Meet the WISE Fellows

In this interview series, WISE proudly presents the WISE Fellows. Today, we feature Miguel Rivero Crespo, an Assistant Professor and WISE Fellow at Stockholm University since 2023. Miguel has been thinking about sustainability since the beginning of his career. He completed his BSc in Chemistry at the University of Salamanca in Spain and an MSc in Sustainable Chemistry in Valencia, Spain. In 2014, he received a Spanish government fellowship for a PhD in Sustainable Chemistry at the Institute of Chemical Technology (ITQ) in Valencia. In 2019, he joined Prof. Bill Morandi’s group at ETH Zurich as a postdoctoral research assistant.

-What has your experience with WISE been like so far?

So far, I would define my experience with WISE as challenging but exciting. I now have new responsibilities and roles compared to the first time I came to Sweden in a research exchange a couple of years ago. This is my first independent academic position, and I am very happy about the possibility of supervising people.

Beyond that, I think that WISE has created a very inspiring and collaborative environment. In the three meetings I have attended so far, I have met many interesting people and potential collaborators. I even started a collaboration with another WISE researcher, Andrew Kentaro Inge from Stockholm University. I think this kind of environment is really important from someone new to Sweden as myself. And it is all thanks to WISE.

-Can you tell us about your research?

We are an interdisciplinary research group working where organic chemistry, materials science, and catalysis meet. Our main research focus is the use of porous materials as heterogeneous catalysts for sustainable organic chemistry. We are focused on the design of highly efficient multifunctional catalysts to unlock highly challenging reactivity for conventional catalysts.

We believe catalysis holds the key to make chemistry more sustainable. By developing new catalytic processes with high atom economy, we avoid the use of wasteful stoichiometric reagents. By designing more efficient catalysts, we reduce the energy consumption and maximize resource utilization. And by using solid catalysts, we improve recovery and reuse of catalysts.

– As part of your WISE fellow package you will have the possibility to hire 2 PhD and 2 postdocs, how do you think this starting package will influence your academic career?

It is definitely a very generous starting package. Being able to manage a group of 4 people so early in my independent career is quite a luxury. It will surely give me a head start on my academic career. Moreover, it washes off some of the pressure and stress associated with applying for funding. This program can also help me to transform my ideas into reality.

-Can you give a word of advice for young researchers wanting to pursue an academic career?

I would say, start early on thinking about what topics you want to tackle as an independent researcher. It should be something relevant for you and what you are passionate about. In my case, I started during my first year of postdoc applying to independent positions even though I was not quite qualified yet. First, it helps you put your ideas together in your mind and forces you to think about the problems you want to solve as a researcher. Second, it is good practice for later. And third, it makes you more alert to recent developments in literature.

To learn more about Asst. Prof. Miguel Rivero Crespo visit: