About Valeria

Dr. Ochoa-Herrera is a Professor in the Environmental Engineering Department at Universidad San Francisco de Quito USFQ, Ecuador, and serves as an Adjunct professor in Environmental Sciences and Engineering Department, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, USA. Dr. Ochoa-Herrera obtained her PhD in Environmental Engineering at the University of Arizona, USA. Her research areas focus on the impacts of climate change on freshwater quality, the water-energy-food nexus, bioremediation of domestic and industrial effluents, and sustainability. She has contributed to promoting technological innovation and action against water pollution in the region. Currently, she leads multiple research projects in the highlands, Amazon and the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador, as well as in San Andres Island in Colombia for improving water quality, accessibility, and management within the framework of a circular economy approach. Currently, Dr. Ochoa-Herrera is developing laboratory and pilot-scale systems for low-maintenance and low-cost treatment of domestic and industrial effluents from mining activities. She has published 50 peer-reviewed publications, 4 books, 3 book chapters and her research has been presented in 15 international conferences.