Rafael Lucena is full professor of Analytical Chemistry at the University of Córdoba (Spain). He studied Chemistry at the University of Córdoba, getting his BSc with an extraordinary end-of-studies award. His thesis was focused on the development of multiparametric analyzers. It was presented in 2006 with a European mention and doctoral award.
Up to date, he has co-authored 141 scientific articles (h-index: 38, Scopus) dealing with different analytical aspects, although microextraction techniques are the main core of his research. He has co-edited one special volume in Anal. Bioanal. Chem. journal, a book, and an e-book on the topic. In the last years, his research has been focused on the design of simple and cheap (easily transferable to other laboratories, no matter their resources) materials based on lignocellulosic (sustainable) substrates. The reuse and recycling of polymer residues and the design of remediation approaches (based on sorption or photocatalysis) can be highlighted as his contribution to reducing the environmental impact of Chemistry.
Rafael has directed 10 Ph.D. Thesis (4 additional ones under development) and a high number of Final Degree Projects and Final Master Projects. In the last four years, he has mentored nine international researchers.
He also acts as a reviewer in many journals and projects evaluator for some governmental organizations. He is associate editor of the journal Advances in Sample Preparation (Elsevier).