Chairman of ICTAC 14

Professor Valter José Fernandes Junior

Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte
Laboratorio de Combustives
Campus Universitario, CP 1662
Natal RN, 59072-970, Brazil

Fax: INT-55-84-211-9240
Tel: INT-55-84-211-9240

E-mail: valterjr@gasol.com.br, vjfj@superig.com.br

Born on October 6th, 1965, Valter received his Degree in Chemistry with honors at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte in 1986 followed by his doctorate in Analytical Chemistry with honors at the University of São Paulo in 1991 (his thesis dealt with thermal analytical evaluation of flame retardants systems for rigid polyurethane foams).

He joined Brastemp Chemistry Development Laboratory (Whirlpool Co) in 1987 as an Associate Researcher. In 1992, he became an Associate professor of Analytical Chemistry at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte and an Associate researcher at the Laboratory of Catalysis and Petrochemicals of UFRN. In 1993, he became an Associate researcher of CNPq (National Council for the Scientific and Technological Development). From 1995 to 2000, he was Director of Research Department of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte. In 2000, he became Coordinator of the Fuels Laboratory of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte.

Since 2000, he has been a Regional Editor of the Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry. From 1996 to 2000, he was Vice-President of ABRATEC (Brazilian Association for Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry). Now (2006-2008), he is President of ABRATEC (Brazilian Association for Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry) and will Chair the 2008 ICTAC Congress in Brazil.

His main research areas of interest are thermal analysis applied to solid catalysts (acidity, activity and regeneration), fuels and polymer degradation and kinetics. He has authored of 63 papers in refereed journals.