Paramespri (Prathieka) Naidoo is a Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Stellenbosch University and holds the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) Research Chair in Green Hydrogen – Integration and Transition.  The research under the Chair focuses on advancing low-carbon hydrogen technologies, including membrane electrode assemblies, waste-to-energy integration, and water reuse for electrochemical processes. This is particularly driven by developing scalable, industry relevant solutions to support South Africa’s just energy transition and circular economy. 

She obtained a PhD (Engineering) in 2004 from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) and began her academic career as a lecturer at the then University of Natal in 2004. Throughout her academic lecturing career, she has been passionate about module development and curriculum renewal, having undertaken many changes to the chemical engineering programme at UKZN, and lectured across all four years of the teaching programme. She was the Academic Leader for the Chemical Engineering Programme at UKZN during 2012 – 2014 and served as the Programme Coordinator (2016 -2019). 

She has a publication research record of more than 130 publications in international peer reviewed journals, an h-index of 31, and 3784 citations. Her supervision record includes successful completion and graduation of 61 postgraduate chemical engineering students; supervision of 8 Postdoctoral fellows and 9 interns. 

Prof Naidoo is a specialist in chemical thermodynamics, chemical process design with expertise in experimental, thermodynamic modeling and simulation design. The research is application-driven, focusing on fundamental data measurement and modelling to simulation and pilot scale work in separation technology, carbon capture technology, natural gas systems and separation-purification studies. These include: phase separation problems such as vapour-liquid, liquid-liquid, solid-liquid, vapour-liquid-solid systems, separation of gaseous mixtures, distillation and enhanced distillation studies (supercritical, extractive distillation, azeotropic distillation), concentration studies via evaporation or hydrate technology, adsorption and absorption, extraction and purification studies, crystallization and supercritical studies; design of a range of equipment, variable conditions of high/low pressure and high/low temperature studies, for the mentioned applications at bench top and pilot scale work. 

Current research-based activities are focused on a systems design approach from renewal energy generation, hydrogen production via electrolysis or alternate means, through hydrogen storage and transportation, and waste management strategies. Energy efficiency and sustainability are central topics in collaborative research projects with industry stakeholders. She also coordinated the Green Hydrogen Module II: Hydrogen technologies, a short course and postgraduate module offered at Stellenbosch University, Department of Chemical Engineering.

She was the Co-Director of the Thermodynamics Research Unit (TRU) and served as the Interim DSI/NRF SARChI Chair in Fluorine Process Engineering and Separations Technology during 2019 – 2020. She has been the recipient of a number of research contracts and funding awards through the NRF, ESKOM, DSI and DST/DSTI research initiatives and programmes.

Education

• PhD (Chemical Engineering) University of KwaZulu-Natal – (2004)
• MSc.Eng. (Chemical Engineering) University of Natal – (2002 Upgrade to PhD)
• BSc.Eng (Chemical Engineering) University of Natal – (1999)

Professional Experience

• August 2021 – Present: Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering, Stellenbosch University (SU)
• Aug 2018 – June 2021: Professor in the Chemical Engineering Programme at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN)
• 2016 – 2019: Programme Coordinator in the Chemical Engineering Programme at UKZN
• 2015 – 2018: Associate Professor in the Chemical Engineering Programme at UKZN
• 2012 – 2014: Academic Leader (HoD) for the Chemical Engineering Programme at UKZN
• 2009 – 2015: Senior Lecturer in the Chemical Engineering Programme at UKZN
• 2004 – 2009: Lecturer in the Department of Chemical Engineering Programme at the University of Natal (UN)

Other

• 2017 – 2022: Co-Director of the Thermodynamics Research Unit (TRU)
• 2014 – 2021: Director of Datachem Pty Ltd.
• 2019 – 2020: Interim DSI/NRF SARChI Chair in Fluorine Process Engineering and Separations Technology

Honours & Awards

• 2023 – Present: Sasol-NRF Research Chair (SARChi) in Green Hydrogen
• 2012 – 2017;2019; 2020: School of Engineering Research Productivity Awards (UKZN)
• 2017: Top 10 Young Researchers at UKZN (under 40 years)
• 2013: SAIChE Innovation Award (Awarded to TRU Research Team)
• 2002 – 2003: NRF Prestigious Scholarship for postgraduate studies
• 2001: 2001 Catalyst Innovation Competition (National round – team award)

Research Interests

• High-pressure and low-pressure phase equilibria – modelling and measurements
• Chemical separation technologies
• Hydrate-based separations
• Distillation, enhanced distillation techniques, crystallization and extraction experiments, pilot plant distillation and extraction operations
  Supercritical studies
• Solid waste management processes

Selected Publications

A list of her published works can be found on her Google Scholar profile.

Teaching

• Undergraduate Chemical Engineering modules: Introductory and Principles of mass and energy balancing 224,
• Mass and Energy Balancing 254,
• Mass Transfer 367,
• 3rd year Chemical Engineering Practical modules,
• Supervising final year projects.

Postgraduate short course: in Green Hydrogen Project Engineering, presented annually with the Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies