INVITED SPEAKERS
Dr. Nekane Guarrotxena
Nekane Guarrotxena is a Research Scientist at the Institute of Polymer Science and Technology (ICTP), CSIC in Madrid, Spain, specializing in advanced hybrid functional materials for energy and nanobiotechnology applications. She obtained her Ph.D. in Chemistry from the Complutense University of Madrid in 1994. She completed a postdoctoral research stay in France and a visiting professor stay in the United States and Singapore, strengthening her international profile in materials science and nanostructured systems.
Her research focuses on designing and engineering hybrid organic–inorganic nanomaterials with tailored optical, electronic, and structural properties. Her work spans nanoplasmonics, advanced sensing, hybrid renewable energy systems, and smart materials, integrating functional components to enable enhanced optical responses, efficient energy harvesting, and multifunctionality. She has extensive experience in surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), particularly designing and developing SERS-active tags based on hybrid organic–inorganic nanostructured systems. Her research combines plasmonic nanomaterials, including noble-metal nanoparticles and nanostructures, with functional organic and inorganic components to develop efficient and tunable SERS platforms for sensitive and selective detection. Her interdisciplinary expertise in chemistry, materials science, nanophotonics, and plasmonics supports applications ranging from molecular sensing and detection to solar energy harvesting, photonic concentrators, and multifunctional systems integrating sensing, energy generation, and adaptive functionalities. Through this approach, she develops sustainable materials and integrated platforms for next-generation renewable energy and sensing technologies.
Dr. Guarrotxena has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and actively participates in international collaborations focused on innovative and smart materials for sustainable energy, sensory systems, and bio-related theragnosis applications.