Hèctor Monclús is appointed as Associated Professor of Chemical Engineering at UdG

Hèctor Monclús Sales so far “Ramón y Cajal” researcher at LEQUIA, has been appointed as Associate Professor at the Department of Chemical, Agricultural and Agro-Food Engineering (EQATA) of the Universitat de Girona. This position is a turning point in his academic career and it will significantly boost LEQUIA research in drinking water treatment.

Dr Monclús completed a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Sciences (2006) and a Master in Water Science and Technology (2008) at the University of Girona. In 2011 he defended his doctoral thesis aimed at developing an environmental decision support system (EDSS) for the integrated control of membrane bioreactors in wastewater treatment plants, which was patented and successfully validated at full scale.

Since then, he has continued working in the application of artificial intelligence techniques (EDDS, control algorithms) along the urban water cycle to optimize different stages and treatments. He is author of more than 60 indexed scientific articles and has supervised 5 doctoral theses. His research addresses technological, environmental, health and economic challenges from a multidisciplinary an integrated approach. At LEQUIA, he currently leads research in drinking water and distribution systems, which he initiated. Within this field, he was awarded with a prize by prestigious Water Observatory of Botín Foundation.

Hèctor Monclús career outstands for his extensive collaborations outside academia. He has worked for leading business organisations in Spain (GS INIMA) and France (Polymem); has co-founded one spinoff company (Ecomemb S.L.) and one start-up (Createch Drinking Solutions S.L); and has led numerous technology transfer contracts with water utilities and technological developers. Finally, as Director of Chair ATL of Drinking Water, he has carried out extensive outreach activities and facilitated private-public collaboration within Catalan water sector.