Alina M. Balu

Alina M. Balu has a PhD in Fine Chemistry from University of Cordoba (Spain). During the past 5 years, her research has been focused on a rational design of nanomaterials (mainly supported nanoparticles) based on fundamental understanding in view of their catalytic applications for the production of high added value chemicals and biofuels. The development of novel catalyst in this way has been highly successful and has led to various families of advanced functional nanomaterials prepared using novel techniques. These include microwave-assisted deposition, co-precipitation and mechanochemistry using a novel dry milling approach. Furthermore, all developed nanomaterials have been successfully utilized in a range of heterogeneously catalyzed processes for the production of fine chemicals but also more recently for biofuels (biodiesel) and other valuable chemicals via biomass and/or waste valorization. These are all novel conceptual approaches which have all crystallized in high impact factor publications, international conferences contributions and fellowships/projects granted. She gained significant expertise on Green Chemistry methodologies in the aforementioned areas during her work at different universities/research centers as well as during several STSM abroad in Austria, France, Germany, Hong Kong and Brazil. Since 2012 she was a postdoctoral fellow in the Biorefineries group, Department of Forest Products Technology, School of science and Technology, Aalto University (Finland). She was granted the IEF-Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellowships (worked in a leading renewable chemical company: Avantium, Netherlands) and Green Talent Award in 2012 from German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), Germany. She is currently back to University of Cordoba, combining her teaching duties with research activities. She is actively involved in several projects of the FQM-383 Group (NANOVAL) including the COST Action FP1306, as Working Group Leader (for WG2: Valorization of hemicellulose derived streams). This Action provides opportunities for researchers to exchange information on recent developments in R&D through networking, meetings and/or workshops, as well as opportunities for collaborations.