María Paulis

María Paulis Lumbreras earned a degree in Chemistry from the Faculty of Chemistry at the University of the Basque Country (Extraordinary Award for Academic Excellence) and a BSc in Applied Chemistry from the University of Strathclyde (Glasgow, UK), in 1995. She completed her PhD in heterogeneous catalysis for the removal of Volatile Organic Compounds under the supervision of Prof. Mario Montes at the Faculty of Chemistry of EHU. Following a period of postdoctoral research focused on the detection of N-nitrosamines in rubber manufacturing industries, she obtained a position as Associate Professor at the EHU in 2002, where her research interests shifted toward polymerization in dispersed media. She has held several academic leadership positions within the Faculty of Chemistry of EHU, including Degree Coordinator (2012–2016) and Vice-Dean for International Relations (2016–2020). Since 2020, she has served as Director of the POLYMAT University Institute for Polymer Materials, and since 2024 she is Full Professor of Chemical Engineering at EHU. She is currently the Principal Investigator of the Industrial Liaison Program on Polymerization in Dispersed Media. This program was launched in 2003 under the leadership of Professor José M. Asua and, throughout its history, has involved more than 20 international companies from the dispersed-polymer industry, which have supported the program through the funding of doctoral theses. In addition, she has led several bilateral research projects in collaboration with national and international chemical companies. She has published more than 100 papers in international scientific journals, holds four patents, and has supervised 17 doctoral dissertations. Her research focuses on polymerization in dispersed media; the study and optimization of film formation processes from polymer dispersions; the incorporation of bio-based and/or biodegradable monomers; and the optimization of end-use properties such as anticorrosion performance and adhesive properties, while also promoting the sustainability of production processes.