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.

Hello, my name is Berta Valbuena. I have a degree in Clinical Psychology from CEU San Pablo University, with specialisations in General Health Psychology and Human Resources from Nuclio Digital School.

For many years, my career was focused on Recruitment and Learning at Airbus, where I managed selection processes, training, and talent development at a global level. More recently, I had the opportunity to work at a startup, where I took on the role of HR Business Partner (HRBP), managing the team and developing key strategies for people management in a dynamic and fast-growing environment.

My mission at IMDEA Materials is to support employees, students, and collaborators in their professional journey within the institute, fostering their integration, engagement, and well-being.

In my free time, I enjoy practising yoga, cooking, and spending time with my friends and my dogs.

My name is Cristina Reyes, a Chemistry graduate from the University of Granada, with a strong passion and a clear focus on professional growth within the chemical sector. I also completed a Master’s Degree in Chemical Sciences and Technologies specialising in Production, Testing and Quality.

This provided me with solid knowledge in key areas such as project development and monitoring, industrial process control systems, quality management, and Occupational Risk Prevention, among others.

During the master’s program, I had the opportunity to work on research projects involving both biotechnology and the use of biocomputational tools for protein structural prediction analysis. During my Master’s Thesis, I also specialised in advanced analytical techniques such as Capillary Electrophoresis, for pesticide residue control. 

I have recently joined the IMDEA Materials Institute as a lab and research support technician for the Accelerated Materials Discovery research group, led by senior researcher Maciej Haranczynk. I spend my free time travelling, discovering new places, reading, and watching films and series.

Hi, my name is Jesús Carreras, and I’m a materials engineer from the Rey Juan Carlos University in Madrid. After finishing my undergraduate studies, I undertook a master’s degree in Nanotechnology and Photonics at the Autonomous University of Madrid.

I have joined IMDEA Materials as a laboratory technician, mainly focused on microscopy techniques.

In my spare time, I like to listen to music, play my electric bass and go rock climbing.

My name is Lucía Nogueiras, and I am from Durango, a town in the Basque Country. I obtained my degree in Biomedical Engineering from Mondragón University and am currently pursuing a master’s in Robotics and Automation at Carlos III University of Madrid.

At IMDEA Materials, I have joined Federico Sket’s research group with a scholarship from the Investigo programme, focusing my work on optimising the inspection of composite materials.

Hi, my name is Nerea Rodríguez, and I’m from Navarra. I studied a CFGS of Clinical and Biomedical Laboratory and also a CFGS of Chemistry and Environmental Health. 

I finished my studies in June, and I was working in a wine cellar for a few months before joining IMDEA Materials.

In my free time, I enjoy going to the cinema, reading and hanging out with my friends.