Dr. Andrea Moreno

I am a Chemical Engineer with a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering and a PhD in Environmental Toxicology. I currently work as a full-time professor and researcher at Universidad de la Costa (CUC), Colombia, where I combine teaching, scientific research, student mentoring, and the development of interdisciplinary projects on environmental contamination, sustainability, and environmental risk.

My scientific trajectory has progressively evolved from chemical engineering and environmental catalysis toward environmental toxicology and ecotoxicology. During my undergraduate studies, my research focused on heterogeneous catalysis and characterizing solid acidity using the dehydration reaction of 2-propanol. During my Master’s degree, I expanded this background into environmental photocatalysis and water treatment by developing a kinetic model for the photocatalytic disinfection of water contaminated with Escherichia coli. These research experiences strengthened my expertise in catalytic processes, reaction kinetics, water treatment, and environmentally oriented chemical technologies.

My doctoral training in Environmental Toxicology allowed me to deepen my research on environmental contaminants and their potential effects on biological systems. My work has included assessing potentially toxic elements in environmental matrices, particularly urban air and soil, integrating chemical characterization, contaminant exposure, ecotoxicological approaches, and environmental risk assessment. I have also incorporated biological models such as Caenorhabditis elegans to evaluate contaminant-induced responses and support more comprehensive assessments of environmental quality.

My current research interests include emerging contaminants, trace and potentially toxic elements in water, soil, sediments, and atmospheric matrices; environmental toxicology and ecotoxicology; environmental and ecological risk assessment; contaminant bioavailability and contaminant–biota interactions; sustainable remediation technologies; bioadsorbent materials; environmental catalysis and photocatalysis; and advanced statistical analysis of environmental data. I am particularly interested in interdisciplinary approaches that integrate chemical characterization, environmental monitoring, toxicological responses, and quantitative data analysis to improve the understanding of contaminant behavior and associated environmental risks.

I am also actively involved in undergraduate and postgraduate education, supporting student training in environmental research and promoting the integration of scientific evidence, quantitative analysis, and sustainability into academic practice. In addition, I have experience in scientific publishing and editorial management, with particular interest in publication ethics, research integrity, editorial quality, international visibility, and compliance with international standards for scholarly publishing.

My academic work is oriented toward generating scientifically robust knowledge that contributes to the assessment, prevention, and management of environmental contamination, while strengthening the training of new researchers and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration in environmental sciences.