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Biography

Dr Inês Graça is a Senior Lecturer in Chemical Engineering in the School of Engineering, at the ºÚÁÏÍø. She holds an MEng in Chemical Engineering from Instituto Superior Técnico (Portugal) and a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Instituto Superior Técnico (Portugal) and the University of Poitiers (France). Since 2007, she has been working in the field of Catalysis and Reaction Engineering. Her research work focuses on the design and optimisation of multi-functional, nanostructured, heterogeneous catalysts, in particular metal-promoted zeolites and hierarchical zeolites, their characterisation by different analytical techniques and development of sustainable processes for waste conversion. Her primary areas of expertise include carbon dioxide capture and utilisation, and biomass and plastic waste catalytic valorisation into value-added products. She has participated in various European, UK and industrial projects in these areas, and currently has a h-index over 30.

Experience:

- Aug. 2026 - Present: Senior Lecturer in Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, ºÚÁÏÍø.

- Sept. 2019 - Aug. 2026: Lecturer in Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, ºÚÁÏÍø.

- Sept. 2014 - Aug. 2019: Post-doctoral research associate in Chemical Engineering at Imperial College London.

- April 2011 - July 2014: Post-doctoral researcher in Chemical Engineering at Instituto Superior Técnico – University of Lisbon.

Education:

- Oct. 2007 - Dec. 2010: PhD in Chemical Engineering at Instituto Superior Técnico – University of Lisbon and University of Poitiers.

- Sept. 2002 - Sept. 2007; MEng. in Chemical Engineering at Instituto Superior Técnico – University of Lisbon.

Research Overview

Inês Graça has gained her expertise in the Catalysis and Reaction Engineering field. Her research interests are related to:

- Heterogeneous catalysis;

- Design and preparation of multi-functional nanostructured catalysts (e.g. zeolite-based catalysts, mixed oxides, mesoporous silicas);

- Characterisation of catalysts using different analytical techniques;

- Biomass valorisation into fuels and chemicals: bio-oils co-processing, vegetable oils esterification, lignin-derived compounds hydrodeoxygenation, glucose isomerisation and oxidation, etc.;  

- Carbon dioxide catalytic conversion into fuels and fuel precursors (methane, formic acid, methanol, dimethyl ether, etc.);

- Plastic waste catalytic recycling into fuels and chemicals. 

Teaching Responsibilities

EX3501 - Chemical Reaction Engineering, UG Level 3 (contributor) 

EG502Y/6D - Separation and Product Purification, MSc in Advanced Chemical Engineering and UG level 5 (coordinator)

EG505Q/5V - Biorefinery for Sustainability, MSc in Sustainable Product, Process and Energy Engineering (coordinator)

Previous:

EG2011, EG20G2 - Process Engineering (contributor), UG level 2

EG552Q - Catalyst and Reactor Design, MSc in Advanced Chemical Engineering (coordinator, sole contributor)

EG504K/L - Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage, MSc in Energy Transition (contributor)

EG50T5/3C - Loss of Containment, MSc in Process Safety (contributor) 

Non-course Teaching Responsibilities

Director of Postgraduate Taught Teaching

Previous:

Deputy Co-ordinator for the MSc in Advanced Chemical Engineering and Process Safety

Individual Project Co-ordinator for the MSc in Advanced Chemical Engineering and Process Safety  

UG Level 4 Co-ordinator