Robert is an environmental engineer specializing in quantitative sustainability assessment methods. His research focuses on understanding the environmental impacts of the technologies and industries aimed at enabling a carbon-neutral and circular economy. Robert is particularly intrigued by the evolution of these impacts over time in response to transformative changes across the global economy. He addresses these fundamental questions through life cycle assessment (LCA), often integrating other approaches from industrial ecology and process systems engineering, including material flow analysis (MFA) and mathematical programming.

More information about Robert Istrate

Professional experience

Robert serves as an Assistant Professor of Industrial Ecology at the Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML) of Leiden University. Before joining CML, he held a postdoctoral researcher position in the Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences at ETH Zurich (2022-2023), where he combined life cycle assessment and mathematical programming to explore new technological pathways for decarbonizing the chemical industry. Robert earned his PhD in Industrial Technologies from Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (Spain, 2022), focusing on the assessment and optimization of waste-to-energy strategies within the context of the circular economy. He obtained his MSc in Energy and Fuels from Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain, 2018) and his BSc in Environmental Engineering from Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (Spain, 2017).

Research topic

Robert's current research focuses on modelling and assessing the environmental impacts of current and future metal supply scenarios. Currently, he:

- coordinates the work package "Modelling of Future-Oriented Datasets" in the EIT RawMaterials project High-Quality Life Cycle Assessment for Battery Industry.

- works on the integration of life cycle assessment in certification schemes for critical raw materials in the Horizon project MaDiTraCe

- works on the harmonization of the life cycle assessment methodology for zero-emissions vehicles in the Horizon project TranSensus LCA.

Moreover, Robert coordinates the Sustainability Area Study - The Netherlands course in the Sustainable Development Minor and the Extended Introduction to Life Cycle Assessment course offered by Leiden University College.

Publications