Every month, we welcome new members of the IMDEA Materials team. Here, you can find a short profile of our most recent additions, including their upcoming role with IMDEA Materials and their educational and professional background.

Hi, my name is Francesca Sepúlveda Espinoza, and I’m from Santiago, Chile. I’m a chemical engineer from the University of Santiago de Chile, and I carried out my Ph.D. studies in Engineering and Materials Science at the University of Chile.

My research focused on developing advanced dual-network hydrogels, integrating natural and nanostructured components, including endemic natural products of my country, to optimise their mechanical properties and functional performance. This work involved analysing material interactions, process optimisation, and exploring fabrication techniques.

At IMDEA Materials, I have joined as a postdoctoral researcher to collaborate in Dr. Federico Sket’s research group. My work will focus on additive manufacturing, specifically on the optimisation of binder jetting processes and the study of interactions between binders and metallic powders.

In my free time, I enjoy painting, hiking, and exploring natural landscapes.

My name is Jinchao He and I am from China. I am currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China.

Supported by the China Scholarship Council, at IMDEA Materials I am working in the Multiscale Materials Modeling group led by Prof. Javier Segurado as a research assistant. During my time here, I will be working on crystal plasticity theory and fatigue life prediction of metals.

My name is Ignacio Aspiazu, and I am an Industrial Technical Engineer in Electricity/Electronics from ULPGC. I have extensive experience in electrical works and electrical control systems for buildings, retail, and offices. Later, I worked in the technical management of facility maintenance and subsequently took on economic management responsibilities.

Recently, I joined the Infrastructure department at IMDEA Materials. Outside of work, I love playing padel.

My name is Kaiyuan Tian. I am from China. I received my bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Miami University (USA) and the University of Manchester (UK), respectively.

At IMDEA Materials Institute, I have joined Dr. Maciej Haranczyk’s research group as a Ph.D. student, focusing on material acceleration platforms and the discovery of sustainable polymer materials.

In my free time, I enjoy playing basketball, e-sports, and reading.

My name is Lucía Puertas, and I graduated in Physics from the University of Cantabria (2024). I am currently pursuing a Master’s in Materials Science and Engineering at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid.

After completing my master’s in July, I will begin my Ph.D. at IMDEA. I am part of the In-Situ Processing and Characterisation research group, led by Federico Sket, and I participate in the BIOFUN3D project, which focuses on the controlled degradation of bioabsorbable implants through the introduction of functional gradients via 3D printing.

My work centres on the development and study of Zn-based alloys using the laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) process, with a particular focus on powder characterisation, in-situ analysis of printing parameters, and the use of advanced synchrotron techniques for investigation.