Cristina Martínez Sánchez was born in Enschede (The Netherlands) in 1967. In 1991 she obtained her bachelor in chemistry at the University of Valencia and her PhD in 1997 at the Universidad Politécnica de Valencia. In 2002 she joined the Institute of Chemical Technology (ITQ) as Specialized Research Technician of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and she promoted to Tenured Scientist in 2006.

Her principal research topics are focused on heterogeneous catalysis applied to refining and petrochemistry processes (catalytic cracking, hydrotreatment, aromatic alkylation and transalkylation, aliphatic alkylation) and to methane upgrading processes (methanol and dimethylether carbonylation, methane dehydroaromatization). She has co-authored 27 publications and 9 patents, 4 of them licensed to industrial partners, and has participated in research projects with national and international industries in the area.

She has co-directed 2 PhD thesis and several Final Degree Projects. She teaches the “Catalytic reactors design and laboratory analytical techniques” matter included in the Sustainable Chemistry Master of the Universidad Politécnica de Valencia.