Maria Fernanda Rojas Michaga

Dr. Maria Fernanda Rojas Michaga serves as a Research Fellow at the Translational Energy Research Centre (TERC) within the School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering at the University of Sheffield, where she joined in 2024. She actively contributes to industry-led projects with Boeing and government-funded initiatives focused on sustainable aviation fuels, hydrogen production, and CO₂ capture and utilisation technologies.

Her academic journey began with a Chemical Engineering degree from Universidad Mayor de San Simón in Bolivia (2013), where she was recognized as the top student in the Faculty of Engineering. She subsequently earned a Master's in Energy and Processes at IFP School in Paris through a TotalEnergies scholarship, followed by a PhD at the University of Sheffield specializing in sustainable aviation fuel production. During her doctoral studies, she gained teaching experience as a graduate assistant at the Diamond facility and conducted research on hydrogen production and CO₂ capture at TERC.

Dr. Rojas Michaga's research program centers on developing and optimizing sustainable aviation fuel pathways using Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and emerging technologies, alongside carbon capture methods like molten carbonate fuel cells and clean hydrogen production systems. She employs Aspen Plus process modeling, advanced optimization techniques, and integrated environmental-economic assessments to evaluate technical feasibility and sustainability impacts. Her work extends to energy systems for rural communities and waste management solutions, addressing critical decarbonization challenges in the aviation sector and broader energy landscape.

Analysis of her publication record reveals a consistent focus on technoeconomic and life cycle assessment of sustainable aviation fuel production, with particular emphasis on power-to-liquid and biomass-to-liquid configurations that achieve negative emissions. Her research integrates process engineering with sustainability metrics to provide holistic evaluations of emerging energy technologies, demonstrating strong alignment with global decarbonization goals and industry needs.

She currently supervises PhD students at the Energy 2050 research centre and collaborates extensively with industry partners including Boeing on funded projects. Her research activities are supported through both industrial partnerships and government grants, reflecting the strategic importance of her work in advancing clean energy solutions.

Dr. Rojas Michaga is an integral member of the Translational Energy Research Centre (TERC) and Energy 2050 research centre, where she collaborates with interdisciplinary teams developing cutting-edge technologies for carbon capture, hydrogen production, and sustainable fuel systems. These facilities provide advanced experimental infrastructure for validating process models and scaling promising technologies toward commercial implementation.