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.

My name is Pablo Varela, and I am from Chile. I have a Biological background with a master’s degree in Materials Science from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya in Barcelona.

My previous work has centered on biomaterials and their characterisation, with a primary focus on tissue engineering.

The most recent research I have worked in was my master’s thesis, which involved the in vivo analysis of ceramic composites for bone regeneration. There, I realised that I wanted to focus on materials characterization through imaging techniques, exploring the new approaches that AI can give us for this purpose.

At IMDEA, I will be collaborating with Dr. Federico Sket as an XCT Research Engineer, where I will be characterizing metal alloys using microtomography techniques.

My name is Paula Chonillo, and I am a predoctoral researcher in Materials Science and Engineering. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Ecuador and a master’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering from UPC in Barcelona, Spain.

My current research focuses on creep-resistant metals, under the supervision of Dr. Ilchat Saboriv, leader of the physical simulation research group.

Outside of my academic work, I enjoy nature, animals, and spending time with family and friends.

Profile to come.