Natalia Realpe

Alumni

PhD Student, Graduated 2024

Alumni

Location:

Building 3, Level 4 (desert side), 4287-WS11

Biography

During my bachelor’s studies in Chemical Engineering from the University of Antioquia (Colombia), I joined the Environmental Catalyst research group as student research assistant where I participated in the project: synthesis of diethyl carbonate from carbon dioxide and ethanol using a membrane catalytic reactor.

After obtaining my degree in 2015, I joined Enka de Colombia S.A, the country’s largest synthetic fiber producer as an intern then I worked for Fabricato S.A a textile manufacturer as a process engineer. In 2017, I joined Hatch Ltd. as a project engineer where I was part of projects such as design and startup of PSA nitrogen generation plants, consulting and advisory for turnkey projects in mining, manufacture and oil & gas industries.

In 2019 I joined KAUST as a MS/PhD student and currently I am working in the Multiscale Reaction Engineering (MuRe) group under the supervision of professor Pedro Castano in the KAUST Catalysis Center (KCC). 

Research Interests

Due to my experience in industry and consulting, my biggest interest is to do applied research on processes that can be scaled up to create solutions that improve oil & gas industry sustainability, through the understanding of chemical processes from a modeling/computational approach. 

Education

  • BSc in Chemical Engineering, University of Antioquia (UdeA), Colombia 2015

Professional Profile

  • 2017-2019:  Project Engineer at Hatch Ltd, Medellin, Colombia.
  • 2015: Process Engineer at Fabricato S.A, Medellin, Colombia.
  • 2014-2015: Intern at Enka de Colombia S.A, Medellín, Colombia.
  • 2014: Teacher Assistant at University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.
  • 2013: Student research assistant at the Environmental Catalyst Group, University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia. 
  • 2012: Teacher Assistant at University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia. 

KAUST Affiliations

  • KAUST Catalysis Center (KCC)
  • Chemical Engineering Program
  • Division of Physical Science and Engineering (PSE)