Rodrigo Navarro

Rodrigo Navarro is a polymer chemistry and materials science researcher specializing in polyurethanes, elastomers, and sustainable polymer technologies. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Chemistry from the University of Valladolid (2002) and a Master's (2004) and Ph.D. (2009) from the University of Valladolid and Complutense University of Madrid, respectively.

• Current affiliation: Elastomers Group, Institute of Polymer Science and Technology (ICTP-CSIC)
• Former positions: Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Freiburg (Germany), JAE-doc and Juan de la Cierva contracts at Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)

Research Focus: Self-healing coatings, polymer surface modification, internal plastification of PVC, and chemical upcycling of polymer waste. His work bridges organic synthesis, polymer characterization, and industrial applications.

Publication Trends: Recent studies emphasize biodegradable polyurethanes, recycling technologies for end-of-life tires and PET waste, and advanced characterization techniques like NMR and devulcanization methods. Themes align with circular economy principles and green chemistry.

Advising & Grants: Mentored under prominent researchers including Dr. Alfonso González Ortega and Dr. Helmut Reinecke. His work has resulted in 7 patents and over 40 publications in high-impact journals.

Labs & Teams: Active member of the Elastomers Group at ICTP-CSIC, contributing to projects involving polymer recycling, smart materials, and sustainable manufacturing processes.