Dr. Sylvana Vega

Dr. Sylvana Vega is a Chilean mechanical engineer, researcher, and university educator whose expertise encompasses computational fluid dynamics, heat transfer, bioenergy, and sustainable wastewater treatment. She earned a PhD in Engineering Sciences with a specialization in Process Engineering from the University of Santiago de Chile (USACH). Her doctoral research combined kinetic modelling, hydrodynamics, and heat and mass transfer to investigate the influence of temperature and total solids on the performance of completely mixed anaerobic reactors. Supported by an ANID National Doctoral Scholarship, this work aimed to enhance the design and operation of biodigesters for wastewater treatment, methane production, and resource recovery.

In addition to her doctoral qualifications, Dr. Vega is a Mechanical Engineer and holds two master’s degrees in Engineering Sciences. Her earlier graduate research focused on heat transfer, natural convection, and the cooling and freezing of water in enclosed cavities. Conducted within a Fondecyt research project, this work integrated theoretical, numerical, and experimental methodologies and resulted in a publication in Numerical Heat Transfer, Part A: Applications. She has further advanced her technical expertise through specialized training in ANSYS, multiphase and reactive flows, dynamic meshes, fluid-structure interaction, chemical kinetics, user-defined functions, and the modelling of stirred tanks.

With over 20 years of experience in higher education, Dr. Vega has established a comprehensive teaching career in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, thermal systems, hydraulics, engineering materials, and related disciplines. She served for nearly two decades in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at USACH and previously held an academic appointment at the Metropolitan Technological University. Her pedagogical approach integrates competency-based education, project-based learning, Capstone projects, digital learning environments, and curriculum design oriented toward measurable learning outcomes. Dr. Vega has supervised numerous undergraduate engineering theses and supported graduate-level academic work, consistently linking student projects to practical challenges in renewable energy, biogas, thermal systems, and industrial processes.

Dr. Vega’s research lies at the intersection of mechanical engineering, environmental biotechnology, and renewable energy. As a doctoral researcher at USACH’s Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, she investigated the use of computational fluid dynamics to optimize anaerobic digestion systems. Her work examines mixing, non-Newtonian behaviour, heat transfer, solids concentration, and transient biochemical kinetics in biodigesters. These studies contribute to more efficient wastewater treatment, renewable methane production, emissions reduction, and circular-economy strategies aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals concerning clean water, clean energy, and climate action.

Dr. Vega has disseminated her research at national and international conferences, including meetings of the International Water Association and Latin American symposium on anaerobic digestion. Her scientific publications address CFD modelling of anaerobic reactors, heat transfer, bioprocess kinetics, microaerobic pretreatment, natural convection, and educational innovation in engineering. In 2026, she served as first author of an review article in the International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow that examined advances in CFD for anaerobic digestion by integrating heat transfer and transient kinetics. Since 2014, she has contributed to quality assurance and knowledge development in higher education as a peer reviewer for the journal Formación Universitaria.

Dr. Vega’s work is characterized by a strong applied and industry-oriented focus. Since 2017, she has advised research, development, and innovation projects with Schwager Biogás, supporting student internships, engineering theses, and technology development related to biogas systems. This collaboration has facilitated the integration of academic research with industrial practice and the advancement of sustainable energy solutions. Her academic achievements include an ANID National Doctoral Scholarship awarded in 2019, a competitive USACH grant supporting thesis development and disciplinary innovation in 2025, and earlier academic scholarships based on outstanding performance. In 2018, the Chilean College of Engineers highlighted her professional career and her distinction as the first woman to earn USACH’s Master of Engineering Sciences degree with a specialization in Mechanical Engineering.

In addition to her research and teaching, Dr. Vega is dedicated to science communication, inclusive education, and gender equity. She leads the “STEM for Preschoolers with a Gender Perspective” initiative, which develops educational activities to encourage children, particularly girls, to engage with science and technology from an early age. Dr. Vega has contributed to Explora science programs, served as a scientific project evaluator, participated in teacher-development activities, and acted as a Judge Advisor for Technovation Girls. Her outreach efforts include collaborations and presentations with Chile’s Ministry of Education, regional science festivals, schools, universities, and organizations promoting women’s participation in STEM.

Dr. Vega actively participates in several national and international professional networks, including the International Water Association’s Computational Fluid Dynamics for Unit Processes Working Group, the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World, the Chilean Society of Computational Mechanics, the Inter-American Association of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, and the Chilean Network of Women Researchers. Through these affiliations, she advances international collaboration, scientific innovation, sustainable engineering, and increased representation of women in research and technology.

In summary, Dr. Sylvana Vega’s career integrates advanced engineering research, extensive university teaching, industry collaboration, scientific communication, and social engagement. Her work illustrates the potential of computational modelling and interdisciplinary research to generate practical solutions for wastewater treatment, renewable energy, climate resilience, and the circular economy. Concurrently, her educational and outreach initiatives foster a more inclusive and diverse scientific community.