Pedro Velho, a student on the Doctoral Programme in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PDEQB) at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP), has just been awarded the 2nd edition of the ‘Early Career’ prize by the American Chemical Society’s Journal of Chemical & Engineering Data (JCED).
This worldwide award annually recognises an early career researcher – up to 12 years after graduating – in the areas of phase equilibrium and thermophysical characterisation, at experimental, computational and theoretical levels. The award includes a monetary prize of 2,000 dollars, a commemorative plaque and the opportunity to speak at a webinar for the American Chemical Society in May 2025.
Carrying out his research at the Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Processes – Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials (LSRE-LCM), which is part of the ALiCE Associated Laboratory based at FEUP’s Chemical Engineering Department, Pedro Velho has been dedicated to extracting antioxidants from bio-waste using sustainable processes. Most of his work is focused on the liquid-liquid extraction of biomolecules, thermodynamic modelling of electrolytes and the synthesis/characterisation of new generation solvents.
From Miranda do Douro to the world
Pedro Velho completed his Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP) in 2020, specialising in Processes and Products. Born in Miranda do Douro, he did his master’s dissertation at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) in Thermodynamics. He is now a researcher at FEUP, working on the extraction of vitamins and antioxidants using new generation green solvents. He is currently working as a researcher at FEUP, dedicated to the extraction of vitamins and antioxidants using new generation green solvents.
Under the coordination of Maria Eugénia Macedo, a lecturer in the Chemical Engineering Department, Pedro Velho’s research endeavours to extract antioxidants from bio-waste using sustainable processes. Most of his work is focused on the liquid-liquid extraction of biomolecules, thermodynamic modelling of electrolytes and the synthesis/characterisation of new generation solvents. He has published 32 scientific articles and given nine oral presentations at international conferences.
Pedro Velho has a scholarship from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and recently renewed his position as a member of the JCED Early Career Board for a further two years.