Alberto García-Peñas
Associate Professor | Universidad Carlos III de Madrid
Alberto García-Peñas is an Associate Professor at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, where he combines teaching, research, and academic leadership. His work focuses on advanced materials and sustainable technologies, with particular emphasis on functional polymers and circular materials for energy and biomedical applications.
In addition to his research and teaching activities, he holds several academic responsibilities within the university. He serves as Director of the Master’s Program in Circular Engineering, Academic Secretary of the Instituto Tecnológico Álvaro Alonso Barba, and member of the University IT Council.
Research Lines
His research focuses on the design and development of advanced polymeric and catalytic materials, particularly in the following areas:
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Functionalized Smart Polymers for Biomedical Applications and Water Remediation
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Circular Polyolefins for Energy Applications and Chemical Recycling
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Photocatalytic Structures for Sustainable Chemical Processes (Hidrogen production)
These research lines integrate materials science, polymer chemistry, and sustainable engineering to address challenges related to energy transition, circular economy, and advanced biomedical materials.
Research Team
Dr. García-Peñas leads a growing research group composed of:
- Ali Yazdan, Postdoctoral Researcher
- Weijun Liang, PhD Student
- Michele Raissa, PhD Student
- Nahid Salimi, PhD Student
The group focuses on interdisciplinary research combining polymer synthesis, catalysis, and materials characterization, while collaborating with national and international partners.
Teaching
At Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, he teaches courses in several areas of chemical and environmental engineering, including Sustainable Environmental Technology, Chemical Process Analysis, and related subjects. His teaching load amounts to approximately 135 hours per year, contributing to the education and training of undergraduate and graduate students.
Supervision
Dr. García-Peñas is currently supervising three ongoing PhD theses and has supervised:
- 1 PhD Theses
- 10 Master’s Theses (TFM)
- 2 Bachelor’s Theses (TFG)
across two universities, supporting students in developing research and innovation skills.
Editorial Activities
He is actively involved in the scientific publishing community as Topic Editor for the journal Polymers (journal) and serves on editorial boards of other specialized journals, contributing to the dissemination and evaluation of high-quality research in polymer science and materials engineering.