New ICREAs | ICREA

Darrick Chang

Experimental Sciences & Mathematics

1 Jan, 2018

The research of Prof. Chang and his Theoretical Quantum Nanophotonics group at ICFO is based upon a vision that quantum effects are at the forefront of future technologies and discoveries, and that nanophotonic systems will be a prominent platform for this frontier. Specifically, they aim to harness the unique configurability, large optical forces, and strong light-matter interaction strengths achievable in nanophotonic systems to produce new applications and phenomena involving matter and light, which have no analogue in macroscopic setups. The group also develops theoretical techniques that enable a better understanding of the complex phenomena at play. The work is highly inter-disciplinary, and the group explores the potential impact across atomic physics, quantum optics, nonlinear optics, nano-mechanics, low-dimensional materials, and quantum information science. They also collaborate with leading experimental groups to bring their theoretical ideas toward reality.

Sílvia Osuna

Experimental Sciences & Mathematics

1 Jan, 2018

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Sílvia’s research lies at the interface between computational chemistry and biology. Her research focuses on the study of biochemical processes mainly related to enzyme catalysis. Her lab is developing new computational tools for predicting which amino acid changes are required to the enzyme structure for allowing novel function, enhancing a promiscuous side reaction, or expanding its substrate scope. Her goal is to enable the routine computational design of proficient enzymes to boost their use in industry for the synthesis of pharmaceutically relevant targets. She also applies the developed methodologies to the study of the recognition and assembly process of enzymes and other biomolecules with carbon-based materials.

Jelena Radjenovic

Engineering Sciences

1 Jan, 2018

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Jelena's research aims at developing innovative, hybrid treatment techniques that outperform current (waste)water processing methods and drive down the requirements for energy and chemicals. Her research is focused on the development of nanoelectrochemical systems for distributed water/wastewater treatment, based on the use of engineered nanostructured materials to induce oxidative and reductive degradation of pollutants in water. Her research group is also exploring the possibilities of nanoengineering of anaerobic respiration and acceleration of redox microbial reactions by the addition of low-cost carbon nanomaterials. The main objective in the development of these technologies is to design tailored, adaptable solutions for the treatment of contaminated water and eliminate persistent, toxic and carcinogenic chemicals from water in an energy-efficient way.

Albert Tarancón

Engineering Sciences

1 Jan, 2018

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Albert’s research is currently focused on solid state energy devices and on materials for energy technologies more broadly. He is exploring the size effects in the nanoscale and the role of the interfaces for enhancing the performance of existing and novel electrochemical and thermo-electrical power systems. His research is directly applied to increase the energy efficiency in power generation, harvest energy from the ambient and convert electricity surplus from renewable energy sources into synthetic fuels. One of his major goals is to design and implement interface-dominated devices with enhanced capabilities for radically new portable power sources such as all-ceramic micro-Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, all-solid-state micro Li-ion batteries or fully integrated silicon-based micro-Thermal Generators.