SupervisoryTeam

Supervisor Photo

Jesús Julián Pérez-Torrente

Supervisor Details

Email: perez@unizar.es

Organization Type: University

Organization Name: Universidad de Zaragoza

Short Biography: Graduated in Chemistry and PhD in Chemistry from the University of Zaragoza, and Graduated in Economics from the National University of Distance Education. He was Associate Professor in the Inorganic Chemistry Department of the University of Zaragoza. After a postdoctoral stay at the University of Oxford under the supervision of Prof. Dr. J. M. Brown, he returned to the University of Zaragoza where he develops his teaching and research activity, as Lecturer since 1995 and as a full Professor of Inorganic Chemistry since 2010. His main research interest focuses on coordination and organometallic chemistry, and homogeneous catalysis. He has participated in the development of research projects financed in competitive calls of national or regional character since 1996, and since 2006 as principal investigator. He has been responsible for research contracts with the companies Ibérica de Sales and PeroxyChem, and for a “Retos Colaboración” project (RTC-2017-6504-5) with the company Ariño Duglass on the fabrication of coated-glasses and their application in the in-flow degradation of NOx. He is coordinator of the research group Homogeneous Catalysis for Organometallic Compounds (CatHCO) since 2017. He has co-authored 7 PhD Thesis, about 150 scientific papers in international journals of high impact and the text-book Química (Editorial Santillana, 1997). He was former Secretary of the University Institute for Homogeneous Catalysis Research (IUCH), and Deputy Director of the Institute of Chemical Synthesis and Homogeneous Catalysis (ISQCH).

Co-Supervisor Photo

Leyre Tejedor Recio

Co-Supervisor Details

Email: Leyre.tejedor@duglass.com

Organization Type: Non-academic institution

Organization Name: Ariño Duglass

Short Biography: Leyre Tejedor holds a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry from the University of Zaragoza (2008-2013) and a Master's degree in Sustainable Chemistry (2013-2014), with her master's thesis being conducted during an ERASMUS exchange at the University of York (UK). Following the completion of her academic training, she worked for nearly a year at BSH Electrodomésticos in the advanced materials innovation laboratory, where she developed various coatings to enhance the functionality of different appliance components. This work resulted in the filing of three patents. For two years, she worked at the CSIC, participating in projects related to enantioselective homogeneous catalysis, summarizing her work during this period in a scientific article. In May 2018, she joined Ariño Duglass as a researcher within the R&D department. Over the course of these six years, she has been involved in various national and international R&D projects. Within the company, she has been responsible for training several intern students working on their final projects for their undergraduate and master's degrees. She also serves as a coordinator for several research and development projects.

Added Value: Leyre Tejedor possesses extensive experience in glass treatment and transformation. She has been and continues to be involved in various R&D projects focused on developing new coatings for energy efficient glazing to improve environmental sustainability. She is well-versed in the properties of this substrate and the current regulations. Her noteworthy involvement includes the "FOTOFREC" project, which was part of the national call RETOS COLABORACIÓN 2017, where the research on photocatalytic coatings for glass was initiated. She also coordinates other projects such as CONTER (RETOS-COLABORACIÓN 2019), GENERDIS (MISIONES 2022), and ECOGLASS (Public-Private Partnership 2021). In the ECOGLASS project, various coatings aimed at self-cleaning and photocatalytic glass properties are being studied. Within the company, she participates in other projects like SUNRISE (H2020), Neutralpath (H2021), and Smartlux (CPP-21). Her involvement also extends to knowledge transfer platforms like Mafex and training through collaborations with the University of Zaragoza.

Other Co-Supervisor Photo

Martin Albrecht

Other Co-Supervisor

Email: martin.albrecht@unibe.ch

Organization Type: University

Organization Name: University of Bern

Short Biography: Professor Martin Albrecht earned his PhD in 2000, focusing on novel sensors, switches, and catalysts derived from late transition metal complexes under Gerard van Koten at Utrecht University. He then pursued postdoctoral research at Yale with Robert H. Crabtree, followed by a position at Ciba SC working on nanoparticles for coating effects in an industrial setting. In 2003, Prof. Albrecht became an Alfred Werner Assistant Professor at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland, also serving as a visiting professor at Otago University in New Zealand with Sally Brooker. In 2009, he became a full professor at University College Dublin. Since 2015, Prof. Albrecht has held the position of Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Bern in Switzerland. He has received notable accolades, including the Bakker Prize for his PhD Thesis from the Royal Dutch Society of Chemistry, the Humboldt Research Award (Bessel Fellowship), and the CATSA Eminent Visitor from the Catalysis Society of South Africa. Remarkably, he has been awarded an ERC Starting Grant and an ERC Consolidator Grant.

Added Value: The experience of Prof. Albrecht in the industrial applicability of coatings based on nanoparticles, attained during his position at Ciba SC, together with his broad expertise in Organometallic and Inorganic Chemistry, particularly in the design of catalysts based on Earth-abundant metals, will play a pivotal role in the development of cost-effective and sustainable hybrid catalysts. Furthermore, his extensive international network and industry connections will significantly enhance the fellow's networking, employability, and international mobility. Regarding the training of the fellow, her/his time in Prof. Albrecht's group will provide a comprehensive perspective on the synthesis and characterization of catalysts based on first-row transition metals, imparting training in various advanced techniques, crucial for her/his professional development.

ResearchGroup

Description: The group Homogeneous Catalysis by Organometallic Compounds (CatHCO) is a reference Research Group in the scope of Aragon (E42_20R). - Our group, coordinated by Prof. Jesús J. Pérez Torrente, consists of 15 full-time and 5 temporary members. - Our research focuses on the preparation of new transition catalysts and the study of their application as catalysts for Sustainable Chemistry processes. - We are interested in homogeneous, heterogeneous and hybrid catalysts based in nanostructured (graphene oxide and carbon nanotubes) and mesostructured (silica) materials as a support for the immobilization of molecular catalysts. - We regularly collaborate with companies. For instance, recently we have participated in contracts and research projects with Ariño-Duglass; BSH Electrodomésticos España; Ibérica de Sales S. A. and PeroxyChem Spain. - During the last 5 years, we have published over 110 papers in the last 5 years (95% in Q1-JRC) and supervised 10 PhDs.

ResearchLine

Description: Title: Development of photocatalysts for the degradation and valorization of pollutants Research line: The research aims to advance the field of environmental remediation by focusing on the development of innovative photocatalysts for the efficient degradation and valorization of pollutants, including organic dyes, nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide. Pollution, arising from various sources such as industrial discharges, agriculture, and urban activities, poses a significant threat to ecosystems and human health. Conventional pollutant treatment methods often have limitations, including high energy consumption and the generation of secondary pollutants. Photocatalysis has emerged as a promising green technology to address these issues. Our research will involve the design and synthesis of novel photocatalytic materials, with a primary focus on TiO2 semiconductors, and hybrid molecular-TiO2 nanomaterials. These materials will be tailored to exhibit enhanced light absorption, and surface reactivity, thereby improving their photocatalytic performance. The investigation will also explore the utilization of advanced nanostructuring and doping techniques to fine-tune material properties.

Others

Description: The proposed research aims to develop a novel strategy for catalyst design in alignment with the Marie Sk?odowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Green Charter, emphasizing sustainability, circular economy principles, and environmental responsibility. Catalysts play a pivotal role in chemical processes, impacting energy efficiency, waste reduction, and environmental impact. But they must be developed by means of sustainable and environmentally responsible practices within the scientific community. To ensure that our project management aligns with environmentally responsible practices, we propose the implementation of the following points: - Prioritize the procurement of environmentally friendly and sustainable materials, chemicals, and laboratory equipment. - Collaborate with suppliers who adhere to sustainable practices and provide eco-friendly alternatives. - Emphasize the use of teleconferencing for project meetings, reducing the need for physical travel. - Implement energy-efficient practices and technologies to minimize energy consumption. - Minimize water use by implementing close systems for refrigeration purposes. - Establish a dedicated recycling system for laboratory waste, emphasizing the separation and recycling of materials, chemicals, and equipment. - Minimize waste generation and resource consumption by optimizing laboratory and experimental procedures. ?

CareerDevelopment

Objectives

  • Future postdoc employment at the University
  • Increased employability in the non-academic sector
  • International mobility
  • Building collaborative networks
  • Trainings to enhance career opportunities
  • Application of postdoctoral grants (MSCA, Juan de la Cierva, etc.)
  • Application for projects and funding (Horizon Europe, national plans, etc.)
  • Involvement in teaching, supervision, or mentoring

Expected Outputs

  • PhD defense
  • Application of grants (MSCA, Juan de la Cierva, etc.)
  • Publication of articles
  • Patenting
  • Developing new products, solutions, or services
  • Attendance to international conferences

Other Outputs: Supervision of undergraduate and master's students.

Training Skills

  • Project Management
  • Time Management
  • Grant Writing
  • Communication to the civil society and public engagement
  • Open Science
  • Gender and diversity dimension of research
  • Ethics and Research Integrity
  • Teaching
  • Supervision
  • Intellectual Property
  • Research Valorization
  • Leadership
  • Advanced Digital Skills
  • Spanish
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