Vanessa Maldonado
About Vanessa Maldonado
Vanessa Maldonado is a Graduate Research Assistant at Fraunhofer USA, where she has worked since 2018. She holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Michigan State University and has contributed to PFAS remediation research while mentoring undergraduate students.
Work at Fraunhofer USA
Vanessa Maldonado has been employed as a Graduate Research Assistant at Fraunhofer USA since 2018. In this role, she has been involved in significant research initiatives, particularly focusing on the development of lab-scale and semi-pilot scale systems for PFAS remediation. Her contributions have positioned these systems for future research projects, enhancing the organization's capabilities in environmental remediation.
Previous Experience at Michigan State University
Prior to her current role, Maldonado worked as a Research Assistant in the Chemistry Department at Michigan State University for seven months in 2017. This experience provided her with foundational research skills and exposure to academic research environments, contributing to her professional development in the field of chemical engineering.
Internship at Environmental Control Department in Quito
From 2013 to 2016, Vanessa Maldonado interned at the Environmental Control Department (IAM-Q) of the Metropolitan District of Quito in Ecuador. During this three-year internship, she gained practical experience in environmental management and control, which informed her later research interests in chemical engineering and remediation technologies.
Education and Expertise in Chemical Engineering
Vanessa Maldonado holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Chemical Engineering from Michigan State University, where she studied from 2018 to 2022. Prior to that, she earned a Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from Escuela Politécnica Nacional, completing her studies from 2011 to 2017. Her educational background provides a strong foundation in chemical processes and environmental engineering.
Research Contributions and Publications
Maldonado has authored two published articles on PFAS remediation and is currently preparing a third article. She has also mentored and trained six undergraduate researchers, helping them achieve project milestones. In addition, she has delivered over 30 presentations to sponsors and collaborators in the past two years, demonstrating her ability to communicate complex research findings effectively.