Doctoral student selected for P&G FIRST Conference

Fernando Lima and Juan Carlos Carrasco-Moraga.

A West Virginia University chemical engineering doctoral student has been selected to attend the P&G FIRST Conference, a three-day, all expenses paid program primarily intended for African American, Hispanic and Native American doctoral and postdoctoral scientists.

“I am very grateful to have been invited to participate in the FIRST Conference,” said Juan Carlos Carrasco-Moraga. “I enjoy participating in events where I can learn about research and development from top research groups in academia and industry, and this will be a perfect platform to share my own research findings.”

Carrasco-Moraga is researching the improvement of natural gas utilization processes. His focus is on the development of computational approaches for optimizing the process design and intensification for the production of chemicals, fuels and power generation.

“The tools I am developing in my research are flexible and thus have the potential to be adapted for different implementations in a variety of other engineering and economic processes, which I think will be well received at FIRST,” said Carrasco-Moraga.

Before coming to WVU, Carrasco-Moraga worked as an economic and technical advisor and project manager at Unidad de Desarrollo Tecnologico, part of Universidad de Concepción in Concepción, Chile.

Carrasco-Moraga is advised by Fernando Lima, assistant professor of chemical engineering in the Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources.

“This conference will give Juan Carlos the opportunity to be exposed to cutting-edge research and development facilities and activities in the country,” said Lima. “His attendance is important for the Department and College as well, as our hope is to strengthen the relationship between PG and WVU in the future, especially given PG’s upcoming facilities in the Eastern Panhandle of the state.”

The conference will be held September 18-21, in Cincinnati, Ohio.

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