UTT's Dr. Dillon Ramsook Selected as Oxford CARIBOX Visiting Fellow to Advance Green Ammonia Innovation for the Caribbean

The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) proudly congratulates Dr. Dillon Ramsook, Assistant Professor in Process Engineering, on his selection as a 2026 CaribOxVisiting Fellow at the University of Oxford. Dr. Ramsook was one of only two regional candidates selected as visiting fellows for the 2026 period.

The CARIBOX Visiting Fellowship, part of the Caribbean Oxford Initiative, is a pioneering program that fosters collaboration between Caribbean-based researchers and Oxford scholars across all disciplines. It aims to serve as a nucleus for international research and knowledge exchange - linking the Caribbean's unique insights with Oxford's world-class academic ecosystem.

This prestigious yearlong fellowship for 2026 - hosted by Oxford's TORCH (The Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities) Caribbean Studies Network and the Department of Engineering Science - recognizes leading Caribbean researchers who are driving transformative work across science, sustainability, and society.

Of this year long engagement, Dr. Ramsook will have a two-month in person residency at Oxford in May-June 2026, where he will collaborate with Professor Rene Bañares-Alcántara and the OXGATE (Oxford Green Ammonia TEchnology) research group on a project titled "Green Ammonia Innovation for the Caribbean." The initiative will apply Oxford's advanced techno-economic and systems optimization models to design sustainable, low-carbon pathways for ammonia production across Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

"I'm excited to use this fellowship to build meaningful academic and policy partnerships," said Dr. Ramsook from an interview with CaribOx.
"This collaboration allows us to adapt Oxford's cutting-edge models and tools to Caribbean realities - supporting climate action, industrial decarbonization, and sustainable energy transitions in Trinidad and Tobago and beyond."

Ammonia production is central to Trinidad and Tobago's industrial economy, underpinning its role as the largest exporter of ammonia in Latin America and the Caribbean. Yet, the sector faces mounting challenges, including global decarbonization pressures and emerging trade measures such as the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). Over the past year, Dr. Ramsook has published and presented on these issues, highlighting both the risks and opportunities for local producers navigating the global low-carbon shift.

Through the CARIBOX collaboration, Dr. Ramsook's research will focus on optimizing energy use, integrating renewable hydrogen, and evaluating carbon mitigation pathways that preserve competitiveness while reducing emissions. The work will also explore how SIDS - many of which are dependent on imported fertilizers and fossil fuels - can leverage green ammonia to enhance energy security and agricultural resilience.

Professor Bañares-Alcántara, in a comment via Oxford's department of Engineering Sciencesocial blog, emphasized the importance of this collaboration, noting that "Trinidad and Tobago is the only net exporter of ammonia in Latin America and the Caribbean - a region that remains a major importer of nitrogen-based fertilizers. Maintaining or even increasing ammonia production, while simultaneously decarbonizing it, is vital to ensuring regional sustainability."

The CaribOx Fellowship represents more than an academic milestone; it is a strategic step in connecting Caribbean expertise with global innovation networks. By bridging Oxford's research excellence and UTT's applied engineering leadership, the project will establish a foundation for future research partnerships, technology adaptation, and knowledge transfer between Europe and the Caribbean.

For UTT, this achievement reflects the university's growing role as a hub for sustainable industrial research and climate innovation. Dr. Ramsook's work exemplifies UTT's mission to translate technical expertise into actionable solutions that support national development, regional energy resilience, and global climate goals.

Reference links:

About CaribOx

Announcing the CaribOx Award recipients for 2026

Torch- Green Ammonia Innovation for the Caribbean!

CaribOx Visiting Fellowship will start application of green ammonia models and tools to small island developing states