Rate My Professor Jimmy Faria

Jimmy Faria Albanese is a Professor in the Faculty of Science and Technology at the University of Twente, holding the position of Prof. dr. ir. in the Department of Chemical Engineering within the Catalytic Processes and Materials group. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Universidad Nacional Experimental Politécnica Antonio José de Sucre in 2008 and his PhD from the University of Oklahoma in 2012, focusing on interfacial phenomena in catalysis at the water-oil interface of nanohybrid-stabilized emulsions. His career combines academic and industrial experience: he served as a Research Assistant at the University of Oklahoma (2008–2012), PhD Intern at Phillips 66 (2012), Senior Researcher and later Program Manager and Group Leader at Abengoa Research in Spain (2012–2017), and joined the University of Twente as Tenure Track Assistant Professor in 2017, advancing to Associate Professor and now full Professor. At Abengoa, he contributed to bioethanol and lignin valorization technologies and led hydrogen production units for naval applications.

Faria Albanese’s research specializes in multiphasic catalysis and reactions, developing novel synthetic catalytic materials for sustainable production of renewable energies and chemicals. His group integrates molecular-sensing and actuation mechanisms into catalysts for autonomous processes, targeting biomass conversion, CO2 valorization, renewable hydrogen, green ammonia synthesis, plastic upcycling, and pollutant remediation in complex multi-phasic systems like emulsions and foams. Key expertise includes Pickering emulsions, Janus particles, hydrogenation, aldol-condensation, and structure-activity relationships via atomic characterization. Notable publications include 'Solid nanoparticles that catalyze biofuel upgrade reactions at the water/oil interface' (2010, 946 citations), 'Hydrophobic zeolites for biofuel upgrading reactions at the liquid–liquid interface in water/oil emulsions' (2012, 397 citations), 'Stimulus-Responsive Modulation of Solvation Environments in Solid Catalysts' (2025), and 'Renaissance of ammonia synthesis for sustainable production of energy and fertilizers' (2021, 142 citations). He received a Vidi grant in 2022 for the FoCUS project on catalytic upcycling of plastics and the Best Teacher Award in Chemical Science & Engineering in 2025. Faria Albanese chairs the Program Committee for Chemical Engineering, teaches bachelor and master courses, mentors students, and leads projects like Modular Integrated Sustainable Datacenter and ammonia-related energy storage.