18 March 2026
CICECO member Nuno Gonçalves, from the Chemistry Department of the University of Aveiro, has secured a La Caixa Postdoctoral Junior Leader Fellowship to develop an ambitious research project focused on advanced water treatment technologies. This achievement reinforces CICECO’s strong international positioning in materials science and environmental innovation, highlighting its capacity to lead high impact research aligned with global sustainability priorities.
In a context shaped by increasing water scarcity, intensifying environmental pressures, and the urgent demand for sustainable resource management, the development of innovative approaches to water treatment has become essential. The La Caixa Junior Leader Fellowship supports frontier research with significant transformative potential, fostering the advancement of solutions to some of the most pressing global challenges.
1. Can you briefly present the project you will develop within the scope of this fellowship?
The project I will develop has as its main objective to create new technologies for the efficient treatment of wastewater and to promote its safe reuse, particularly in agriculture. The approach involves combining membrane technology with photo and electrocatalytic processes, using innovative materials produced through 3D printing. This strategy will make it possible to remove emerging pollutants, such as pharmaceuticals, pesticides and PFAS, which are not effectively eliminated in conventional systems.
In addition to its direct application in water treatment, this technology has potential for other areas, such as catalysis, fuel production and CO2 conversion.
2. What motivated you to apply to this specific call?
My application to the La Caixa Junior Leader Fellowship is linked to the opportunity to consolidate an independent line of research in an area with high societal impact, such as water treatment and reuse.
This prestigious programme stands out for its high level of demand and its focus on innovative projects, offering conditions to develop ambitious research with real application potential. Furthermore, it allows for the strengthening of international collaborations and accelerates the translation of scientific knowledge into technological solutions.
3. How do you assess the application process to the La Caixa Foundation?
The application process is quite demanding and competitive, with a low success rate (around 4%). It involves several stages of scientific evaluation and culminates in an interview before an international panel.
In the final stage, candidates are challenged to respond to in depth questions, both scientific and strategic, which assess not only the quality of the project but also its feasibility, impact and the potential of the researcher.
Despite its demands, I consider it a very rigorous and transparent process that values scientific excellence and clarity in the definition of objectives.
4. What advice would you give to other researchers considering applying for this type of fellowship?
I would say that it is essential to present a clear, innovative and well structured project, with concrete objectives and well defined impact. Beyond the scientific component, it is also crucial to demonstrate strategic vision, execution capacity and scientific independence. Preparation for the interview is also critical, as it requires a deep understanding of the project and the ability to respond in a structured way to challenging questions.
5. Was there any differentiating aspect that contributed to achieving this fellowship?
CICECO is a centre of excellence, with strong international recognition in the field of materials and environmental applications, which was essential in strengthening the quality and credibility of the project.
6. What are the next steps of the project and the medium term expectations?
In an initial phase, the project will focus on the development and optimisation of photo and electroactive materials, as well as their integration into membranes through 3D printing. Subsequently, the performance will be validated in water treatment systems, with a focus on the removal of emerging pollutants and the overall efficiency of the process. In the medium term, it is expected to demonstrate the potential of the technology under conditions close to real application, contributing to more efficient and sustainable solutions in water treatment and reuse.
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Nuno Gonçalves
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