Carla Chacón Villanueva is currently a PhD Student in Architectural Engineering + Technology at TU Delft, holding the professional titles of Architect and Master in Integrated Architectural Design. Her core research fields focus on environmental sustainability, the circular economy within the built environment, and the mechanical recycling of plastics for architectural applications. Her doctoral research, specifically, centers on the Characterization of Post-Consumer Complex Plastic Waste, alongside the development of sustainable materials. 

Carla is a highly motivated master architect with a solid, four-year background in characterizing and applying recycled polymers in the construction field. Before starting her PhD, she served as a researcher and the Laboratory Manager of the Laboratory of Exploration in Environmental Architectural Materials (LEMAA) at USACH. In this role, she efficiently managed research projects, organized laboratory operations for research and classes, supervised interns, and coordinated a team of architects and designers, ensuring the effective utilization and maintenance of recycling machinery.

She has extensive R&D experience, coordinating and executing multiple nationally funded projects (CORFO, ANID), including "Modular recycled plastic facade for social housing" and "Recycled plastic acoustic resonator for workspaces." Her technical proficiency is high, encompassing the operation of specialized mechanical plastic recycling machinery (shredders, sheet presses, injection molding, extruders). She is adept at managing the entire research cycle, from initial data analysis and material development to pre-commercial scale-up, factory coordination, and report development for both public and private sector projects.