Author: PCSI user

Advanced Material Spain (AMatS) 2025- Barcelona (Spain)

Written by PCSI user on November 24, 2025. Posted in Events.

The 4th Conference on Advanced Materials in Spain (AMatS 2025) took place from 24th to 26th November 2025 at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), bringing together researchers, professionals, and institutions working at the forefront of advanced materials science.

AMatS 2025 began with the InCAEM Opening Ceremony at the ALBA Synchrotron, including talks and a guided tour of the new InCAEM facilities—Spain’s latest infrastructure for in situ correlative studies of energy materials.

The fourth edition aimed to be a discussion forum on the then-current status and perspectives of the different types of advanced materials. On that occasion, the organizers provided a high-level platform where recognized experts and participants shared new developments, research, and testing technologies that contributed to and inspired further advancements in advanced materials.

The program included:

3 plenary lectures, 3 invited talks, and 7 presentations by Advanced Materials Plan coordinators
~50 contributed talks, flash communications, and poster sessions
A Gala Dinner, networking events, and a poster welcome session

This conference was a unique opportunity to explore the latest scientific trends, engage with leading experts, and connect with major institutions such as ICMAB-CSIC, ICN2, ALBA, and PIC-IFAE.

Conference chairs:

Lucía Aballe (ALBA-CELLS), Jordi Arbiol (ICREA, ICN2) and Caterina Biscari (ALBA-CELLS)

Local Organizing / Scientific Committee:

Aitor Mugarza (ICREA, ICN2), Ester Barrena (ICMAB-CSIC), Gonzalo Merino (PIC, IFAE), Ana Belén Martínez (ALBA-CELLS), Ana de la Osa (ICN2), Anna May (ICMAB-CSIC), Sebastián Grinschpun (IFAE), Alba Garzón (ICN2), Belén Ballesteros (ICN2), Daniel Martín Jiménez (ICMAB-CSIC), Emigdio Chavez (ICN2), Marc G. Cuxart (ICN2), Martin Eriksen (PIC, IFAE), Albert Moreno (ICMAB-CSIC) and Oriol Roig (ICMAB-CSIC)

Former PCSI PhD Student Adara Babuji Receives the UAB PhD Extraordinary Award

Written by PCSI user on November 8, 2025. Posted in News.

We are delighted to announce that Adara Babuji, former PhD student of the PCSI group at ICMAB, has been awarded one of the PhD Extraordinary Awards granted by the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). These awards distinguish outstanding doctoral theses defended within the last three academic years, with only five recognitions given per programme.

Adara’s thesis, Significance of molecular and crystal structure on organic semiconductor doping, defended on 26 July 2022, was selected by the Academic Committee of the PhD Programme in Materials Science as one of the five best theses of the 2021/2022 academic year. Her work was supervised by Esther Barrena and Carmen Ocal (ICMAB-CSIC).

The award ceremony took place on 7 November 2025.

This achievement highlights the excellent research carried out within the PCSI group and reflects Adara’s dedication and scientific talent. We are extremely proud of her success and of the impact her research continues to have in the field of organic semiconductor materials.

Congratulations, Adara!

LAB TOUR 2026 (FECYT-MICIU)

Written by PCSI user on September 10, 2025. Posted in Outreach.

FECYT-MICIU project taking place in Soria during the course 2025-2026

LAB TOUR 2026 is a project of the Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC), coordinated by Daniel Martín Jiménez and funded with the support of the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT) – Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (MICIU), Ruralia (Caja Rural de Soria Holding), and the Provincial Council of Soria. Its goal is to increase knowledge and understanding of Science and Technology in a region of the province of Soria, within what is known as ‘Empty Spain.’
The core of the project is a five-day tour in spring 2026, led by scientific staff from the Institute of Materials Science of Barcelona (ICMAB-CSIC). During this tour, the following activities will take place:

1-Science outreach workshops related to materials science in Early Childhood and Primary Education Schools (CEIP), which are also Rural Grouped Schools (CRA) in six villages of Soria.
2-Interviews on local radio and television to discuss science, connecting it with the society, culture, and art of Soria.

For more information, visit https://labtour.icmab.es/

PhD position: Development of organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) based on charge-transfer semiconductors for near-infrared (NIR) detection

Written by PCSI user on July 2, 2025. Posted in News, Uncategorized.

Join a cutting-edge research project focused on the exploration of new materials for the development of organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) based on charge-transfer semiconductors for near-infrared (NIR) detection.

🎯 What You’ll Do

•Design and fabricate thin films based on novel organic materials as semiconductors

•Develop and characterize OFET devices

•Use nanoscale advanced characterization to study interfaces and morphology

•Engage in interdisciplinary collaboration within ICMAB’s e-MolMat and PCSI groups

•Participate in training activities, conferences, and scientific communication

🎓 Your Profile

•MSc in Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, Nanoscience or related fields

•High motivation

•Interest in interdisciplinary research and willingness to collaborate internationally

Are you interested? Send your CV to mmas@icmab.es and e.barrena@csic.es

📅 Deadline: August 31, 2025

More info in ICMAB – New PhD position: Novel materials and interfaces for the development of organic devices for NIR detection

Welcome, Mercedes!

Written by PCSI user on April 4, 2025. Posted in News.

We are delighted to welcome Mercedes Linares Moreau as a new postdoctoral researcher in our group, supported by the prestigious Beatriu de Pinós fellowship.

Mercedes graduated with a Licentiate in Physics from the University of Buenos Aires (Argentina) in 2013 and earned her PhD in Physics from the University of San Martín (UNSAM) in 2018. During her PhD, she studied electrical transport in mesoporous oxide thin films and metal-oxide nanocomposites, specializing in multiple Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM) techniques.

From 2018 to 2021, she joined Prof. Falcaro’s group as a postdoctoral researcher, working on MOF thin films and ceramic-to-MOF conversion as part of the ERC – POPCRYSTAL project. Since 2021, she has held a Senior Scientist position at the Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, also within Prof. Falcaro’s group.

Her research focuses on the heteroepitaxial growth of oriented MOF films and patterns for applications in optics, sensing, and microelectronic devices. Additionally, she explores in-situ characterization of MOFs and MOF-biocomposites, aiming to develop new materials with enhanced stability and functionality for environmental and industrial applications.

We warmly welcome Mercedes and look forward to her contributions to our team. Wishing her great success in this new chapter!