This fund is dedicated to promoting research, development, and innovation in the energy sector through project funding. It is funded by contributions from the National Agency for Research and Innovation (ANII), the Ministry of Industry, Energy, and Mining through the National Energy Directorate (MIEM-DNE), UTE, and Ancap.
Dr. Betancor’s project, titled “Biosynthetic cascade for the conversion of glycerol to L-lactic acid,” will last 24 months and proposes a green biotechnology strategy to repurpose a byproduct of the biodiesel industry: crude glycerol.
“Because this product is contaminated, it has little demand and a very low market value. Our strategy aims to convert it into a high-value-added product using an environmentally conscious approach,” explained the researcher.
Dr. Betancor will work with a research team comprising Erienne Jackson, a research assistant in Biotechnology; Rodrigo Achigar, a faculty member and deputy coordinator of the Biotechnology Laboratory; and Magdalena Ripoll, a graduate in Biotechnology Engineering.
Meanwhile, the project led by Dr. Paganini, titled "Optimal Operation of Smart Loads, Renewable Generation, and Storage Resources in Electric Grids," focuses on how to operate the electrical systems of the future for more efficient use.
This research will be conducted with the faculty’s Applied Mathematics for Telecommunications and Energy (MATE) research group and will last two years. has also has with groups from Johns Hopkins University and Caltech.