The ICREAs

ICREA Research Professors form a vibrant community of scientists and researchers in all areas of knowledge that contribute to the advancement of humankind by exploring, interpreting and questioning. Have a look and learn about their amazing discoveries and findings here:

Escudero Escribano, María

Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia (ICN2)

CLOSE

Escudero Escribano, María
Research Professor at
Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia (ICN2)
Experimental Sciences & Mathematics
view profile

Research interests

María’s research combines electrochemistry, materials engineering, and in situ characterisation to elucidate the design principles for the discovery and development of tailored catalyst materials for renewable energy conversion and production of green fuels and chemicals. The main research areas of the NanoElectrocatalysis and Sustainable Chemistry Group include: 1) novel nanomaterials for renewable energy conversion and storage; 2) electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide into renewable fuels and chemicals; 3) sustainable electrosynthesis of value-added chemicals; 4) surface nanostructuring and atomic ensemble control; 5) multimetallic and multifunctional nanomaterials for electrocatalysis; 6) electrochemical activation and partial oxidation of methane. The latter research line has been financed by an ERC Consolidator Grant in 2022, to investigate atomic-scale tailored materials for the electrochemical conversion of methane into valuable fuels and chemicals.

Key words
Electrochemistry, Electrocatalysis, Energy Conversion, Nanomaterials, Nanotechnology, Materials Science, Sustainable Chemistry, Power-to-X, Electrosynthesis, Renewable Fuels and Chemicals, Chemical Engineering, Spectroscopy, Structure-Property Relations

ORCID
: 0000-0002-6432-3015

RESEARCHER ID
: D-1408-2011
Esteller Badosa, Manel

Institut de Recerca contra la Leucèmia Josep Carreras (IJC)

CLOSE

Esteller Badosa, Manel
Research Professor at
Institut de Recerca contra la Leucèmia Josep Carreras (IJC)
Life & Medical Sciences
view profile

Research interests

-Definition of the Epigenome and Epitranscriptome of Cancer Cells: Profile of DNA methylation and histone modifications in tumor suppressor genes and repetitive sequences in cancer. Global and gene-specific definition of aberrant epigenetic changes and functional consequences in transcription regulation, DNA repair and chromosome instability. -Study of the Epigenetics and Epitranscriptomics Machinery and Mechanisms: Role and function of DNA and RNA methyltransferases, specificity of methyl-CpG binding domain proteins (the nuclear factors that recognize DNA methylation), analysis of biological properties of histone deacetylases and methyltransferases (enzymes that modify histones). -Study of Mutations in the Epigenetic Machinery: The mechanisms underlying the disruption of the epigenetic landscape in transformed cells are unknown. -Study of the Epigenetic and Genetic Disruption of Non-Coding RNAs in Human Cancer. -Characterization of the Epitranscriptome in Human Diseases.

Key words
DNA methylation, histone modifications, non-coding RNA, human cancer, neurological disorders

ORCID
: 0000-0003-4490-6093

RESEARCHER ID
: L-5956-2014
Fernandez-Nieves, Alberto

Universitat de Barcelona (UB)

CLOSE

Fernandez-Nieves, Alberto
Research Professor at
Universitat de Barcelona (UB)
Experimental Sciences & Mathematics
view profile

Research interests

My research interests are in experimental soft condensed matter. We study a variety of classical many-body systems that have characteristic energy scales accessible at room temperature and that are internally characterized by mesoscopic length scales. As a result, these soft materials are easily deformable by external stresses and fields, or even by thermal fluctuations, and have microscopic dynamics and structural features that can be directly imaged using optical-microscopy techniques and probed using light scattering; this enables addressing many open questions in equilibrium and non-equilibrium physics. Recent research involves partially ordered fluids, colloidal crystals and glasses, and active matter. A recurring theme is the presence of defects in the order and how they sense and respond to the local geometry, the local environment and the system’s inherent activity. We are also interested in fluid mechanics and hydrodynamic instabilities.

Key words
Topological defects, liquid crystals, drops and jets, electrohydrodynamics, instabilities, active matter, active nematics, colloids, polymer gels, phase behavior, scattering, rheology
Fidora Riera, Alexander

Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)

CLOSE

Fidora Riera, Alexander
Research Professor at
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)
Humanities
view profile

Research interests

Fidora studies the intercultural dimensions of medieval thought and, in particular, the cultural contacts between Judaism, Christianity and Islam. He focuses on medieval epistemology and the relations between philosophy and theology. His research interests include: Reception, interpretation and transformation of philosophical and theological translations from Arabic in medieval Europe; Latin philosophy into Hebrew; Polemics, controversial theology and interreligious dialogue in the Middle Ages; Consequences of the confrontation between the three religions of the Book for the formation of European cultural identity (ERC-Research Projects "Latin Philosophy into Hebrew" (2008-2012) and "The Latin Talmud" (2014-2019), now continued with funding from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation).

Key words
Philosophy, Cultures and cultural diversity

ORCID
: 0000-0001-5163-0369

RESEARCHER ID
: AAA-5046-2020
Florian, Maria Carolina

Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL)

CLOSE

Florian, Maria Carolina
Research Professor at
Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL)
Life & Medical Sciences
view profile

Research interests

Dr. Florian's research in the past years strongly challenged the concept that aging is an irreversible process. Since 2016, in her team they investigate the role of epigenetics and of the stem cell microenvironment in driving aging of somatic stem cells. Dr. Florian’s lab focuses on understanding cellular and molecular mechanisms of somatic stem cell aging, supporting the development of new therapeutic strategies to preserve the regenerative capacity of stem cells over time and to limit or prevent the development of age-related disorders and extend lifespan.

Key words
stem cells, ageing, microenvironment, epigenetic, chromatin, cell polarity, symmetry of division, leukemia, regenerative medicine

ORCID
: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5791-1310

RESEARCHER ID
: AAH-5309-2019
Gabaldón Estevan, Toni

Barcelona Supercomputing Center - Centro Nacional de Supercomputación (BSC-CNS)

CLOSE

Gabaldón Estevan, Toni
Research Professor at
Barcelona Supercomputing Center - Centro Nacional de Supercomputación (BSC-CNS)
Life & Medical Sciences
view profile

Research interests

My main research interest is to understand the complex relationships between genome sequences and phenotypes and how these two features evolve within and across species. I generally use large-scale phylogenetics and molecular evolution approaches that allow looking at the evolution of genomes from the perspective of all of their genes, and apply these analyses to a variety of biological questions related to the evolution and function of biological communities, organisms, organelles, pathways, and families of protein-coding and non-coding genes. I have a special interest in understanding processes related to human pathogenesis. Through collaborations with experimental groups, I apply comparative genomics to discover new mechanisms and genes involved in interesting processes, especially those of clinical relevance. Given our exposure to new types and scales of data, my group has had the need to develop novel bioinformatics tools to fill in existing gaps.

Key words
comparative genomics, evolution, phylogenomics

ORCID
: 0000-0003-0019-1735