Luis D. Virla, Ph.D. Email & Phone Number

Calgary, AB, CA

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

In my research team, we explore how clean technology innovation can be optimized and accelerated while aligned with societal needs and priorities. We use a bridging approach based on transdisciplinarity and systems engineering in constant feedback with macro (landscapes) and micro (Indigenous and local) systems to address that. We strive to translate our.

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

• Develop simple and affordable pathways to capture, covert and market carbon emissions.
• Oversee the development and implementation of the technology roadmap based on partners’ needs/expectations.
• Monitor KPIs, budget of the technology portfolio, and lead a high-performing team to achieve the company’s goal.
• Supervise the company’s operations to ensure alignment with the company’s policy and vision.

Calgary, Canada Area

• Oversee project/initiative portfolio focused on sustainability research and education
• Develop operational budget, funding strategy and grant applications to finance research activities
• Conduct research activities as principal investigator in projects related to sustainable development
• Mentor young professionals involved in research projects around the world
• Prepare knowledge dissemination documents for various audiences such as peer-reviewed publications, reports, policy… Show more
• Prepare knowledge dissemination documents for various audiences such as peer-reviewed publications, reports, policy briefs and white papers Show less

Netherlands

• Explore innovative strategies for sustainable transitions and its impact in SDGs for Canada, Latin America, and Europe, along with its intersectionalities across regions and continents.
• Coordinate and execute research objectives proposed for LANDMARC and TIPPPING+ projects focused on land-use changes, clean energy development, behavioral changes, and socio-economic tipping points at local and regional.
• Create transformative spaces for stakeholders across industries… Show more
• Create transformative spaces for stakeholders across industries, communities, institutions, and governments, to communicate effectively and accelerate sustainable transitions.
• Support research portfolio and teaching/mentoring activities within the faculty, and enable accessible dissemination plans with an international focus. Show less

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

• Manage and develop a carbon management technology portfolio and team related to CO2 capture, removal, and conversion
• Design and scale carbon management technologies aligned with the organization's priority areas.
• Develop and implement experimental activities to validate technologies and support model development.
• Perform process modelling, techno-economic analysis, and life-cycle assessments for technology evaluation.
• Review state-of-the-art technology roadmaps, emerging… Show more
• Review state-of-the-art technology roadmaps, emerging markets, and new opportunities in the carbon management space to inform own technology development strategies.

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

• Joint venture with Vorsana Environmental Inc.
• Supported innovation portfolio and strategy creation in biofuels, CO2 capture and conversion, and new catalytic pathways.
• Developed hub concept/laboratory facility for manufacturing and testing new catalytic and reactor technologies.
• Coordinated investment, IP generation, and knowledge dissemination strategies.

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Support project deployment and evaluations aimed to unify and de-polarize the climate and energy sectors in Canada. I am focused on enabling the creation and implementation of a collaborative frameworks for co-development of sustainable transition strategies along with key stakeholders from various societal sectors.

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Calgary, Canada Area

• Energy and Environment Research Group (EERG)
• Develop innovative catalytic technologies for CO2 conversion into added-value products and net-zero emission technologies for GHG mitigation
• Design and build pilot reactors for the evaluation of novel catalysts used on CO2 conversion
• Perform process simulation and techno-economic analysis of technology alternatives using modeling tools such as ASPEN-HYSYS, PRO II, ALCES, GCAM and other tools
• Find funding opportunities for novel… Show more
• Find funding opportunities for novel research projects and prepare the corresponding grant applications

Calgary, Canada Area

• Energy and Environment Research Group (EERG)
• Develop innovative catalytic technologies for CO2 conversion into added-value products and net-zero emission technologies for GHG mitigation
• Design and build pilot reactors for the evaluation of novel catalysts used on CO2 conversion
• Perform process simulation and techno-economic analysis of technology alternatives using modeling tools such as ASPEN-HYSYS, PRO II, ALCES, GCAM and other tools
• Find funding opportunities for novel… Show more
• Find funding opportunities for novel research projects and prepare the corresponding grant applications

Calgary, Canada Area

• Lead high-performing team towards developing a valuable innovation portfolio
• Scale-up new technologies for process optimization and intensification
• Design and execute testing plans focused on biofuels, biochemicals, green catalysts, and CCUS
• Coordinate investment, IP generation and knowledge dissemination strategies

Calgary, Canada Area

• Design, build and evaluate the performance of a pilot-scale froth contactor, for use with proprietary and non-proprietary solvents, to develop scale-up parameters for bringing the process to industrial markets
• Evaluate alternative solvents for a regenerative froth contactor for CO2 capture and conversion
• Study the effects of screen design and column configuration on the performance of the contactor and develop operational and design guidelines based on the optimum… Show more
• Study the effects of screen design and column configuration on the performance of the contactor and develop operational and design guidelines based on the optimum specifications
• Identify key modelling assumptions and develop thermodynamic, heat and material balance correlations for the scale-up of the CO2 capture system
• Develop and execute rigorous tests and Quality Assurance plans to guide the validation programs, design and integration of test assemblies and analysis, interpretation and reporting of performance results

Calgary, Canada Area

• Undertook research on climate change in the Canadian energy sector (with a focus on the oil sand sector), as part of the Transitions Pathways and Risk Analysis for Climate Change Mitigation and Adaption Strategies.
• Worked with community leaders to progress stakeholder engagement work within the energy sector.
• Participated in TRANSrisk partnership events and meetings, mainly through online tele-conferences and presentations
• Produce high-quality… Show more
• Produce high-quality research outputs for publication in monographs or recognised high-quality journals, or performance/exhibition, as appropriate, and contribute to the School’s REF submission at acceptable levels of.
• Contribute to the preparation of proposals and applications to external bodies, for example for funding purposes

Calgary, Canada Area

• Laboratory for Environmental Catalytic Applications (LECA)
• Developed a low-cost heterogeneous catalyst for CO2 re-utilization using waste materials such as petroleum coke
• Implemented in-situ techniques for the synthesis and characterization of air-sensitive carbon-supported metal carbide catalysts such as XRD, SEM, TEM, CO chemisorption temperature-programmed reduction/desorption
• Designed and built a bench scale plug-flow micro reactor to study the catalytic activity of the… Show more
• Designed and built a bench scale plug-flow micro reactor to study the catalytic activity of the prepared materials for CO2 conversion to useful products applying reactor design principles and VMGSim process simulator
• Determined experimental pathways for recycling of deactivated catalyst using CO2 gasification and minimization of its environmental impact during preparation, utilization and disposal

Los Puertos De Altagracia, Venezuela

• Managed and executed 26 projects with impacts of up to $10MM in savings, in the fields of industry technical support, evaluation of new technologies and development of solutions for petrochemical processes
• Designed and built bench-scale laboratory reactors for the study of heterogeneous catalysts commonly used in petrochemical processes and conducted catalytic performance analysis
• Developed and applied analytical methods (FTIR, GC, acid/base titration), programmed and conducted… Show more
• Developed and applied analytical methods (FTIR, GC, acid/base titration), programmed and conducted verification and validation protocols, and collaborated in the development of reactor models for process optimization
• Performed economic analysis to determine project feasibility, potential project benefits, and technology selection for process optimization using processing modelling tools (Aspen HYSYS, Aspen Plus, MATLAB, PRO/II)
• Collaborated with groups in industry and academia to integrate technical capabilities for problem resolution, improving effective communication and building bridges for industry-academia collaborations

Maracaibo, Venezuela

• Studied a novel regeneration method using hydrogen for catalysts deactivated during the selective hydrogenation of acetylene to ethylene.
• Implemented characterization techniques such as XRF, TPR, N2 adsorption and CO chemisorption
• Developed an accelerated aging method to mimic industrial deactivation at laboratory scale
• Studied the activity of selected catalysts using a bench-scale micro-reactor monitored by a GC-FID/TCD
• Prepared academic outputs and public deliverables… Show more
• Prepared academic outputs and public deliverables for knowledge dissemination, and proposals to external bodies Show less

Conducted one-on-one and small group tutoring sessions to help students with the material taught in Analytical Chemistry, reviewing concepts and solving assignment problems to reinforce the content of the course topics.

Doctor Of Philosophy (Phd), Chemical Engineering, Gpa Of 3.675/4.0

Activities and Societies: Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Graduate Students Association (CPEG), Electrochemical Society (ECS) Calgary.

Master Of Science (Msc), Chemical Engineering, Gpa Of 19.3/20

Relevant Coursework: Catalysis, Inorganic Chemistry, Reactor Design, Thermodynamics, Transport Phenomena, Special Topics on Refining and.

Bachelor Of Engineering (B.Eng.), Chemical Engineering, Gpa Of 18.632/20

Class rank: 5th of 108. Academic Honour Roll from 2004 to 2008.