Alejandro Ríos is a Chief Research Scientist at Khalifa University of Science and Technology (KU). He was the Director of the Sustainable Bioenergy Research Consortium (SBRC) at KU for 13 years, which had as its members The Boeing Company, Etihad Airways, UOP-Honeywell, Safran, GE, ADNOC Refining, and Bauer Resources. Dr. Ríos spearheaded the research in the use of salt water and halophytes to produce sustainable aviation fuel, and he continues to work to establish the SAF industry in the UAE by focusing on all viable pathways, including Power-to-Liquids.

Dr. Rios was Director of ASA Fuel Services in Mexico for 11 years, where he oversaw the operation and management of a network of 60 fuel farms and their 2,000+ into-plane operations.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City, and Masters and Ph. D. degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering, from Cornell University, USA.