About

Prof. Xavier Sanchez-Vila was born in 1963 and was awarded his PhD in 1995. Since this date, he has established himself over the past 15 years as a leader in the field of groundwater flow and contaminant transport with more than 42 articles in highly-rated ISI journals and numerous conference proceedings and presentations. The impact of his research is evident through his H-Index of 12 and more than 500 citations to his work. A common theme to most of his research work is the application of advanced mathematical tools to groundwater problems. In one of his most important contribution to-date he proposes innovative approaches for the interpretation of pump tests (WRR, 34(5), 1998; WRR 35(4), 1999). In these paradigm changing papers, he showed how conventional testing methods, devised for homogeneous aquifers, could be employed for heterogeneous media. He authored a highly-cited review paper on the topic (Rev. Geophy, 2006). He also developed novel approaches for the modeling of reactive transport in soils (WRR, 39(4), 2003; WRR, 43(7), 2007) and variable-density flows (JFM, 2006). He has won several awards in recognition of his outstanding research and teaching (such as the 2001 Water award) and numerous research grants from both EU and Spanish sources. He has been a guest speaker at a number of scientific meetings. The high level of his international collaborators and external partnerships further attests to the high quality of his research. His current outstanding achievements hold great promise for an equally successful future. Prof. Sanchez-Vila has taught numerous courses both at the graduate and undergraduate level at the UPC and as a guest lecturer at European and South American Universities. He has successfully supervised more than 50 Master and undergraduate students and “For outstanding contributions in the field of groundwater flow and contaminant transport with application to flow modeling in heterogeneous porous media.” Prof. Xavier Sanchez-Vila was born in 1963 and was awarded his PhD in 1995. Since this date, he has established himself over the past 15 years as a leader in the field of groundwater flow and contaminant transport with more than 42 articles in highly-rated ISI journals and numerous conference proceedings and presentations. The impact of his research is evident through his H-Index of 12 and more than 500 citations 10 PhD students, many of whom have become well established names in the field. He is well-liked and respected by both students and colleagues as evidenced for example by his recent election as Director of the Department of Geotechnical Engineering and Geosciences at UPC which includes around 80 full-time faculty members and researchers. Prof. Sanchez-Vila is a respected authority in the field of groundwater resource management in Spain and has engaged in a number of professional and governmental debates. He has also served since 2007 as Director of the International Groundwater Hydrology Course (CIHS). The course, in the 45th edition, aims at giving sound theoretical and practical basis to the Spanish speaking professional community. Prof. Sanchez-Vila is Vice-Chair of the IAHR Groundwater Hydraulics and Management Committee. He will assume the Chair position of the Committee LT starting in 2011. He is a regular contributor to the IAHR International Groundwater Symposium. He served as president of the IAH Spanish Group. He is/was also on the editorial board of several prestigious journals including: Applied Hydrogeology, Hydrogeology Journal, Mathematical Geology, Advances in Water Resources, and Water Resources Research.

Career Type:

Scientist/Researcher/Academic

Organization Type:

Universities and Academia

Expertise Fields/Interests:

groundwater flow and contaminant transport

Major Achievements:

Xavier Sanchez-Vila is a leader and a reference in the field of quantitative groundwater hydrology. He has not only made lasting contributions to the fundamental problems of groundwater hydrology, but has also managed to apply these findings to everyday water engineering problems, often changing the way these problems are faced in real life. Sanchez-Vila has enriched and pushed our ability to characterise physical processes in complex porous systems beyond previous boundaries. The groundbreaking nature of his research and the combination of its depth, breadth and interdisciplinarity constitute important steps forward for science and society.