
Dr Katie Costello
About
Biography
My MEng and PhD Chemical Engineering degrees were obtained at the University of Surrey. During my undergraduate degree I worked for Fluor Ltd for a total of 15 months. After completing my PhD I joined the academic staff in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Surrey.
University roles and responsibilities
- Admissions Tutor, CPE
ResearchResearch interests
During my PhD, I investigated the impact of food structure on the efficacy of novel food processing technologies to inactivate food-related bacteria. I have experience in measuring the rheological properties of food models, RNA extraction from solid samples, imaging techniques such as CLSM and SEM for liquid and solid samples, and standard microbiological practices. I also have experience working in a tissue culture laboratory for my Masters dissertation: investigating the impact of autophagy on the treatment of pancreatic cancer by chemoradiotherapy.
My current research is two-fold and focuses on:
Food processing and production. The production and processing of foods that are safe to eat, sustainably produced/processed, with high crop yield, is of increasing importance as the global population continues to rise. Novel processing technologies such as ultrasound, natural antimicrobials, and cold atmospheric plasma are of interest for these aspects. They are milder than traditional methods and can maintain “fresh-like” food characteristics while ensuring food safety. They can also assist in food production e.g. for improved crop yield, and for production of bio-derived packaging. Future projects will investigate these processing technologies and their impact on food production, shelf life, and food-related bacteria.
How we teach chemical engineering, and how students learn. I am particularly interested in the practicalities of chemical engineering education, and how we can better support student learning with aspects such as concept linking, mastery of key and threshold concepts, and digitalisation aspects. Ongoing projects include:
- Concept linking in Chemical Engineering education (ongoing MEng project, part funded by the Teaching Innovation Fund 2021)
- The impact of peer assessment and group work on the student experience (MEng project 2020-21)
- Digitalisation in Chemical Engineering education (ongoing)
Research projects
Encouraging concept linking in Chemical EngineeringThe aim of this project is to encourage undergraduate students to develop a greater understanding and better links between the concepts covered in modules throughout the chemical engineering degree course.
To do this, a novel “mastery” module will be developed and implemented to run alongside taught chemical engineering modules. It will contain self-directed learning activities which are designed to identify and link together key threshold concepts introduced in assessed modules. Initially, these activities will be developed for year one learning, and if successful the project will continue to develop additional material to supplement the whole chemical engineering degree.
This project is funded through the FEPS Teaching Innovation Fund 2021.
To find out more about this project, please visit this page.
Research interests
During my PhD, I investigated the impact of food structure on the efficacy of novel food processing technologies to inactivate food-related bacteria. I have experience in measuring the rheological properties of food models, RNA extraction from solid samples, imaging techniques such as CLSM and SEM for liquid and solid samples, and standard microbiological practices. I also have experience working in a tissue culture laboratory for my Masters dissertation: investigating the impact of autophagy on the treatment of pancreatic cancer by chemoradiotherapy.
My current research is two-fold and focuses on:
Food processing and production. The production and processing of foods that are safe to eat, sustainably produced/processed, with high crop yield, is of increasing importance as the global population continues to rise. Novel processing technologies such as ultrasound, natural antimicrobials, and cold atmospheric plasma are of interest for these aspects. They are milder than traditional methods and can maintain “fresh-like” food characteristics while ensuring food safety. They can also assist in food production e.g. for improved crop yield, and for production of bio-derived packaging. Future projects will investigate these processing technologies and their impact on food production, shelf life, and food-related bacteria.
How we teach chemical engineering, and how students learn. I am particularly interested in the practicalities of chemical engineering education, and how we can better support student learning with aspects such as concept linking, mastery of key and threshold concepts, and digitalisation aspects. Ongoing projects include:
- Concept linking in Chemical Engineering education (ongoing MEng project, part funded by the Teaching Innovation Fund 2021)
- The impact of peer assessment and group work on the student experience (MEng project 2020-21)
- Digitalisation in Chemical Engineering education (ongoing)
Research projects
The aim of this project is to encourage undergraduate students to develop a greater understanding and better links between the concepts covered in modules throughout the chemical engineering degree course.
To do this, a novel “mastery” module will be developed and implemented to run alongside taught chemical engineering modules. It will contain self-directed learning activities which are designed to identify and link together key threshold concepts introduced in assessed modules. Initially, these activities will be developed for year one learning, and if successful the project will continue to develop additional material to supplement the whole chemical engineering degree.
This project is funded through the FEPS Teaching Innovation Fund 2021.
To find out more about this project, please visit this page.
Teaching
I am involved in the following modules for the Chemical Engineering and Chemical and Petroleum Engineering courses:
- Transferable Skills and Laboratory Skills (ENG1083) - module leader
- Engineering Systems and Dynamics (ENG2120) - module leader, teaching staff in collaboration with Dr Michael Short
- Separation Processes 2 (ENG3185) - module leader
- Refinery Separation Processes (ENG3199) - module leader, teaching staff in collaboration with Dr Ralph Chadeesingh.
- Y3 Design Project and Equipment Design
- MEng Research Projects (Y4)