Jason Leong

Course: Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in the field of Mechanical Engineering, 2007
Nationality: Malaysian
Current role: Scientist (Fluid Dynamics), Institute of High Performance Computing, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) (Singapore)

Please tell us about your role in your current organisation.

As a scientist in the fluid dynamics department, my work involves applying computational fluid modelling and simulation tools to engineering problems. To date, I have been involved in several areas of research such as high fidelity simulations of inkjet print heads, implementing computational design and optimisation techniques in the design of print heads, modelling of stirred tank bioreactors and trickle bed reactors, to name a few.

Working at my current institute has exposed me to many experts in the field of computational fluid dynamics and given me the opportunity to work on very interesting research topics. It has also pushed me to learn to make use of many new simulation tools and especially open source tools in the field of computational simulation.

Why did you choose Monash?

I was first introduced to Monash University after visiting the Malaysian campus while reviewing the engineering programs of several universities. As a university in the Group of Eight, Monash has established a solid reputation for research and employable graduates. I was also drawn to the Malaysian campus because it offered similar degrees to the Australian campuses and that no distinction would be made between the graduates.

Pursuing my postgraduate degree after receiving my degree in engineering seemed like the right step because of my interest in research. Given my familiarity with my future supervisors and the research topics offered, it was clear that Monash was a good step. In this regard, both the undergraduate and postgraduate programs have met my expectations. It has certainly equipped me for my current career path as a full-time researcher.

Please tell us about your PhD research.

My PhD research was in biodiesel production. The production of biodiesel involves mixing organic oil and a short-chain alcohol which are not miscible in the early stages of reaction. My work involved the study of the mixing of methanol and palm oil in the early stages of the reaction to transform palm oil into biodiesel.

The novelty of this research is in the use of a static mixer rather than a stirred tank to achieve sufficient mixing in this process to break the methanol into very fine droplets. This study was approached both experimentally and numerically. One of the challenges is the use of a relatively high concentration of methanol which makes visualisation of the methanol droplets difficult. Therefore, a suitable droplet measurement technique was developed during the course of my work.

The numerical simulations complemented the experiments and were performed with a commercial CFD code. The CFD simulations helped in predicting the transient phenomena during the methanol mixing process. A key finding in my PhD work was that using a static mixer for the mixing process in biodiesel production was more efficient than the conventional stirred tank reactors used at the time.

Did you participate in any student activities or opportunities while at Monash?

As a PhD candidate, I had the opportunity to participate in local conferences. I also was involved as a student volunteer in a conference hosted by Monash Malaysia (9th International Heat Pipe Symposium). These events introduced me to how the scientific community used conferences as a platform to share and exchange ideas. On the other hand, participating as a student volunteer was an eye-opener as it showed me how much time, effort and planning actually goes into organising a scientific conference.

What did you enjoy most about your student life?

I will always cherish my years as a student. Monash provides such a conducive environment for learning. From the lecturers to fellow peers, the spirit of Ancora Imparo permeates the student experience reflected in their willingness to not just share and impart knowledge but also to provide an environment that cultivates a sense of curiousness. Being one of the earliest batches of PhD students at Monash Malaysia also made for a very close-knit group. Although we had very different areas of research, we often had meaningful discussions on PhD life and research in general. We also made it a point to pursue some weekly fitness activities such as jogging or swimming.

What are your career goals?

I feel that there is still much that I can contribute and much more that I can learn at my research institute. I am very much invested in my current research work which interfaces OpenSource fluid modelling codes with optimisation toolboxes for design and optimisation problems. I would like to see this framework applied to a variety of engineering problems in the future.