In the 2024 edition of the prestigious Agustín de Betancourt y Molina award, aimed at young researchers, the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAI) has granted the medal to Raquel Lebrero, a distinguished researcher of the Institute of Sustainable Processes (ISP) and Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology at the University of Valladolid (UVa).
This award recognizes the work of researchers under 40 who have made significant contributions in the field of engineering, driving innovations and advancements. Awardees must maintain a connection with Spain and have conducted a significant portion of their work in the country.
Raquel Lebrero holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from UVa and Imperial College London, a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences from UNED, and a PhD in Chemical and Environmental Engineering from UVa in 2013. Since 2019, she has been an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology at the School of Industrial Engineering at the University of Valladolid, where she conducts her research at the Institute of Sustainable Processes. Throughout her career, she has made significant strides in the biological treatment of pollutants and their valorization, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and greenhouse gases (GHGs). She has also led and participated in projects focused on the production and valorization of bioplastics, biogas purification, wastewater treatment and valorization through microalgae technology, and indoor air purification. Her prolific research activity is reflected in numerous publications in high-impact scientific journals and specialized books, as well as in collaborations with prestigious universities, research centers, and companies worldwide.
With the granting of this award, the Royal Academy of Engineering acknowledges the outstanding career of Raquel Lebrero, who has quickly established herself as a key figure in scientific research and technological innovation in the field of chemical and environmental engineering.
From left to right, the awardee was accompanied by Pedro García Encina, director of the ISP, and the institute’s researchers, Silvia Bolado and Raúl Muñoz.
