Adjunct Associate Professor
Research Interests: Sustainable and compostable biopolymers
Dr. Attenborough's research focuses on the development of sustainable and compostable biopolymers, particularly polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) produced from microbial and waste-derived feedstocks, spanning fundamental bacterial physiology through to advanced materials for packaging and biomedical applications. He has a strong research interest in microplastics pollution, with a particular focus on understanding polymer fragmentation, chemical ageing, and nanoscale degradation pathways using advanced vibrational spectroscopy techniques, including atomic force microscopy–infrared spectroscopy (AFM-IR) and optical photothermal infrared spectroscopy (O-PTIR). His work integrates nanoscale characterization with polymer processing and structure–property relationships to inform scalable, real-world solutions for materials design and environmental impact reduction. As a Fulbright Scholar at UAB, he is collaborating on PHA nanoparticles and composite biomaterials for drug delivery and packaging applications. Alongside his research, Eddie is actively engaged in teaching and curriculum development in engineering, with a strong emphasis on sustainability, translational research, industry engagement, and mentorship of student teams.