{"id":260252,"date":"2025-12-22T14:06:21","date_gmt":"2025-12-22T13:06:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cintecx.uvigo.es\/cintecx-obtiene-tres-de-los-cuatro-premios-extraordinarios-de-doctorado-en-ingenieria-y-arquitectura\/"},"modified":"2025-12-22T14:29:53","modified_gmt":"2025-12-22T13:29:53","slug":"cintecx-obtiene-tres-de-los-cuatro-premios-extraordinarios-de-doctorado-en-ingenieria-y-arquitectura","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cintecx.uvigo.es\/en\/cintecx-obtiene-tres-de-los-cuatro-premios-extraordinarios-de-doctorado-en-ingenieria-y-arquitectura\/","title":{"rendered":"CINTECX receives three of the four Extraordinary Doctorate Awards in Engineering and Architecture"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Centre for Research in Technologies, Energy and Industrial Processes (CINTECX) has achieved an exceptional result in the Extraordinary Doctorate Awards for the 2024\u20112025 academic year, obtaining three of the four distinctions granted in the field of Engineering and Architecture.<\/p>\n

The Standing Committee of the International Doctoral School, meeting on 18 December 2025, agreed to submit to the Governing Council the proposal for the awarding of these prizes. The proposal includes Ant\u00eda Fern\u00e1ndez Sanrom\u00e1n, from the Mechanical and Production Technologies programme, who obtained the highest score with 92.65 points; Mart\u00edn Dami\u00e1n Medina S\u00e1nchez, from the Communication, Computing and Electronics Engineering programme, recognised with 90 points; and Alex Alonso D\u00edaz, from the Architecture, Civil Engineering, Construction and Urban Planning programme, who achieved 82.42 points.<\/p>\n

Advanced catalysts for treating hospital wastewater: the thesis of Ant\u00eda Fern\u00e1ndez Sanrom\u00e1n<\/h3>\n

The thesis of Ant\u00eda Fern\u00e1ndez Sanrom\u00e1n, titled \u201cReduction of the environmental and health impact of hospital effluents through advanced oxidation processes\u201d<\/em>, addresses one of today\u2019s major environmental challenges: how to effectively remove contaminants present in hospital wastewater, which often contains pathogens and pharmaceutical residues that are difficult to degrade. Her research focuses on developing catalysts capable of improving advanced oxidation processes (AOP), a technology that generates highly reactive species to destroy these compounds.<\/p>\n

A key element of her work is the use of MOFs (Metal\u2013Organic Frameworks), materials composed of metal ions linked to organic molecules that form extremely lightweight porous structures with a very large internal surface area. These properties make them highly versatile platforms for catalysing chemical reactions, as they can \u201ctrap\u201d contaminants in their pores and facilitate their degradation. Fern\u00e1ndez Sanrom\u00e1n evaluated both commercial MOFs and bimetallic MOFs specifically designed to efficiently activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS), a widely used oxidant in AOP.<\/p>\n

The thesis also explores the use of graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) as a sustainable photocatalyst in hybrid processes driven by visible light. Among the most notable results, the researcher demonstrated that both mono- and bimetallic MOFs are highly effective catalysts in processes such as electro-Fenton, although their real-world application requires immobilisation techniques such as encapsulation or integration into polyacrylonitrile membranes. GCN, meanwhile, showed remarkable regeneration capacity and versatility, making it a promising candidate for the removal of pharmaceuticals through photocatalysis. Overall, the thesis highlights the importance of developing advanced catalysts to improve the efficiency and sustainability of hospital wastewater treatment.<\/p>\n

More efficient multiphase motors for the future of electric mobility: the thesis of Mart\u00edn Dami\u00e1n Medina S\u00e1nchez<\/h3>\n

The thesis of Mart\u00edn Dami\u00e1n Medina S\u00e1nchez, titled \u201cAdvances on the control of multiphase AC drives under converter overmodulation\u201d<\/em>, focuses on improving the control of multiphase electric motors, a technology that offers greater reliability, higher power and smoother operation than traditional three-phase motors. These characteristics make them an attractive option for applications such as high\u2011power electric vehicles.<\/p>\n

A key aspect of his research is the use of overmodulation techniques, which allow the motor\u2019s speed range to be extended, although they often generate distortions that reduce efficiency. Medina\u2019s research proposes new control strategies that make it possible to apply overmodulation without compromising performance.<\/p>\n

The thesis also includes the first comprehensive comparative evaluation of these techniques in six\u2011phase motors, analysing current and voltage quality as well as electrical losses. His results make it possible to identify the most efficient strategies for each scenario and contribute to the development of more robust and energy\u2011efficient electric traction systems. This work has resulted in several high\u2011impact scientific publications.<\/p>\n

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Innovative solutions for more sustainable infrastructure: the thesis of Alex Alonso D\u00edaz<\/h3>\n

The thesis of Alex Alonso D\u00edaz, titled \u201cRadar data integration methodologies for the evaluation of transport infrastructure and digitalization of risk\u201d<\/em>, proposes new ways to monitor and assess the condition of transport infrastructure using advanced radar technologies. In a country like Spain, with one of the largest road networks in Europe and increasingly affected by ageing and climate change, having tools that allow early detection of problems is essential.<\/p>\n

His research combines two key techniques: InSAR, which analyses how the ground deforms over time using satellite imagery, and GPR, which makes it possible to \u201csee\u201d what is happening beneath the pavement surface. By integrating these with other non\u2011destructive methods, the thesis demonstrates that it is possible to identify subsidence, deterioration and risk areas long before they become visible.<\/p>\n

In addition, it develops new indicators and technological improvements that increase the precision of these tools, and incorporates machine learning techniques to classify patterns and automate large\u2011scale analysis. The result is a methodology that facilitates the transition from reactive to predictive maintenance, making infrastructure management more efficient and sustainable, and providing administrations and technical teams with a solid basis for better road management and risk anticipation.<\/p>\n

The three award\u2011winning theses address strategic challenges in sustainability, electric mobility and smart infrastructure, contributing to the advancement of knowledge and technological development in key areas for society.<\/p>\n

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