Our values

Impact

Our work is designed for scale. By applying solutions in operational contexts, we deliver measurable outcomes that contribute to decarbonization, sustainable fuel adoptions, and a circular carbon economy.

Innovation

Innovation is central to our mission. We focus on translating research into scalable solutions—bridging the gap between laboratory discovery and real-world implementation through rigorous experimentation and systems-level design.

Collaboration

At Team Roberts, we prioritize strategic collaborations with industrial partners and academic institutions to address complex challenges of decarbonization, sustainable fuels, and industrial emissions. By integrating cross-sector expertise, we can accelerate the development and deployment of scalable technologies with industrial applications.

About the Principal Investigator

 
Professor William Roberts

Professor William Roberts is a leading figure in energy and environmental research, known for his pioneering work in combustion science, multi-pollutant carbon capture, and sustainable fuels. With decades of experience in both academia and industry, he brings a unique perspective to the lab—bridging deep scientific inquiry with practical, scalable solutions. Under his leadership, Team Roberts has grown into a globally recognized hub for innovation, collaboration, and impact. Professor Roberts is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of scientists and engineers, fostering a culture of curiosity, rigor, and purpose. His vision drives the team’s mission: to conduct transformative research that addresses real-world challenges and contributes to a more sustainable future.

 

 

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As a team we are guided by three core principles

Team Roberts is a multidisciplinary research group comprising over 35 researchers—including graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and scientists—the team conducts both fundamental and applied research with a clear emphasis on scalability and industrial relevance.

 

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SCIENCE IN ACTION.

DRIVEN TO SOLVE.

MADE TO SCALE.

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Marcelo David Benitez Guerra

Research Scientists

Research Scientist

Current

Location:

KRTP (Building 34), Level 2, 2235-WS01

Social Profile:

Biography

Marcelo Benitez joined KAUST in 2018 to pursue a Ph.D. in Energy Resources and Petroleum Engineering under the supervision of Prof. Carlos Santamarina. He holds a Master’s degree in Petroleum Engineering from the Technical University of Clausthal, Germany, and a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from the Universidad Tecnológica Equinoccial (UTE), Ecuador. Following his Ph.D., Marcelo became a Postdoctoral Fellow in Prof. William Roberts’ group, contributing to the Cryogenic Carbon Capture Project—one of KAUST’s National Initiatives focused on advancing sustainable emission reduction technologies.

Before joining KAUST, Marcelo worked for three years as a Lecturer in the Petroleum Engineering Department at the Central University of Ecuador and had over ten years of experience working in Upstream in the Oil and Gas industry. He has been deeply engaged in the KAUST community, serving as President of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Student Chapter, an Orientation Leader, and an active member of several student and sustainability organizations.

Marcelo’s contributions have been recognized with the 2022 Dean’s Award of Physical Science and Engineering and his selection as the 2024 Alumni Convocation Speaker. Beyond his academic and professional life, Marcelo enjoys hiking and road cycling with the Red Sea Cyclist Community Club at KAUST, where he currently serves as President.

Research Interests

Cryogenic Carbon Capture, CO2 Storage and Utilization, Interfacial Phenomena in Complex Fluids, Drilling in Oil and Gas.

Selected Publications

  1. Navarrete, J., Bustos, J., Palacios, D., Benítez, M., John, C. (2018), Modelamiento de Procesos en la depositación de Carbonatos, Plataforma Marion Norte y Sur del Mioceno. FIGEMPA: Investigación y Desarrollo.
  2. Liu, Q., Benitez, M., Xia, Z., Santamarina, JC. (2022), Pore-scale Phenomena in Carbon Geological Storage (Saline Aquifers - Mineralization - Depleted Oil Reservoirs). Frontiers in Energy Research. doi: 10.3389/fenrg.2022.979573
  3. Benitez, M., Liu, Q., Santamarina, JC. (2023) Organo-Bentonite Coated Interfaces: Interfacial Properties and Cyclic Response. Energy & Fuels. doi: 10.1021/acs.energyfuels.3c01252
  4. Oyinloye, M., Shrinivas, S., Al-Juiaed, M., Michaux, S., Benitez, M., Burks, M., Roberts, W. (2024), Dynamics of CO2 Desublimation for Enhanced Carbon Capture: A Study of Reynolds and Grashof Number Impact. 17th International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies GHGT-17. doi: 10.2139/ssrn.5010615
  5. Oyinloye, M., Michaux, S., Benitez, M., Shrinivas, S., Burks, M., Roberts, W. (2025), Experimental study of heat and mass transfer in CO₂ frost formation on a cryogenic cylinder. Results in Engineering. doi: 10.1016/j.rineng.2025.107759
  6. Shrinivas, S., Benitez, M., Michaux, S., Alvi, A., Prabhudharwadkar, D., Roberts, W., AlAhmadi, K. (2025), Lab to Field: Technology Demonstration of Multi-Species (CO2, SO2, NO2, & PM) Capture from a Power Plant Exhaust. ADIPEC Conference. 
  7. Sun, Z., Liu, Q., Benitez, M., Santamarina, JC. (2025), Invasion pattern formation in the transport of nanoparticle-coated interfaces during immiscible displacement: Effects of interfacial tension and contact angle hysteresis. Physical Review E

Education

- August 2023 Doctor of Philosophy Ph.D. in Energy Resources and Petroleum Engineering
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology - KAUST, Thuwal, KSA
        
- October 2015 Master of Science M.Sc. in Petroleum Engineering 
Clausthal University of Technology, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany
       
- April 2009 Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering
Equinoctial University of Technology - UTE, Quito, Ecuador

Awards

  • 2025 – Asian Power Award with our Cryogenic Carbon Capture Project (Team award).
  • 2025 - Emirates Energy Award with our Cryogenic Carbon Capture Project (Team award).
  • 2022 - Dean’s Award. Physical Science and Engineering KAUST.
  • 2018 - KAUST Graduate Fellowship. Full Ph.D. scholarship.
  • 2012 - Full scholarship - Government of Ecuador “Becas Convocatoria Abierta” to study for a master’s degree in Germany.
  • 2004 - Full scholarship - Equinoctial University of Technology UTE to complete my undergraduate studies.

KAUST Affiliations

Physical, Science and Engineering
Clean Energy Research Platform CERP

Research Interests Keywords

Cryogenic Carbon Capture Petroleum Engineering Co2 Eor - Ccus Drilling And Production Experimental Work