Professor Alex Routh

Biography

Professor Alex Routh leads the Colloidal Dispersions group in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at the University of Cambridge. His research focuses on colloid science, fluid mechanics, applied mathematics, polymers and encapsulation.

Alex obtained his MEng in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cambridge in 1995, and completed his PhD in Chemical Engineering at Princeton in 2000.

He is a fellow of Gonville and Caius College.

Research interests

Film formation and dispersion drying

Aggregation

Engine oil additives

Encapsulation

Microgels

Professor Routh’s research group delves into both dispersed colloidal particles and materials formed from them. They use their knowledge of their properties to develop bespoke materials for use in areas from drug delivery, surfactants and paints, to sustainable fuels for aviation.

Awards and achievements

Fellow – Gonville and Caius college, Cambridge

Fellow – Royal Society of Chemistry

Fellow – Institution of Chemical Engineers

Member – American Chemical Society

Member – Society of Chemical Industry

Member – International Polymer Colloids Group

Member – International Association of Colloid and Interface Scientists
Most Cited Articles award – Journal of Colloid and Interface Science (2008-2009)
Winner – McBain award (2010)
Science award – Coatings Science International (2012)
Chartered Engineer (2017)
Davidson medal – Institution of Chemical Engineers (2023)
Visiting professorship – Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany (2024)
Thomas Graham Lecturer (2025)
Economic Impact award – ISIS Neutron and Muon Source (2025)

Teaching and supervision

Professor Routh teaches and supervises across undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Courses he teaches include: Colloid science, Mathematical methods; Safety, Health and the Environment, Materials, Process Dynamics and Control, Seperations, Process Enterprise and Logistics, Process Calculations, Process Design, and Heat and Mass transfer.

Professor Alex Routh

Professor of Colloid Science

Colloidal Dispersions research group leader

Visit the research group