. Prior to his Lectureship James worked as a Post-doctoral Research Associate in the Multiphase Processing Group on an EPSRC funded Challenging Engineering Project.

James obtained a PhD in the area of biosurfactant production and separation from The University of Manchester in 2011, supervised by Dr Peter Martin and funded by EPSRC and Unilever, following which he was awarded a six month EPSRC Doctoral Prize. He graduated with a 1^st Class MEng in Engineering Science from the University of Oxford in 2007.