Francisco J. Cervantes obtained his PhD in Environmental Sciences from the Department of Environmental Technology at Wageningen University (The Netherlands, 2002). He is a Professor at the Institute of Engineering, National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). He serves on the editorial board of Reviews in Environmental Science and BioTechnology (Springer) and as associate/guest editor for IWA Publishing, Frontiers in Microbiology, and Environmental Research.

He is the author of more than 150 peer-reviewed research articles, several book chapters, and has delivered numerous lectures worldwide. His work has received over 9,000 citations according to Google Scholar, with an h-index of 50. He is also a consultant with more than 25 years of experience in wastewater treatment projects across various industrial sectors. Several wastewater treatment plants designed by Dr. Cervantes are currently operating in different industries throughout Latin America.

Dr. Cervantes has received multiple distinctions during his scientific career, including the prestigious Lettinga Award (2007), the National Research Award (2008, in Engineering and Technology, Mexican Academy of Sciences), and recognition as a Marcos Moshinsky Fellow, as well as the Querétaro Business Merit Award in Science and Technology (2023), among others.