Dr Elisa Lopez-Capel
Researcher in Urban Soil Science

  • Email: elisa.lopez-capel@ncl.ac.uk
  • Telephone: +44 (0) 191 222 6885
  • Personal Website: +44 (0) 191 222 5322
  • Address: School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences
    Room 3.17
    Cassie Building
    Newcastle University
    Newcastle upon Tyne
    NE1 7RU
    UK

Introduction

I am a soil scientist with a background in biogeochemistry, specialising in biomass and bioenergy technologies (such as pyrolysis, gasification and anaerobic digestion).
I work on a variety of projects towards sustainable use of natural resources for the production of food and renewable energy from land (integration of bioenergy and land use), , and a better understanding of carbon sequestration, climate change, and soil organic matter characterisation. I have extensive experience of working with chars (charcoal from fires and biochar from bioenergy production), plant materials and soils under various land managements.

Background

I am a soil scientist with a background in biogeochemistry, specialising in biomass and bioenergy technologies (such as pyrolysis, gasification and anaerobic digestion).
I work on a variety of projects towards sustainable use of natural resources for the production of food and renewable energy from land (integration of bioenergy and land use), , and a better understanding of carbon sequestration, climate change, and soil organic matter characterisation. I have extensive experience of working with chars (charcoal from fires and biochar from bioenergy production), plant materials and soils under various land managements.

Roles and Responsibilities

Project development in Energy biosciences

Facilitate multidisciplinary research on "Integration of energy research and land use" and biofuels from Algae

Setting up projects with Research Institutions and Industrial partners on biofuel production and optimization

Supervision of MSc and PhD students

Science communication and dissemination

Writing of scientific reports and publications, and presenting work at conferences.

Qualifications

2008-ITLHE Teaching certificate'Introduction to teaching and learning at higher education'

2003-PhD “Dissipation of pesticides in soils from greenhouses and open fields" supervised by Dr R. Wilkins. Faculty Science, Agriculture, and Engineering, Newcastle University.

1998-BSc (Hons) Agricultural and Environmental Science, Newcastle University. Through this I acquired an understanding of conservation and insect control methods, as well as the role of pesticides in agriculture, and the human impact on the environment.

1992-Test for University Entry (PAAU) University of Barcelona (AUB), Spain

Previous Positions

01/01/02-28/02/09 Research Associate and School fellow in Soil Sciences, , School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Newcastle University. on: Development of a novel mass spectrometer-thermal balance system (TAIRMS) and new methods for the simultaneous determination of stable isotope ratios, mass balance and energy change for volatile minerals and soil carbon materials. I analysed changes in soil organic matter chemical and isotopic composition in response to changes in land management, carbon sequestration, composting processes, and deglaciation. (PT 80%, 01/01/2002-31/09/2002, FT 100% 01/10/2002-31/06/2007)

2001–2002. Spanish teacher. I taught beginners level Spanish to adults in further education (NCFE certificate), privately and at a John Spence High school, North Shields.

Memberships

International Biochar Initiative (IBI)
European Association of Organic and Geochemists
European Geosciences Union (EGU)
British Society of Soil Science (BSSS)

Honours and Awards

•Awarded status of School Research Fellow in Soil Sciences: January 2008

Languages

Spanish, English and Catalan.

Research Interests

My expertise is in biogeochemistry, soil sciences, and analytical method development, and I am interested in energy biosciences and carbon abatement technologies.

Other Expertise

I studied Agricultural and Environmental Science, and specialised in pesticide behaviour in soils during my PhD. I developed and validated extraction (SPE, SFE, ASE) and analytical methodologies (GC-FID/NPD, HPLC-DAD) to assess sorption and degradation of pesticides in soil.
During my postdoctoral research, I have developed a novel mass spectrometer-thermal balance system (TA-IRMS) for the simultaneous determination of C and O stable isotope, gas analysis, mass balance and energy change for volatile minerals and soil carbon materials. The novel characterisation of Carbon pools by TG-DSC-QMS-IRMS provides fundamental information to model C turnover in soils and sediments. The development of the TA-IRMS system meant the need of well characterised samples to test the system. This enabled us to establish collaborations nationally and internationally.
I have also used a range of analytical techniques (analytical flash pyrolysis with combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS), 13C-NMR, and TG-DSC-QMS) to characterise and quantify refractory organic matter such as black carbon and charcoal in soil.

Current Work

My current research focus on biomass and bioenergy technologies (such as pyrolysis, gasification and anaerobic digestion), towards sustainable use of natural resources for the production of food and renewable energy from land (integration of bioenergy and land use).
In this and similar projects we use a multidisciplinary approach to fully understand biofuel production from biomass (including organic waste and algae), and biogeochemical processes taking place in the environment and their implications to C and N cycles, carbon sequestration, CO2 mitigation, soil erosion, and ultimately, climate change.

Research Roles

Project development in Energy biosciences

Facilitate multidisciplinary research on "Integration of energy research and land use" and biofuels from Algae

Setting up projects with Research Institutions and Industrial partners on biofuel production and optimization

Postgraduate Supervision

Recruited and trained two international PhD students through Marie curie training site fellowships (June 2005-February 2006)
Supervised two PhD students through a Royal Society-CSIC Joint Project (April 20056-April 2008), and currently co-supervised a PhD on remediation of HC contaminated soils and sediments (Oct 2009 to Sept 2013).
I supervised MSc students in REEM and clean technologies, and co-supervised students in organogeochemistry and REFLEX.

Esteem Indicators

•Awarded status of School Research Fellow in Soil Sciences: January 2008
•Best poster contribution in the form of poster presented by a young scientist, Pyrolysis 2008 Conference.
•Member of three learned societies (European Association of Organic Geochemists-EAOG; European Geosciences Union- EGU, British Society of Soil Science-BSSS)
•Invited speaker and invited to chair session on new techniques at Pyrolysis 2008 Conference (May 2008) and invited speaker at EGU2008 Assembly on carbon sequestration (April 14th 2008)
•Collaborations with national and international institutions: Rothamsted, IGER, IRNAS-CSIC (Seville, Spain), Johannes Lehman (Cornell University, USA), Helena Kirchner (UAB, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona), Evelyn Krull (CSIRO, Australia).
•I regularly review papers submitted to leading international journals (6 papers), such as SSSAJ, JAAP, Geoderma and Biogeoscience Discussions
•I organised the International Isotope conference SIMSUG in CEGS-IRES in June 2007, and the 2nd annual international meeting of the International Biochar Initiative in September 2008.
•I am a member of the UK Biochar Research Centre (UKBRC) and the International Biochar Initiative(IBI)
•I took part in SERU workshops (www.ncl.ac.uk/seru) as a Role Model for Early Stage Researchers in Science, Engineering and Technology (SET), especially for “women combining family and research career”.

Funding

Nuffield foundation scholarship, June 2008, (£1500) to support undergraduate summer project.

CSIRO contract. Consultancy work on biochar research, March 2008 (£6712), PI:Evelyn Krull,

Engineering the soil carbon sink: a novel approach to carbon emission abatement, (EPSRC EP/F02777X/1, 01/09/07-31/03/09 awarded £240 k; PI: Prof D.A.C. Manning). I am the named investigator.

Nitrogen isotope heterogeneity in soil organic matter, (BBSRC; 01/01/2007-31/06/2007, awarded £115k; PI: D.A.C. Manning). I was the named investigator.

Impact of fires on carbon and nitrogen stabilization in Mediterranean forest systems, (Joint project Royal Society and CSIC, Spain; 01/04/06-30/03/08, travel and subsistence costs only £12k; PI: D.A.C. Manning). I wrote the proposal and was named investigator.

Vegetation acclimatisation during Al-Andalus, (MEC, Spain; 3 years from 01/09/07, analysis costs only €12k; PI Helena Kirchner). I contributed to the writing of the proposal and am the named investigator.

Travel grant from Royal Academy of Engineering (£800) to attend Agrichar conference in Australia, IAI 2007.

Conference grant from the Royal Society (£800) to attend Pyrolysis 2006.

Are biological cycles enhanced in organically managed soils? (named investigator, BBSRC 13/D19376, 01/07/2005-31/12/2006, PI:Tony O’Donnell )

Development of a novel mass spectrometer-thermal balance system (TAIRMS)" (EPSRC GR/R34332/01, 01/01/2002–01/06/2005, PI: David Manning).

Projects

Undergraduate Teaching

Oct to Dec 2009 Contributed to laboratory practicals in 'Soils in the Environment', Newcastle University.

Oct to Dec 2008. Contributed to lectures in “Soil degradation and rehabilitation”, Northumbria University.

Oct to Dec 2007- Lectures, seminars, and practicals in 'Soils in the Environment', Newcastle University.
As part of my teaching qualification on “Introduction to teaching and learning at higher education

1998–2001. Science demonstrator, Dept. of Agri. & Env. Science, Newcastle Uni. Laboratory practicals in Ecotoxicology and Crop Pests, and seminars in Ecology.