Dr. Michelle Duarte (she/her) earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry at Concordia University (Montreal, Canada) under the supervision of Prof. Rafik Naccache. During her Ph.D., Michelle worked on the synthesis of sustainable carbon-based heterogeneous catalysts for biodiesel production. Michelle’s interests in Green Chemistry and sustainability date back to her undergraduate and master’s programs, where she worked with water remediation and sustainable synthesis of carbon nanotubes. Apart from her research projects, Michelle also dedicated her time to teaching students about the significance of Green Chemistry and the use of safer and sustainable practices in the lab.

Motivated to make a broader difference beyond the lab bench, she joined the Beyond Benign team, first as the Green Chemistry Connections Ambassador and currently as the Program Manager for the Green Chemistry Commitment. In this role, she is committed to expanding the GCC community and encouraging institutions to integrate Green Chemistry into their curricula.