Dr. Maura Puerto spent 25 years with Exxon Mobil before retiring and joining Rice as a Research Scientist. As an expert in application of surfactants to processes involving flow through porous media, she is active in several projects in the Hirasaki and Miller labs. Her research includes enhanced oil recovery and aquifer remediation. She has received awards and accolades including the SPE Cedric K. Ferguson Award and an Exxon Chemicals Quality award. She received her chemical engineering degree from Oriente University in Cuba.