Function and Responsibilities:
Postdoctoral Scientist
Research Interests:
My current research is focused on iron redox (geo)chemistry in natural and engineered environments. Specifically, I am interested in elucidating the mechanism and pathways of formation and transformation of iron-bearing minerals and how these affect the cycling of nutrients (e.g., P, Si) and contaminant (e.g., As, Cr) in oxygen-poor environments. I combine several state-of-the-art analytical techniques from nanoscience, materials chemistry and geochemistry to gain fundamental understanding of the complex interplay between mineral surfaces and nutrients/contaminants at the nano- and molecular-scale.
Career:
Since February 2020: Postdoctoral Scientist, Sec. 3.5 Interface Geochemistry, GFZ Potsdam
October 2016 - February 2020: Marie Skłodowska Curie PhD Fellow (Early-Stage Researcher), Sec. 3.5 Interface Geochemistry, GFZ Potsdam (under the MSCA-ITN Metal-Aid project funded by Horizon2020)
August 2012 - July 2014: Instructor, Department of Engineering Science, College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Philippines
Education:
2017 - 2020: PhD Earth Sciences: Geochemistry (Summa cum laude), Freie Universität Berlin, Germany
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Liane G. Benning
2014 - 2016: MSc Environmental Sanitation (Summa cum laude), Ghent University, Belgium
Thesis: "Iron oxide nanoparticles in Covalent Organic Frameworks: New hybrid adsorbents for metal sequestration",
Supervisors:
Prof. Dr. Gijs Du Laing,
Prof. Dr. Pascal Van Der Voort
2007 - 2012: BSc Chemical Engineering (Cum laude), University of the Philippines Los Baños, Philippines
Thesis: "Parametric and optimization studies on the two-stage acid hydrolysis of cogon grass (Imperata cylindrica) for xylose production"
Supervisor: Dr. Butch G. Bataller
Projects:
Current ProjectsFunded synchrotron beamtimes
- 02.2020: X-ray absorption spectroscopy (As and Fe K-edge EXAFS). Diamond Light Source (UK), I20-scanning (12 shifts)
- 11.2018: X-ray absorption spectroscopy (As K-edge EXAFS). European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF, France), BM23 beamline (14 shifts)
- 09.2018: X-ray absorption spectroscopy (As and Fe K-edge EXAFS). ANKA-KIT (Germany), SUL-X beamline (15 shifts)
Awards:
- 2020: Friedrich-Robert-Helmert Thesis Prize, GFZ Potsdam
- 2019: Best Poster Award (60 EUR), Clay Minerals Group (MinerSoc) and RSC Envi Chem Group Joint Meeting - Research in Progress 2019
- 2019: Geo.X Travel Grant for Outgoing Early Career Scientists (2500 EUR)
- 2018: Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Researcher Mobility Grant (5000 GBP)
- 2017: Geo.X Conference Travel Grant (500 EUR)
- 2017: Travel Grant, 2nd Total Scattering for Nanotechnology Summer School, Como, Italy
- 2016: 2nd Place, Water Technology Thesis Prize, WaterCircle Belgium
- 2016: ArcelorMittal Indaver Environmental Science and Technology Thesis Prize, Ghent University
- 2014: VLIR-UOS (Flemish) International Master's Programme Scholarship, Ghent University
- 2012: University President's Medal of Excellence, University of the Philippines Los Baños
- 2012: Medal of Academic Excellence in Engineering, University of the Philippines Los Baños
- 2012: Medal of Academic Excellence in Science, University of the Philippines Los Baños
- 2012: Most Outstanding Student Leader in Engineering, University of the Philippines Los Baños
- 2011: 3rd Place (Team Captain), Philippine National Chemical Engineering Quiz
- 2007: Science and Technology Scholarship, University of the Philippines Los Baños
