Position: Reader in Bioresources Science and Engineering, Cranfield Water Science Institute, Cranfield University
Bio: Yadira Bajón-Fernández is a Reader in Bioresources Science and Engineering at Cranfield University, where she leads the Bioresource Technology Laboratory and a multidisciplinary research team focused on sustainable resource recovery from biomass through biorefinery principles. She has over 15 years’ experience in industrial collaborative research, specialising in anaerobic digestion (AD), AD pre-treatments, dark fermentation, GHG mitigation, methanation and biosolids quality.
Her work bridges fundamental microbial and biochemical science with full-scale implementation, supporting carbon reduction, circular economy delivery and asset resilience. Her research has directly influenced the design, operation and optimisation of full-scale sludge and waste AD facilities in the UK, and she has received multiple industrial awards for translating research into real-world impact.
Yadira is currently seconded as Policy Delivery Technical Advisor to the UK Government’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), where she informs science-based policy to support sustainable biomethane growth and the cost-effective delivery of the UK’s Net Zero and energy security ambitions. She serves on the World Biogas Association Council, represents the UK on the International Water Association’s AD Specialist Group and is an elected member of the Select Society of Sanitary Sludge Shovellers, recognising outstanding contribution to the sludge and bioresources sector.