Fitxa persona

Scientific Career. I am a multidisciplinary scientist with focus on several disciplines, i.e. chemical engineering, polymer material science/technology, food science/technology, wood and fiber technology and biotechnology . I have almost 20 years of research experience in both acemic and industrial environments acrross 3 different countries (Spain, Italy and Sweden). My academic roles have included positions at prestigious institutions such as the University of Valencia(UV) and the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) in Spain; the University of Bologna(UNIBO) in Italy; and the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Skövde University (HIS), and the Swedish University of Agricultural Science (SLU) in Sweden. On the industrial side, I have contributed to research at the Textile Research Independent Association (AITEX) in Spain and the Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE). This international and cross-sector experience has provided me with a global perspective and a unique ability to bridge the gap between academic research and its industrial applications. I hold 2 MSc degrees: one in Chemical Engineering from the UPV, Spain, and another through the International European Master in Materials and Sensors for Environmental Technologies, a program hosted across three universities¿UNIBO, Italy; UPV, Spain; and KTH, Sweden. In 2006, I was awarded an FPI fellowship by the Spanish Ministry of Education to pursue a PhD in Materials Engineering, focusing on the design, characterization, and degradation of reinforced natural fiber polysaccharide-based composites to evaluate their performance during service life and degradation during disposal. Afterwards, I expanded my international experience as a Post-doctoral Associate in Prof Monica Ek ´s group at FPT-Fiber and Polymer Technology Department, KTH, Stockholm. Supported by 2 international granted fellowships, I had the opportunity to define my own research project on the valorization of forest residues into nanocellulose composites for food packaging, marking the beginning of my independent research career and allowing me to collaborate with a great number of renowned experts. After that, I stablished myself as an independent researcher, working simultaneously at two Swedish universities: KTH and the University of Skövde (HIS). At KTH, I expanded my research group by securing competitive funding from the Åforsk Forest Research Foundation and an industrial bilateral project with HL Display AB. Concurrently, as an Associate Professor (tenure track) at HIS, I led the development of a new research and educational program focused on biobased circular polymeric materials. Afterwards, I left HIS and moved to work partially as senior researcher to the Department of Molecular Science at SLU with the ambition of expanding my areas of expertise towards the exploitation of residual biomass and the valorization of agro-food bimolecular compounds into food materials/ingredients. I retained my affiliation with KTH, and this dual appointment at SLU and KTH allowed me to integrate my interests on biorefinery processes and development of bio-based materials with food science and technology, creating a strong interdisciplinary network. In 2019, I joined the Research Institute of Stockholm-RISE as a Senior Research Associate. My ambition in this new role was to contribute to the transfer from the academy to the industry. During my time at RISE, I participated in over 30 research projects with a total value exceeding 14,7 Million ¿ founded by different entities (i.e., the European Commsision, the Swedish government and indusria partners). Of these, I secured more than 4.1 million¿ (15 projects) as a principal investigator (PI and co-PI). I also led and coordinated a government-funded project on Circular Packaging Barriers (¿480.000), promoting sustainable barrier products within a bioeconomy framework. Additionally, I served on the consortium board of RISE's Packaging Barriers research program, collaborating with industrial partners such as Tetra Pak, DS Smith, Valmet, Metsa Board, and Klabin (¿700.000). Furthermore, during this period I was an active member of SIS-Swedish International Standards (Committee of Nanotechnology SIS TK/516 and SIS TK 156 Pulp and paper) and a Swedish representative for the International Standard Organization´s Nanotechnologies Committee (ISO/TC 229). Since January 23, I have been Ramon y Cajal Researcher in the Chemical Engineering Department at the University of Valencia. . I am committed to advancing my research and developing synergies with established research groups within the department and other Spanish institutions. I have already initiated collaborations with IATA and CSIC through a nationally funded project under Spain's AEI Knowledge Generation Programme 2022. The project, which I co-lead with Dr. Amparo López, focuses on upcycling mushroom and seaweed biomass to produce alternative protein ingredients and sustainable materials for food applications..

Key facts / Relevant Merits in short. · R3 certificate as an Established Researcher, obtained in 2023. · 3 six-year periods of recognized research (2010-2022) by ANECA. · 40 peer-reviewed papers, with 80% ranked in Q1 and 60% in D1. · H-index of 24 with 1600 citations. · 63 conferences contributions. · Supervision of 26 students at various levels, including 8 PhD thesis. · Participation in 62 research projects (total value of 22,5 Million ¿), being principal investigator/project leader in 20 of them (total value of 5,2 Million ¿). · 650 hours of teaching experience as lecturer and course responsible of Bachelor and Master level in 5 different universities..

Research Interests. My research carrer focuses on the conversion of plant biomass into high value-added products (such as texturized food and bio-based materials) as an alternative to animal protein-based food ingredients/products and petroleum-derived packaging plastics/ barriers.I am specially interested in the valorisation of agro-food and forest processing side-streams/residues by using biorefinery processes in a cascade approach, maximizing the profitability of the sources and contributing to the zero-waste strategy. My main research lines are: i) establishment of lignocellulose biorefinery processes for extracting valuable biocompounds; ii) design of biological structures with targeted properties from biomass and its compounds; and, iii) evaluation of the long-term properties, functionality, degradation and sustainability of the developed materials..