Juan Diego Rodriguez-Blanco

Dr. Juan Diego Rodriguez-Blanco is an Ussher Associate Professor in Nanomineralogy at Trinity College Dublin. His research focuses on experimental mineralogy, particularly mineral nucleation, growth, and interactions with environmental systems. He leads a research group addressing challenges in carbon capture and storage, water decontamination, and strategic metal recycling. His work combines geochemistry with advanced microscopy and interdisciplinary approaches.

His research interests include mineral formation mechanisms, pollutant removal via mineral surfaces, and the design of sustainable resource management strategies. Key areas include carbonate mineralization for carbon sequestration, rare earth element recovery from waters, and energy-efficient separation of critical metals.

Notable achievements include over €900K in grants as Principal Investigator, supervision of 7 PhD students, and equipment acquisitions. Awards include the 2021 European Association of Geochemistry Distinguished Lecturer and 2014 Distinguished Service Award.

Current projects involve collaborations on nanomineral-based filters, geochemical modeling of mineral-water reactions, and advanced microscopy techniques. He has published over 60 peer-reviewed articles and edited special issues on mineral dynamics and rare-earth carbonates.