Diego Souza, Ph.D. Email & Phone Number

Perth, Wa, Au

Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Research and development of innovative process to produce HPA (high purity alumina)

Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Research leader on the Future Battery Industries CRC Cathode Precursor Pilot Plant project- Maintenance and troubleshooting of pilot instruments, equipment, and PLC software.- Preparation of chemical solutions, sampling, and pilot plant operation.- Collaborative and effective work within a multidisciplinary team.- Writing of technical reports, risk assessment, and SWP.- Data processing analysis and presentation to key stakeholders.

Researcher on the Future Battery Industries CRC Cathode Precursor Pilot Plant project- Maintenance and troubleshooting of pilot instruments and equipment.- Preparation of chemical solutions, sampling, and pilot plant operation.- Develop and implement strategies to improve process and equipment performance.- Data analysis, writing of technical reports, risk assessment, and SWP.- Data processing and presentation to key stakeholders.Key achievements:1. Successful pilot plant commissioning resulting in steady and safe operability.2. Production of on-spec cathode precursor materials.

Perth, Australia

Hydrogen Storage Research Group - Fuels and Energy Technology InstituteResearch project: Synthesis of metal boranes as solid-state electrolytes for next-generation battery applications.- Merit-based Curtin-ATN South American Scholarship.- Experiment design, development, and optimisation; data analysis; equipment calibration and maintenance; method validation; budgeting; training.- Development of new cost-effective synthetic pathways of metal boron-hydrogen materials as solid-state electrolytes using wet-chemistry techniques.- Characterisation of these materials using several physicochemical techniques, such as XRD (X-Ray Diffraction), NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance), FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy), and TGA/DSC (Thermogravimetry and Differential Scanning Calorimetry).- Assessment of the properties of these materials as solid-state electrolytes using electrochemical techniques, such as EIS (Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy), CV (Cyclic Voltammetry), LSV (Linear Sweep Voltammetry), galvanostatic cycling.- Synthesis of electrode materials and assembly of solid-state batteries with the solid-state electrolytes (SSE) that were prepared. - Design and optimisation of experiments to improve interfacial contact (SSE/electrode) and battery tests using different cycling programs.Key achievements:1. Ph.D. thesis and Chancellor’s commendation for an exceptional Higher Degree by Research thesis.2. 2022 Future Scientist Award3. Universities Australia Award 2021 - The next generation of batteries (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gq7UT75VVNY)4. 2021 Curtin Visualise Your Thesis (https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.16585628.v1)5. Radio interview for RTR FM 92.1 (https://rtrfm.com.au/story/2021-pitch-it-competition-award-diego-holanda-pereira-de-souza/)6. Runner-up for best small talk at the 2021 AIP Conference7. Publication of papers in high-impact journals8. Author of the article "How new batteries can help address the global warming crisis"

Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Faculty of Science & Engineering - Curtin University - Perth/WA - Australia.- Delivered laboratory practices for undergraduate students.- Corrected lab reports and exams.- Elucidated students' questions by discussing the theory and resolving exercises.

São Paulo Area, Brazil

Surface Coordination Chemistry Research Lab - Institute of Chemistry - Universidade de São Paulo - São Paulo/SP - Brazil.Research project: Synthesis of new materials for industrial wastewater treatment.- Merit-based São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) Scholarship.- Responsible for planning and conducting all aspects of the research project, including experiment design, development, and optimisation; data analysis; equipment calibration and maintenance; method validation; budgeting; work delegation; training.- Development of new synthetic pathways of metal nanoparticles, metal oxide nanoparticles, and organic molecules.- Characterisation of these materials using several physicochemical techniques, such as XRD (X-Ray Diffraction), SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy), EDS (Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy), Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance), FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy), Raman Spectroscopy, Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC).- Writing of reports and scientific papers.Key achievements:1. Development and optimisation of a semi-quantitative method for detecting the degradation of organic water contaminants via ESI-MS (Electrospray Mass Spectrometry).2. Publication of a paper in an international scientific journal.3. Master thesis: SOUZA, D.H.P. Investigation of photoinduced reactions under visible light in pure mesoporous TiO2 films and modified with gold nanoparticles via mass spectrometry. 2018. 114 p.

São Paulo Area, Brazil

Institute of Chemistry - Universidade de São Paulo - São Paulo/SP - Brazil.- Delivered inorganic chemistry classes and laboratory practices for undergraduate students.- Corrected lab reports and exams.- Elucidated students' questions by discussing the theory and resolving exercises.

Aquiraz, Ceará, Brazil

Beer Process Area - Ambev Brewery (AB Inbev Group) - Aquiraz/CE - Brazil.- Head of a team at the beer process area.- Staff management and training.Key achievements:1. Drove the team to be the first area in the factory to review and improve all the SOP maintenance procedures.2. Developed a project to investigate the analytical frequency and nonconformities of the beer process production in order to improve the quality of the final product.3. Undergraduate thesis: SOUZA, D.H.P. The work of a chemical professional in the brewing process. 2016. 65 p.

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Solid State Chemistry Research Lab - Parker Building - University of Manitoba - Winnipeg/MB - Canada.- Merit-based Science without Borders Scholarship.- Synthesis and characterisation of new materials for fuel cell application.- Investigated and analyzed the phase transition of those materials based on variation of temperature by employing X-ray diffraction technique.- Performed data analysis via X'Pert Highscore Plus, Rietveld package FullProf.2k, Origin and Atoms.Key achievements:1. Paper publication in a scientific international journal.

Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil

Environmental Chemistry Lab - COGERH (Water Resources Management Company of Ceará State) - Fortaleza/CE - Brazil.- Water quality analyst.- Use of Cd reduction columns, UV-vis spectrophotometry, HPLC, and conduction of microbiological assays.- Conducted quantitative assays to determine the levels of nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, nitrogen, phosphate, phosphorous and chlorophyll in water samples.- Writing of technical reports.Key achievements:1. Technical-Scientific Association Engineer Paulo de Frontin (ASTEF) Award.

Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil

Plant Defense Proteins Research Lab - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department - Universidade Federal do Ceará - Fortaleza/CE - Brazil.- Conducted experiments to isolate and purify proteins from Jatropha curcas seed cake through several techniques, such as delipidation, dialysis, ultracentrifugation, AKTA (protein purification system) coupled with a Resource-Q column (anion exchange), SDS-PAGE, HPLC, and others.- Prepared Bradford reactant and carried out assays to quantify proteins.- Performed microbiological and enzymatic assays.Key achievements:1. Scientific Initiation Program (CNPq) Award2. Patent: SOARES, A. M. S.; SOUZA, D. H. P.; VASCONCELOS, I. M.; OLIVEIRA, J. T. A.; DIAS, L. P. Processo de obtenção, formulação e uso de extratos de Jatropha curcas com efeito bacteriostático e bactericida. (Process of sourcing, formulation and use of extracts from Jatropha curcas with bacteriostatic and bactericidal effect). 2012, Brazil.Patent: Privilégio de Inovação; Register Number: BR1020120163438; Patent Deposit Date: 02/07/2012; Publication Date: 04/14/2015; Institution of Registration: INPI - Instituto Nacional da Propriedade Industrial (Brazil).

Fortaleza Area, Brazil

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department - Universidade Federal do Ceará - Fortaleza/CE - Brazil.- Delivered biochemistry laboratory classes for undergraduate students.- Corrected lab reports.- Elucidated students' questions by discussing the theory and resolving exercises.

Ph.D., Chemical Engineering

Merit-based Curtin-ATN South American Scholarship.

Master Of Science, Chemistry

Merit-based São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) Scholarship.

Bachelor Of Science, Industrial Chemistry

Scientific Initiation Program (CNPq) Award. Science without Borders Program Scholarship. Technical-Scientific Association Engineer Paulo.

Chemical And Biosciences Co-Op

Intensive English For International Students