GEMMA VICENTE

Dr Gemma Vicente is a founding member of ITPS and a Full Professor of Chemical Engineering in the Department of Chemical, Energy and Mechanical Technology at Rey Juan Carlos University. She holds a degree in Chemical Sciences and a PhD in Chemical Sciences, specialising in Chemical Engineering, from the Complutense University of Madrid. Her PhD was awarded the European Doctorate distinction.

Her teaching and research career began in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Faculty of Chemical Sciences of the Complutense University of Madrid, where she held a Researcher Training Fellowship (FPI) from 1997 to 2000. She subsequently worked as a part-time lecturer in the Department of Chemistry and Materials at the ICAI School of Engineering, Comillas Pontifical University in Madrid (2000–2001). In 2001, she joined the School of Experimental Sciences and Technology at Rey Juan Carlos University, progressing through various academic positions.

She has undertaken a three-month research stay at Aston University in Birmingham, United Kingdom, and two three-month research stays at the Teagasc Crops Research Centre in Carlow, Ireland.

Her research career has encompassed biodiesel production, the chemical recycling of plastic waste, and the design of new heterogeneous catalysts. Her current research focuses on the integrated valorisation of oleaginous microorganisms, such as microalgae, to produce bioproducts and bioenergy within a circular economy framework, as well as on microalgae-based wastewater treatment. In this area, she co-leads the Spanish national research project CIANO4US (PID2024-161364OB-I00). She is also working with Advanced Water and Energy Solutions (AWAES) on integrating the hydrothermal liquefaction of sewage sludge into wastewater treatment plants.

Her academic management experience at Rey Juan Carlos University includes serving as Coordinator of Exchange Program of Chemical Engineering (15 years), Director of the Master's Degree in Chemical Process Engineering (2 years), and Director of the joint Master's Degree in Chemical Engineering offered with the Autonomous University of Madrid (5 years). Since 2020, she has served as Deputy Director for Research, Infrastructure and Economic Affairs at the School of Experimental Sciences and Technology.

Research profiles:

• Scopus: 8550151500
• Web of Science: AAE-6597-2021
• Google Scholar: P6dfB9wAAAAJ
• ORCID: 0000-0003-0652-0528
• URJC

Keywords: 

Biorefinery, bioproducts, biofuels, microalga, cyanobacteria, hydrothermal liquefaction, sewage sludge