SupervisoryTeam
Reyes Mallada
Supervisor Details
Email: rmallada@unizar.es
Organization Type: University
Organization Name: Universidad de Zaragoza
Short Biography: My research is centered in the development of nanostructured materials, micro and mesoporous, metallic nanoparticles, and clusters. These materials are applied in different fields such as membranes, catalysis, adsorption and sensors. In all these fields the miniaturization and integration of alternative energy forms for process activation, i.e, ligth or microwaves is also pursued. I have co-authored 118 peer-reviewed publications indexed in SCI (82% in Q1) with more than 3000 cites an average citation of 300 cites/year in the last five years. I have participated in 30 research projects, 33% of them EU, 40% national and the rest regional and consultancy with companies (BSH, VALEO, PPG and SAICA). I am co-director of an industrial doctorate with Nurel, part of SAMCA group. Since 2019 I am director of “Catedra SAMCA nanotechnology, were we promote the public-private collaboration and scientific dissemination. Currently I am involved in a MSCA staff exchange project (SENSOFT), in the collaborative projects SERSING (H2020 - Security) and STORMING (HE, Energy), and in the MESD Erasmus Mundus Master (Master in Membrane Engineering for Sustainable Development). I am currently co-supervising 5 Ph.D. candidates.
Kevin M. Van Geem
Co-Supervisor Details
Email: kevin.vangeem@ugent.be
Organization Type: University
Organization Name: Ghent University
Short Biography: Kevin Van Geem (full professor) is member of the Laboratory for Chemical Technology of Ghent University. Thermochemical reaction engineering in general and in particular the transition from fossil to renewable resources are his main research interests. He is a former Fulbright Research Scholar of MIT and directs the Pilot plant for steam cracking and pyrolysis. He is the author of more than hundred scientific publications and has recently started his own spin-off company.
Jesús Santamaría
Other Co-Supervisor
Email: jesus.santamaria@unizar.es
Organization Type: University
Organization Name: Universidad de Zaragoza
Short Biography: Prof. Jesús Santamaria (male) is a twice Advanced ERC Grantee (CADENCE and HECTOR) and research group leader at INMA, full Professor at UNIZAR since 1990. Prof. Santamaría has strong experience in Ph.D. supervision, having graduated 36 Ph.D. students so far. He has also participated as partner in a European Training Network for Continuous Sonication and Microwave Reactors (COSMIC, H2020-MSCA-ITN-ETN, GA 721290, 2016-19, 247,872€) and in the ADREM project (H2020 - LEIT NMBP, 2015-19, GA 680777). Currently he is involved in a MSCA staff exchange project (SENSOFT), in the collaborative projects SERSING (H2020 - Security) and STORMING (HE, Energy), and in the MESD Erasmus Mundus Master (Master in Membrane Engineering for Sustainable Development). He is currently supervising 7 Ph.D. candidates.
Added Value: ROLE: Scientific contributor, networking, training and supervision of DCs, e.g., on materials engineering and catalysis in biological environments
ResearchGroup
Description: Group members: 19 NFP is interested in the development of bottom-up methods that allow us to synthesize nanoscaled materials in a way that is both precise and scalable. Our synthesis procedures are designed to endow the final product with the properties required for the desired application. Thus, for applications in nanomedicine our structures have to perform a certain function, (e.g. deliver a therapeutic cargo to a tumour in vivo), but at the same time they have to fulfil a wide set of requisites such as be biodegradable, or at least biocompatible, capable to avoid the immune system, sometimes also capable of remote activation etc. This entails the fabrication of complex architectures with nanoscale precision. Similarly, in other fields of application within our research portfolio (e.g. nanostructured surfaces for molecular recognition, or nanomaterials for environmental photocatalysis) the final product always requires a careful design and accurate fabrication. https://nfp.unizar.es/lab-members/faculty-and-researchers/
ResearchLine
Description: Title: CO2 mitigation: capture, utilization and process decarbonization This research line is focus on CO2 mitigation following different approaches. The actual technology for capture is based on liquid amines instead we proposed the development of structured adsorbents, coupled with short adsorption/desorption cycles, to achieve higher productivity and a lower carbon footprint of the process. The conventional industrial methane steam reforming process operating at high pressure and temperatures>800ºC introduced in the 1960s. Reforming of methane with CO2 instead of H2O, “Dry reforming of Methane” DRM, results in a H2/CO ratio of 1 and reduces the carbon footprint by the abatement of two of the most abundant greenhouse gases. We propose using microwaves to provide energy to these two processes, CO2 capture and DRM, that will result in fast heating and decarbonization of an energy intensive endothermic process respectively.
CareerDevelopment
Objectives
- 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
- Publication of articles
- Attendance to international conferences
Training Skills
- Project Management
- Time Management
- Open Science
- Research Valorization
- Entrepreneurship
- Leadership
- Training for job interviews, CV writing
- Advanced Digital Skills
- Responsible use of Artificial Intelligence