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:

Brander, Christian

Institut de Recerca de la Sida - IrsiCaixa (IrsiCaixa)

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Brander, Christian
Research Professor at
Institut de Recerca de la Sida - IrsiCaixa (IrsiCaixa)
Life & Medical Sciences
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Research interests

Our group aims to understand the cellular immunity to viral infections in different disease contexts. Using complementary tools for immune analysis and integrated -omics approaches, we seek to identify functional correlates of virus control and to explore their underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms. We combine immune assays with methylome, communicome and transcriptomics analyses to assess to what degree and at which stages of different viral infections the effector function profiles of virus-specific T cells are epigenetically controlled. We are especially interested in understanding these mechanisms in lympho-proliverative and neurological diseases driven by these viral infections.

Key words
Viral infections, cellular and innate immunity, epigenetic regulation, neurotropic viruses, host genetics, therapeutic vaccination

ORCID
: 0000-0002-0548-5778
Brockington, Daniel

Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)

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Brockington, Daniel
Research Professor at
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)
Social & Behavioural Sciences
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Research interests

My research covers many aspects of conservation social science, rural resource management and livelihood change. I have published on the social impacts of conservation, capitalism and conservation, media and celebrity and large-N studies of NGO sectors. As well as working in Tanzania, I have also conducted research in South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and India. I have published around 200 papers and chapters. My books include Fortress Conservation, Celebrity Advocacy and International Development, Celebrity and the Environment, Nature Unbound (with Rosaleen Duffy and Jim Igoe), The Anthropology of Conservation NGOs (with Peter Billie Larson), Prosperity in Rural Africa? (with Christine Noe) Prosperity in Rural Africa? and Contested Sustainability (with Stefano Ponte and Christine Noe) Contested Sustainability. In pursuit of this work have held 2 personal fellowships from the ESRC and was awarded an Advanced ERC in 2022 for work on Conservation Data Justice.

Key words
Conservation Social Science; Development Data; Conservation Data; Celebrity and Representation; Livelihood Change; Political ecology

ORCID
: 0000-0001-5692-0154
Bromley, Stefan T.

Universitat de Barcelona (UB)

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Bromley, Stefan T.
Research Professor at
Universitat de Barcelona (UB)
Engineering Sciences
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Research interests

With the constant technological drive for device miniaturisation, materials are increasingly being used at scales of only a few 100s or 1000s of atoms (i.e. the nanoscale). Such nanomaterials display novel size-dependent properties compared to materials at everyday length scales. Employing classical atomistic and quantum chemical modelling methods implemented on powerful supercomputers, we aim to provide a detailed predictive understanding of the structural, electronic and chemical properties of nanomaterials. We focus on how nanomaterials evolve with size, and designing new materials from nanoscale building blocks. Our research follows three main themes: (i) inorganic nanoclusters and nanostructured materials for energy applications (e.g TiO₂, ZnO, CeO₂), (ii) nucleation and properties of astronomically important nanomaterials (e.g. TiC, silicates), and (iii) design and understanding of low-dimensional materials for electronics/spintronics using organic molecular building blocks .

Key words
Nanoclusters and Nanoparticles, Nanostructured materials, 2D materials, Computational modelling

ORCID
: 0000-0002-7037-0475

RESEARCHER ID
: A-2481-2009
Brucet, Sandra

Universitat de Vic - Universitat Central de Catalunya (UVIC)

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Brucet, Sandra
Research Professor at
Universitat de Vic - Universitat Central de Catalunya (UVIC)
Experimental Sciences & Mathematics
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Research interests

Our research focuses on the response of aquatic ecosystems and their biodiversity to global changes (e.g. eutrophication, habitat destruction, climate change). We use the organisms’ size structure, in combination with taxonomical approaches, to assess biodiversity and ecosystem processes. We are also interested in basic and applied aspects of ecological theories relating organisms’ body size, metabolism and temperature. Our research includes the whole trophic structure from phytoplankton to fish. We focus on different aquatic ecosystems (lakes, rivers, ponds) and use complementary approaches such as experiments, latitudinal comparisons and models. An important line of our research is the study of the biodiversity and functioning of ponds ecosystems. Within this line I am coordinating the EU H2020 project PONDERFUL with the main objective to use pond ecosystems as Nature Based Solutions to mitigate and adapt to climate change and to protect biodiversity. Ultimately, we aim to apply our research results to solving problems related with the conservation of aquatic ecosystems. We also pay particular attention at transferring our knowledge into European policies and platforms (e.g. Water Framework Directive, New Restoration Law, Biodiversity Strategy, IPBES) and the general public.

Key words
biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, ecology, global change, aquatic ecosystems, trophic structure, conservation

ORCID
: 0000-0002-0494-1161
Burés Amat, Jordi

Institut Català d'Investigació Química (ICIQ)

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Burés Amat, Jordi
Research Professor at
Institut Català d'Investigació Química (ICIQ)
Experimental Sciences & Mathematics
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Research interests

Our objective is to acquire chemical knowledge that provides a competitive advantage in innovating chemical processes, focusing on mechanistic studies, chemical kinetics, organic chemistry, and catalysis.

We advance mechanistic analysis by developing methods such as Variable Time Normalization Analysis (VTNA) to extract valuable information from reaction profiles and employ machine learning to enhance kinetic analyses.

We conduct experimental mechanistic studies of complex catalytic reactions involving various metals and organocatalysts, impacting industries such as pharmaceuticals, polymers, fragrances, and flavors. Our insights lead to innovative synthetic solutions that offer improved reproducibility, efficiency, and sustainability.

We also collaborate with engineers and spectroscopists to develop advanced data-collection methods and devices that gather high-quality kinetic data, even under challenging conditions, thereby improving reaction profile analysis.

Key words
Organic Chemistry; Homogeneous catalysis; Mechanistic Studies

ORCID
: 0000-0002-7821-9307
Bustos, Paula

Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF)

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Bustos, Paula
Research Professor at
Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF)
Social & Behavioural Sciences
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Research interests

My research can be described as empirical investigations in economic development closely guided by international trade theory.

My first line of research studied the effects of a regional free trade agreement between Argentina and Brazil. I showed that it induced firms to export and innovate but reduced the demand for unskilled labor in the manufacturing sector.

A second line of research studies the effect of the adoption of new agricultural technologies, such as GM crops, on economic development in Brazil. Unskilled workers lost their jobs in agriculture but reallocated to the local manufacturing sector. This inflow if unskilled workers reduced local innovation and growth. However, agricultural productivity growth also led to savings and capital flows towards urban regions where it financed the expansion of the manufacturing and service sectors.

A recent line of research studies the effects of climate change on labor and capital allocation across sectors and regions in Brazil.

Key words
International Trade, Development Economics

ORCID
: 0000-0003-4517-1260

RESEARCHER ID
: B-5062-2013