I am Full Professor at the Department of Microbiology of the
University of Granada (UGR). I have my Bachelor, Master and
PhD Degree in Physics, and I also have a Master Degree in
Microbiology. I worked at the University of Georgia (USA),
first as a Posdoctoral Researcher and then as a Fulbright
Scholar. Finally, I returned back to UGR hired as Contratado
Ramon and Cajal, Profesor Contratado Doctor, Associate
professor and no, as Full Professor in the Microbiology
Department.

Regarding my academic background, I have a Bachelor’s Degree in
Biochemistry, a Master’s Degree in Biotechnology and a Master’s
Degree in Soil Science, Soil Fertility and Plant Biology.
In 2021, I obtained my PhD in Fundamental and Systems Biology from the University of Granada. During this period (hired as FPU researcher), I was involved in the development and characterization of new magnetic nanosystems and their application in nanotechnology, especially in the field of nanomedicine and astrobiology. Currently, in my recent postdoctoral activity (started in October 2021 at CIC nanoGUNE, San Sebastián), I am
applying my expertise in the design of delivery systems and extending my multidisciplinary research training by participating in a new research line financed by a European project (FET)
aimed at the design of enzymes with biotechnological potential and their application for biocatalytic upgrading of natural biopolymers. In addition, recently, I have been awarded with a “Juan de la Cierva-Formación” grant (FJC2021-047689-I). I have published a total of 21 articles in JCR journals (91 % in Q1, H-index: 9), in which I have had a relevant contribution (first author or co-first author) in more than 60% of them. This scientific production allowed me to obtain the award of the Academy of Sciences of Granada to the scientific activity of young researchers. In addition, I have participated in a total of 37 national and international congresses, with 16 oral communications and two Keynotes.

I graduated as an Electronic Engineer at the University of
Tucumán, Argentina, in 1994. I carried out my first research in
the Biomechanics Group in the design of piezoelectric
accelerometers. In 1997 I joined the private sector, as a manager
in companies such as Telefónica and Ericsson. After 5 years in
the private sector, in 2001, I moved to Spain where I returned to
academic and research work at the University of Granada, in the
Physics of Interfaces and Colloidal Systems group. There I
developed my doctoral thesis financed by the company Repsol
on the synthesis and application of magnetic fluids in
automobile shock absorbers whose main virtue is the control of
their viscosity through the application of magnetic fields. During this period, we have published 9 patents and 4 publications in international journals, 2 of them licensed by Repsol. The others are related to applications of the MR fluid, one of which earned me a
prize in “Scientific Dissemination 2007″ from the UGR and an honorable mention in 2008. In April 2009 I obtained a postdoctoral contract at the University of Graz, Austria, in the Department of Physical Chemistry. There I worked with the prestigious professor Dr. Otto Glatter on nanostructures and design of light scattering instruments to characterize complex colloidal systems: solid-gel transition and liquid crystal. This collaboration is still ongoing.
From August 2011 to 2015, I joined Prof. Dr. Ángel Delgado’s group as a postdoctoral researcher in a project funded by the European Union in the 7th Framework Program. The main idea of the project is to obtain energy from the difference in salinity between two ionic
solutions. We have made great advances in the subject that have resulted in more than 15 articles published and two patents. Simultaneously, I have collaborated in the project ” Diseño de amortiguadores inteligentes para electrodomésticos basados en lubricantes magenotoviscos” linked to Fagor Electrodomésticos and Mondragón Goi Eskola Politeknikoa, where I have developed a low-cost friction shock absorber for use in high-end washing machines (Patent PCT/ES2013/070443).
Additionally, another active line of research is carried out with the Road Engineering group.
I have worked intensively on the development of smart asphalts with two patents and other publications in high impact journals. Recently (Nov/2022) we have obtained an international
award “IX Premio Internacional a la Innovación en Carreteras Juan Antonio Fernández del Campo” under the title: “Materiales asfálticos mecanomutables para la construcción de carreteras inteligentes”.
In December 2020 I obtained a permanent position as Associate Professor at the University of Granada. As PI, I have obtained in the last 10 years, 8 research projects, 3 of them national and 5 regionals, for a total amount of about 700.000€.
I have supervised more than 10 Master’s theses and 18 Bachelor’s theses.. My contributions of 65 international publications and 13 patents have mainly focused on a) synthesis and applications of magnetic particles; b) rheology, in the presence of magnetic fields
(magnetorheology); c) blue energy by salinity exchange; d) desalination by capacitive means.
Currently, I am in charge of NANOMAG Laboratory, focused on Magnetic Nanoparticles and applications in Magnetic Hyperthermia and Photothermia stimulus applied to the biomedical field.