Sergey Pogodin

Dr. Sergey Pogodin is a researcher at the Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ), where he contributed to the European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant project titled Bio2chem-d: Biomass to chemicals: Catalysis design from first principles for a sustainable chemical industry. His work focuses on advancing catalytic processes for converting biomass into valuable chemicals using computational methods grounded in quantum mechanics and first-principles modeling.

The research aligns with ICIQ's strategic focus on sustainable catalysis and renewable energy solutions. Dr. Pogodin’s expertise lies at the intersection of theoretical chemistry and industrial sustainability, aiming to design efficient and environmentally friendly catalytic systems. His work supports the development of a circular chemical industry by replacing fossil-based feedstocks with renewable biomass resources.

His research trends reflect a strong emphasis on computational approaches to reaction mechanism elucidation, catalyst design, and process optimization for green chemistry applications. This includes quantum chemical modeling, electronic structure calculations, and thermodynamic analysis of catalytic pathways.

Dr. Pogodin earned his Ph.D. from Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Tarragona, Spain, building a foundation in theoretical and computational chemistry. His doctoral training equipped him with advanced skills in molecular modeling and simulation, which he applies to complex catalytic transformations in his current role.

He is actively involved in a high-impact research environment supported by competitive European funding. While no formal advisees are listed, his contributions support broader collaborative efforts within ICIQ’s Sustainable Catalysis program. The project is part of a larger initiative to innovate in clean chemical production through fundamental scientific insight.

Dr. Pogodin works within ICIQ’s research ecosystem, which includes access to state-of-the-art scientific core facilities such as High Resolution Mass Spectrometry, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, and Photophysics Spectroscopy laboratories. These resources complement his computational work by enabling validation against experimental data and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration across chemistry, materials science, and energy technologies.