In September of 1994, Dr. Benito Serrano-Rosales joined Dr. Hugo de Lasa’s research group, the Institute of Advanced Studies Canada-Mexico (IASCM) at Western University, as a graduate student to pursue a PhD in Chemical Engineering. Dr. Serrano-Rosales’ studies focused on photocatalytic processes applied to waste water treatment, a subject of utmost importance for both Mexico and Canada. Upon graduation in 1998, Dr. Serrano-Rosales re-joined the Universidad Autonoma de Zacatecas (UAZ) as a Professor and researcher.

Dr. Serrano-Rosales kept a close relationship with Dr. de Lasa throughout various collaborative research projects. Dr. Serrano-Rosales became a champion of the initiative of the IASCM and provided, together with the UAZ, valuable support and exemplary partnership for the creation of the Institute, and is now Co-Director of IASCM. As part of the academic and research exchange, Dr. Serrano-Rosales participated in various projects as Visiting Professor at Western University and also acquired novel Photo-CREC units developed and manufactured at Chemical Reactor Engineering Centre (CREC) at Western University, to carry out research activities at UAZ. This led to the productive development of research projects performed simultaneously at Western University and UAZ.

Dr. Serrano-Rosales is included as a faculty member of CREC and Adjunct Research Professor in the Chemical and Biochemical Engineering department at Western University.