Javier Lafuente is University Professor of Chemical Engineering in the Department of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. He graduated in Chemical Sciences, specialising in Technical Chemistry, in 1982, and obtained a PhD in Chemical Engineering with cum laude in 1988.

Dr Lafuente is the author of 141 publications in indexed journals with over 3,500 citations and an h- index of 35. He has directed most of the more than 60 national and European research projects with companies in which he has participated. He has supervised 12 doctoral theses and numerous end-of- degree projects. He has also created two environmental spin-off companies for the application of cutting-edge technologies in the treatment of effluents.

Dr Lafuente has been director of the Department of Chemical Engineering (2004-2010) and Vice-Rector of Innovation and Strategic Projects (from 2016 to 2020). He has also been coordinator of the degree in Chemical Engineering and Rector’s Delegate at the Polytechnic University School of the Environment (EUPMA) in Mollet del Vallés. He has also been a president of the Transference and Strategic Projects Committee, and member of the Research Committee, Lecturers and International Relations Committee and Doctorial Committee on the UAB Governing Council. He is a member of various teaching-staff and research-project assessment committees.