I am currently a researcher at the LEQUiA group of the University of Girona (Spain) (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2034-1251). I got my PhD in Experimental Sciences and Sustainability in 2015 (Bioremediation of nitrate-polluted groundwater using bioelectrochemical systems). It was considered as cum laude and awarded with the PhD extraordinary prize of the University of Girona. In 2019 I was accredited as Lecturer Professor by the Catalan University Quality Agency (AQU). In 2021 I was accredited as Associated Professor (Agregat) by the Catalan University Quality Agency (AQU). My academic education also includes a Bachelor on Chemistry (2010), a Master in “Water Science and Technology” (2012) and a Master in “Management of innovation and R&D projects” (2017).
I have published 38 articles in international peer-reviewed journals (15 of them as first author), with an h-index of 18 (Scopus, 15th April 2024). I am co-author of 2 book chapters, co-inventor of one patent (WO2014/082989) and one utility model (submitted for revision, ES1234189). My research expertise comes from water treatment using low energy input technologies. I have worked on the development of Microbial Electrochemical Technologies (METs) for groundwater bioremediation in general, and, in particular, for the removal of nitrates, sulphates and arsenic. I have also studied the usage of METs for the production of single-cell protein and the treatment of landfill leachate, swine manure and urban wastewater. My research also involves the study of nature-based wastewater treatments using Daphnia.
I have enjoyed three different research stays in: 1) INR-LBE (Narbonne, France) during 1 Month (2013) with Prof. Nicolas Bernet and Dr. Alessandro Carmona-Martínez (1 research article); 2) CNR-IRSA (Monterotondo, Italy) during 2 Months (2013) with Dr. Federico Aulenta (1 research article); 3) UFZ (Leipzig, Germany) during 3 Months (2014) with Dr. Falk Harnisch and Dr. Christin Koch (2 research articles).
The research I have developed has been usually part of a project. I have participated in projects such as “BEST-ENERGY” on the usage of bioelectrochemical systems for water treatment (2011-2014 – Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation); “NONIT: A BES for nitrate removal from contaminated groundwater” (2014-2016 - Funded by Aqualogy-Suez); “INNOQUA – Innovative bio-based on-site Sanitation for Water and Resource Savings” (2016-2019 – EU-H2020); “ELECTRA – Electricity Driven Low Energy and Chemical Input Technology for Accelerated Bioremediation” (2019-2023 EU-H2020), “WAFRA – Wireless Aquaponic Farming in Remote Areas: A smart adaptive socio-economic solution” (2019-2021 EU-ERANETMED), Electron4Protein (2023 - Llavor), Aquaria4All (2024 – Llavor).