Dr. Jeffrey Paulo Perez
Function and Responsibilities:
Research Interests:
My research is centered around using molecular and nanoscale solid-state characterization techniques to elucidate reactions at mineral interfaces. Specifically, I focus on iron redox (geo)chemistry and its influence on (i) carbon cycling, (ii) nutrient availability and (iii) contaminant dynamics. I use state-of-the-art electron microscopy (S/TEM) and synchrotron-based X-ray techniques (XAS, PDF) to pinpoint and visualize these (geo)chemical reactions at the mineral interface. By doing so, I am able to derive a quantitative and mechanistic understanding of these key (geo)chemical interfacial reactions that are not currently possible with conventional laboratory techniques.
Career:
Since 11.2022
GFZ Discovery Research Fellow, Sec. 3.2 Organic Geochemistry, GFZ Potsdam, Germany
02.2020 - 10.2022
Postdoctoral Researcher, Sec. 3.5 Interface Geochemistry, GFZ GFZ Potsdam, Germany
10.2016 - 02.2020
Marie Skłodowska-Curie PhD Fellow, Sec. 3.5 Interface Geochemistry, GFZ Potsdam, Germany
08.2012 - 07.2014
Instructor, Department of Engineering Sciences, University of the Philippinnes Los Baños, Philippines
Visiting Researcher, CNRS Géosciences Environnement Toulouse, France
01.2019 - 05.2019
Visiting Researcher, Leeds Electron Microscopy and Spectroscopy Centre, University of Leeds, UK
10.2017 - 02.2018
Visiting Researcher, Nano-Science Centre, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Education:
PhD Earth Sciences: Geochemistry (Summa cum laude), Freie Universität Berlin, Germany
MSc Environmental Sanitation (Summa cum laude), Ghent University, Belgium
BSc Chemical Engineering (Cum laude), University of the Philippines Los Baños, Philippines
Projects:
Current Project
- 2022 - 2025: GFZ Discovery Research Fellowship: "Coupled dynamics of organic carbon and iron in Arctic peat soils in a future warming climate"
Previous Projects
- 2016 - 2020: European Horizon 2020 Marie Sklodowska Curie Initial Training Network (ITN): Metal-Aid - "Metal oxide-aided subsurface remediation: From invention to injection"
- 2018 - 2019: "Revealing green rust oxidation in situ using monochromated STEM-EELS", Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Researcher Mobility Grant
- 05.2023: Phosphorus and Iron K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge spectromicroscopy (µ-XANES). European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), ID21 (120 h / 15 shifts)
- 12.2022: Carbon K-edge and Iron L-edge near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectromicroscopy. Diamond Light Source (UK), I20-scanning (144 h / 18 shifts)
- 09.2022: Chromium and Iron K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). ESRF (France), BM20 beamline (144 h / 18 shifts)
- 11.2021: Arsenic and Iron K-edge XAS. ESRF (France), BM23 beamline (120 h / 15 shifts)
- 02.2020: Arsenic and Iron K-edge XAS. Diamond Light Source (UK), I20-scanning (96 h / 12 shifts)
- 11.2018: Arsenic and Iron K-edge XAS. ESRF (France), BM23 beamline (112 h / 14 shifts)
- 09.2018: Arsenic and Iron K-edge XAS. ANKA-KIT (Germany), SUL-X beamline (120 h / 15 shifts)
Awards:
- 2022: GFZ Discovery Fellowship (Eigene Stelle, ~220,000 EUR)
- 2022: Procope Mobility Grant (3,800 EUR), Department of Science and Technology of the French Embassy in Germany
- 2020: Friedrich-Robert-Helmert Thesis Prize, GFZ Potsdam
- 2019: Best Poster Award, Clay Minerals Group (MinerSoc) and RSC Envi Chem Group Joint Meeting - Research in Progress
- 2019: Geo.X Travel Grant for Outgoing Early Career Scientists (2,500 EUR)
- 2018: Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Researcher Mobility Grant (5,000 GBP)
- 2017: Geo.X Conference Travel Grant (500 EUR)
- 2017: Travel Grant, 2nd Total Scattering for Nanotechnology Summer School, Como, Italy
- 2016: Marie Skłodowska-Curie PhD Fellowship (EU H2020 MSCA-ITN Metal-Aid) (~250,000 EUR)
- 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 (~34,000 EUR, success rate < 10%)
- 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
- 2007: DOST Undergraduate Science and Technology Scholarship, University of the Philippines Los Baños (~13,000 EUR; success rate 13%)