Group description

The Materials+Technologies (GMT) research group from the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering of the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), is recognized by the Basque Government as a Consolidated Research Group, and is constituted by 7 PhD professors, 1 permanent PhD researcher, 4 postdoctoral researchers and 10 predoctoral researchers. The strategy of the group is focused mainly on basic research of excellence in thematic areas related to materials in nanotechnology and biotechnology. The interest of GMT lies in research aimed at synthetic and natural (nano) composite materials, nanostructured materials and biodegradable and/or biocompatible bio(nano)materials seeking high mechanical and multifunctional performance, suitable for processing both through conventional techniques and through advanced manufacturing technologies and techniques, such as 3D printing and electrospinning. The research of the group also focus on recycling and valorization of wastes, in the development of sustainable materials using recycling derived monomers, thus following the circular bioeconomy principles. The capacity of the group is endorsed by its scientific production, which, as an example, in the last six years, can be summarized in more than 170 peer-reviewed research papers published in international scientific journals of the JCR, 4 patents and more than 140 communications in both national and international congresses. The GMT research has been developed within the framework of numerous projects, both national and international. Likewise, high-level specialized training is another of the strategies of the group, which has a great training capacity, as reflected in the 22 theses defended in the last 6 years in the frame of Renewable Materials Engineering Doctorate Programme, which is recognized with the mention of excellence from the Spanish Ministry of Education. Among defended theses, 12 have been International and 6 have received the Extraordinary Doctorate Award from the UPV/EHU. The group has also organized numerous meetings and scientific conferences related to the areas in which it develops its research, such as COMATCOMP09, POLYMER BLENDS 2012, 5th Workshop Green Chemistry and Nanotechnologies, JIP-JIPO2015 and BIOPOL 2015, favoring a framework to explore and discuss the latest trends in research and technology in the field of materials. The group also participates in numerous events aimed at disseminating results to society and industry.