Establishing Brazil-Spain International Collaboration for the Development of Smart Sensors for Contaminant Monitoring

• Grant number: 25/07017-3
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International
• Start date: September 27, 2025
• End date: October 11, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Priscila Alessio Constantino
• Grantee: Priscila Alessio Constantino
• Visiting researcher: Manel Del Valle
• Visiting researcher institution: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Spain
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (FCT). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Presidente Prudente. Presidente Prudente , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The visit of Prof. Manel del Valle, from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), to UNESP - Presidente Prudente aims to reinforce international scientific collaboration in the field of electrochemical sensors and analytical devices applied to environmental monitoring and food safety. His visit will involve research activities, lectures, workshops, and meetings with researchers from UNESP, CNPEM, and UNICAMP, within the scope of FAPESP-funded projects.Prof. del Valle's scientific contributions will focus on the optimization of electrochemical sensors for detecting emerging contaminants, heavy metals, and pesticides; the development of sensor networks using artificial intelligence and chemometrics. He will also support the critical analysis of experimental results, collaborate in the preparation of scientific manuscripts, and contribute to the strategic planning of joint grant applications in Brazil and Europe.His participation will be integrated into four main research projects: (1) the project led by Priscila Alessio focused on sustainable devices for environmental monitoring and remediation; (2) Cibely Martin's project on spectroelectrochemical sensors based on nanostructured thin films; (3) Renato Sousa Lima's project (LNNano/CNPEM) on high-density electrochemical chips and AI for drug screening; and (4) Antônio Riul Jr.'s project (UNICAMP) on smart multifunctional interfaces.The schedule includes three main segments: (i) attendance and lecture at the XXIII SBPMat Meeting in Salvador; (ii) academic and technical visits to UNESP Presidente Prudente, including a public lecture and a short course on chemical sensors; and (iii) collaborative sessions with research teams at LNNano/CNPEM and UNICAMP. The visit is also expected to promote new cooperative projects and enable future submissions to national and international calls, increasing the visibility and impact of the ongoing research. (AU)