Young researchers in WASTE2H2 | Interview with Andrea Rojas

Could you briefly introduce yourself?

Hi! I´m Andrea, a chemical engineer from Ourense, Spain, and currently pursuing a Master´s in Advanced Materials and Processes at FAU, Germany.

I have just started on my thesis within the Waste2H2 project.

Is this your first international research experience?

Yes, both international and abroad research experience!

Why did you decide to carry out your Master at FAU within the European WASTE2H2 project?

It was a very compelling offer. I like sustainability and I was looking for something related to catalysis in order to expand my knowledge and practical skills. Being part of a European project and getting to build an international network on top of that made it hard to say no. I couldn´t have asked for a better opportunity at this point.

What interests you most about the WASTE2H2 project?

Honestly it´s hard to pick just one thing. Being able to repurpose plastic waste into raw materials and hydrogen is a branch of sustainability that I never considered before, transforming a problem into a solution. The work itself, while is partially new for me and a lot to take in, is exactly what I was looking for. I have two supervisors and I´m already learning a ton. Moreover, being able to participate in international meetings, observing and learning how research develops altogether in a collaborative project has been quite interesting so far.

Why do you think transforming plastic waste into clean energy is important for the energy transition and the circular economy?

Plastic is just too useful to disappear anytime soon. Production keeps growing and we still don´t have great ways of dealing with all the waste it generates. Transforming plastic into short range hydrocarbons and hydrogen is, as I said, just tackling two birds with one stone.

What will your main tasks be during your Master thesis at FAU within WASTE2H2 project?

I´ll be synthesising new catalysts, characterising them and testing them in a conventionally heated batch reactor. After that I´ll analyse how active and selective they are towards the products we want. It´s a full cycle from making something to actually evaluating it, which I really like.

What results or skills would you like to take away by the end of your stay?

I want to produce results that actually help the project move forward, even if it´s a small contribution. I also want to get better at the experimental and analytical side of things, since it was one of the motives after which I pursued this thesis, as well as learn what it´s really like to work in an international research environment. I know I will leave with a lot of new skills learnt.

How do you think this experience could influence your future academic or professional plans?

I want to contribute to a more sustainable future, and I´m hoping this experience gives me the knowledge, the skills and the connections to keep building towards that. It feels like a solid first step on my career path.