Prof. Lourdes F. Vega is a Full Professor in Chemical Engineering and Director of the Research and Innovation Center on CO2 and hydrogen (RICH Center) at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). She has developed her career between academia and industry, with academic positions in the USA, Spain and the UAE. On the industrial side, she was the General Director of MATGAS, R&D Director of Carburos Metálicos, Technology Director of Air Products and Chemicals and Founder and CEO of Alya Technology & Innovation (Alyatech).

In addition to her role at Khalifa University, she is an Independent Member of the Board of Directors of the companies ERCROS, SA, and Canal de Isabel II, SA, in Spain. She also serves as the Coordinator of the Scientific Committee designing the strategic plan for the newly created National Center for Research in Energy Storage, (Cáceres, Spain), as well as a Member of the Scientific Board of the EPSRC "Frontier Engineering" Centre for Nature Inspired Engineering (CNIE), in London, UK and of the Catalan Institute for Energy Research (IREC), in Barcelona, Spain. She is the Editor in Chief of the Journal of Molecular Liquids. Prof. Vega is also the President of the Association of the Spanish Scientists and Researchers in the UAE (ACIEAU).

Prof. Vega obtained her Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Seville, Spain (1992), in collaboration with the Chemical Engineering Department, University of Southern California, USA

Most research interests for a scientist

Professor Vega’s scientific work has been directed towards the combination of fundamental and applied research focused on sustainable processes and products. Recent work includes materials for different applications (new refrigerants, catalytic and adsorbent materials, water treatment, removal of contaminants and CO2 capture and utilization). 

Specialization

• Chemical Engineering
• Water treatment
• Removal of contaminants and CO2 capture