Dr. Robert Cordina B.Sc.(Hons.) MPhil DIC PGDipAppChem MSc PhD CChem FRSC
Robert holds a PhD in Computational Chemistry from the University of Strathclyde, focusing on the simulation of fat molecules using Molecular Dynamics. He is also a Chartered Chemist and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry. Robert's undergraduate degree and other postgraduate degrees are from the University of Malta, Imperial College London and Cardiff Metropolitan University.
He has over 20 years working experience in the pharmaceutical and food industries across Malta, Switzerland, Australia and the United Kingdom. Having worked with a range of companies, from startups to multinationals, in different roles, such as Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Product Development and Modelling & Simulation, Robert has also worked across a wide range of products and therefore has gained a wide breath of experience. Before founding Funis Consulting, Robert was Global Technical Lead for Physical Science Modelling & Simulation at a global snacking company.
One of the flagship projects developed entirely by Funis Consulting Ltd is MATOFX SPDM™, a software-agnostic Simulation Process Data Management (SPDM) platform. MATOFX SPDM™ was co-created by Robert and Audrey Cordina Sacco, combining their expertise to deliver a flexible solution for managing simulation processes, data and models across workflows. The software is a democratisation tool which yet allows for strong governance. In recognition of his expertise with SPDMs, Robert was also admitted to the NAFEMS SPDM Working Group (SPDMWG) where he contributes to the advancement of best practices in Simulation Process Data Management (SPDM) software. Other than this, Robert is also a co-editor and co-author of the book Informing Food Choices: Sorting Fact from Fiction.
Other than running his software/model-based consultancy business, where he focuses on mathematical, chemical and physical modelling and simulation, data science and process/parameter optimisation, Robert is also the co-founder and CTO of FuniSoft Ltd, where he has built ChromMine(TM) (a software solution for analysing complex chromatographic datasets), as well as being a casual lecturer in Food Chemistry and Physics at the University of Malta for over ten years. Robert is also currently on the editorial board of Current Research in Food Science, and is a past Chair of the Food Group of the Royal Society of Chemistry in the UK.
Robert is passionate about leveraging his knowledge and skills to solve complex and challenging problems for industry, and to create innovative and sustainable solutions. He is motivated by the opportunity to contribute to the advancement of science and technology, in particular that of food science and chemistry, as well as applying modelling & simulation and data science and optimisation to help companies in their decision-making.