October 1, 2007 The group continues to develop its research interests in process analytical technologies and process engineering, through the appointment of Dr Mark Leaper from the University of Nottingham.

Dr Leaper has a track record in researching inter-particle processes that lead to powder caking and segregation of powder mixtures. He has produced several publications on the use of vibration to separate fine particle mixtures in the range relevant to pharmaceuticals and has investigated the use to low-viscosity liquid oxygen to separate fine particle systems in magnetic fields. Dr Leaper complements existing expertise within the group (especially the research interests of Dr Mingzhong Li) which currently focuses more on particle characteristics in suspension.