DRA. DIANA SAMANTHA VILLARREAL LUCIO

A researcher with experience in materials, I have worked with composite materials (polymers), using natural reinforcing materials or natural fillers. In 2018, I had the opportunity to begin a postdoctoral fellowship where I learned about photocatalysis for the degradation of emerging pollutants. That experience led me to my second postdoctoral fellowship, where I applied the acquired knowledge to the synthesis of imprinted polymers with photocatalytic activity for the photodegradation of emerging pollutants. I have experience in the use of high-performance liquid chromatographs, infrared spectroscopy, UV-VIS, and DLS for particle size determination. In 2016, I completed a stay in Canada where I learned to use a scanning electron microscope and the nanoindenter incorporated into a microscope for mechanical testing. I have had the opportunity to teach at the undergraduate and graduate levels. I have also advised students on the development of professional projects and supervised two theses for two students, one already graduated and the other close to graduating. I have 10 scientific publications and a patent under review.

• Member of the National Researchers System since 2022

2025 Molecularly imprinted polymer with photocatalytic activity for ibuprofen adsorption, degradation, and detection in real water samples

2022 Molecularly imprinted polymers for environmental adsorption applications.

2022 Thermal and Thermomechanical Characterization of Polypropylene-Seed Shell Particles Composites.

2022 Design and application of molecularly imprinted polymers for adsorption and environmental assessment of anti‑inflammatory drugs in wastewater samples.

2021 Ecotoxicological impacts caused by high demand surfactants in Latin America and a technological and innovative perspective for their substitution.

2019 Effect of Surfactant in Particle Shape and Thermal Degradation of Eggshell Particles

2018 Effect of nano CaCO3 particles from eggshell on mechanical and thermal properties in pp/eggshell composites.

2018 Effect of eggshel particle size in thermal amd thermomechanical properties of PP/EGGSHELL composites.

2017 Handbook of Composites from Renewable Materials Volume 2: Chapter 7 Manufacturing of Composites from Chicken Feathers and Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC).

• Printed polymers with photocatalytic activity for the degradation of emerging contaminants. (Disclosure talk / June 2024)
• PBL project evaluator at the Universidad Valle de México, S.L.P. campus (June 2024)
• Polymers for cleaning water (Column in the newspaper "Heraldo de San Luis Potosí" / November 2023)
• Ultrasound-assisted synthesis of printed nanopolymers for the adsorption of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics and their coupling to a photocatalytic reaction system (Disclosure talk / March 2022)

• 5th Postgraduate Researchers' Meeting, Poster, Instituto Tecnológico de Ciudad Madero. "Preparation of a Composite from PVC and Chicken Feather Quill" (2011).
• XI Women's Participation in Science, Poster, Center for Optics Research, A. C. León, Guanajuato, "Obtaining CaCO3 Nanoparticles from Eggshells" (2014).
• XXIV International Materials Research Congress, Poster, "Mechanical-Physical Route to Prepare Calcium Carbonate from Eggshells" (2015).
  VIII International Conference on Surfaces, Materials and Vacuum, Presentation, "Particle Size Effect on Thermal and Mechanical Properties" (2015).
• XXV International Materials Research Congress, Presentation, "Mechanical and Thermal Evaluation of Composites from PP and Nano CaCO3 Particles Obtained from Eggshells" (2016).
• VII International Congress and XVI Mexican Congress on Catalysis, Poster, Study of the Kinetics and Reaction Mechanisms of the Photochemical and Photocatalytic Oxidation of NSAIDs (2019).
• International Congress of the Chemical Society of Mexico, Presentation, Ultrasound-Assisted Synthesis of Printed nanopolymers for the adsorption of emerging contaminants and their coupling to a photocatalytic degradation system, (2022).
• 5th Congress of SNI and Ibero-American Researchers, Presentation, "Printed polymers for the treatment of water contaminated by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs," (2023).

• Co-advisor for the undergraduate thesis of student Carolina López Saldaña. Thesis title: "Molecularly Imprinted Polymers and Their Application for the Retention of Emerging Contaminants." Graduation date: May 8, 2025.
• Co-advisor for the undergraduate thesis of student Aimeé Zamudio Almonaci. Thesis title: "Validation of an analytical technique for the quantification of d-limonene to establish extraction efficiency from orange peel waste." Graduation pending.
• Teaching of the Professional Project Development course, January-June 2023 semester.
• Teaching of the Professional Project Development course, August-December 2022 semester.
• Support and instruction in the Organic Chemistry course during the January-June 2022 semester.
• Teaching of the Professional Project Development course, August-December 2021 semester.
• Teaching of the Separation Processes course at the Tamaulipas Institute of Higher Education, January-June 2018.

• Academic stay at the École de technologie supérieure - ÉTS Montréal (January-June 2016)
• Best Poster at the 7th International Congress and 16th Mexican Congress on Catalysis (presented by a student / 2019)
• Recognition to the student advised on her undergraduate thesis for obtaining 1st place in the presentation of "ABI/ABP projects" at the Universidad del Valle de México, San Luis Potosí campus (November 2024)
• Recognition to the student advised on her undergraduate thesis for obtaining 1st place in the Student Research Forum with the poster "Molecularly Imprinted Polymers and Their Application for the Retention of Emerging Contaminants (NSAIDs)" awarded by the Universidad del Valle de México, San Luis Potosí campus (November 2024)
• Organizer of the First CIACYT Women's Discussion (March 7, 2025). Certificate in process.