Applied Magnetism Institute (IMA)
Teamwork is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.
Andrew Carnegie
Pilar Marín Palacios
Director of Institute of Applied Magnetism since October 2017. Professor of the Condensed Area at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid since 2011. She is the author of over 120 scientific publications, 20 patents and director of 4 doctoral theses. Their publications have 1800 citations with H = 23 index. She has participated in 40 projects of competitive research of national and international calls being Principal Investigator of European projects, INNPACTO, AVANZA, of the Community of Madrid, Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness and NATO. She has participated as a principal investigator in numerous projects with companies. II Talgo Award for Technological Innovation (2001) and Prize I Ideas Contest “Spin-off” of the Community of Madrid (June 2003). I Technology and Knowledge Transfer Award. Technical director of the start-up and creation of the technology-based company Micromag 2000, S.L.
José María González-Calbet
Professor of Inorganic Chemistry of the Faculty of Chemical Sciences of the UCM. He is the author of over 450 publications with over 6400 citations (H = 41). He has directed 18 doctoral theses and is author of 4 patents. It has participated in 35 public funded projects being IP in 28 of them. He has been principal investigator in 5 contracts with companies. More than 45 contributions to conferences as guest lecturer. Prizes awarded most relevant: Novel researcher awarded by the Royal Spanish Society of Chemistry) 1985; Prize “Franco-Espagnol 2000”, granted by the “Société Française de Chimie”; Royal Spanish Society of Chemistry (Inorganic Chemistry), 2006. Director of the CAI X-Ray Diffraction of the UCM since 1996. Director of the National Electronic Microscopy Center since 2010. Manager of the National Materials Program, January 1993-December 1995.
Patricia de la Presa Muñoz de Toro
Patricia de la Presa is Professor in the area of Condensed Matter Physics at the Complutense University of Madrid, specially focused on the studies of calorimetric properties of magnetic nanoparticles subjected to radiofrequency fields, and Academic Secretary of the Institute of Applied Magnetism. She has published about 70 articles with 1100 citations (h-index=19), and participated in numerous international conferences as invited talks. She has an excellent track record in training and mentoring overseas postdoctoral researchers; she has also supervised 15 Master’s thesis, as well as 2 Ph.D. students, and currently 3 ongoing Ph.D. theses. She participated in 20 competitive research projects of national and international calls, being the Principal Investigator of 3 projects. At present, she participates in the “RADIOMAG ACTION COST, an international network for hyperthermia cancer treatment conformed by 26 European groups. In the last few years she established collaborations with industry and was responsible for a contract with the public company CEDEX with a budget of 300 k€. In addition, she is reviewer of research projects in Argentina, Colombia, Spain, Belgium and Switzerland, and regular referee for research articles in prestigious scientific journals.
José María Alonso Rodríguez
Scientist of the ICMM of the CSIC. Co-author of 90 articles of the SCI and a patent. He co-directed a thesis of two undergraduate degrees in Advanced Studies and three doctoral theses. He has participated in 20 R & D projects and advised and collaborated with different companies and participated in a Contract with ERTMS Users Group.
Elena Navarro Palma
Associate Professor in the Materials Physics Department at Complutense University (UCM) since 2007 and currently a researcher member of the Instituto de Magnetismo Aplicado (IMA-UCM). After her degree in Physics at UCM, she obtained her PhD (1998) under supervision of Prof. Antonio Hernando in the study of magnetic properties of metastable phases in FeRh alloys. From 2000 to 2004 she investigated at Instituto de Microelectrónica de Madrid (IMM-CSIC) with Alfonso Cebollada on the synthesis of magnetic nanostructures (nanoparticles, thin films, …) deposited by sputtering and the modulation of its magnetics interactions by capping materials. Then she worked at Laboratorio de Superconductividad y Películas Delgadas (UCM) with José Luis Vicent. In those years (from 2005 to 2017) her research was focused on superconducting-magnetic proximity effect. Also, in this period she collaborated with the group of Low dimensional Advanced Materials leaded by Yves Huttel at Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Madrid ICM-CSIC in the deposition of magnetic nanoparticles and core-shell nanoparticles by gas-phase-aggregation source. Her current interest at IMA, involves two news research lines based on ball milling: graphene large scale production and the search of new permanent magnets in the form on soft-hard composites.
Antonio Hernando Grande
Emeritus Professor of Magnetism of the Department of Materials Physics. Founder of the Institute of Applied Magnetism. He is the author of more than 300 scientific publications, with more than 10,000 quotations (H = 50). He is co-author of 17 patents; Has directed 22 doctoral theses. It has been IP of more than 40 projects with public financing and more than 60 contracts of transfer with the industry. He is Academician of the Royal Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences; Doctor Honoris Causa by the University of the Basque Country; Doctor Honoris Causa by the University of Cantabria. Gold Medal of the Royal Spanish Society of Physics; Research Prize Miguel Catalán of the Community of Madrid; Fellow of the American Physical Society; Dupont Award for Science; And National Research Award “Juan de la Cierva”.
Jesus López Sánchez
I am currently enjoying a postdoctoral contract at the Applied Magnetism Institute (IMA) where I continue my training focused mainly on the growth and characterization of other ferrites by high energy ball milling and sol-gel method, design of magnetic composites with technological interest, hyperthermia and plasmonics processes. The following is a summary of the most significant features of my curriculum so far: +Ph.D in Physics (UCM, 2018) Obtained qualification: Summa Cum Laude Honours Topic: Study and characterization of the physical and chemical fundaments of sol-gel synthesis method. Production of ε-Fe2O3 phase in nano- and micro-particles form. Experimental techniques such as Mössbauer spectroscopy, Confocal Raman microscopy, grazing incidence X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption spectroscopy are mainly used; +Grants and scholarships: 4 year predoctoral grant FPI (MINECO, MAT2012-38045-C04-03) and 2 short stay predoctoral grants FPI; +I have authored 6 articles: 6 (SCI Journals) in Q1. I am the first author and the corresponding author in > 66% of the articles (Scopus database: H Index=4, 69 CITATIONS); +I have reviewed for SCI Journals: Chemistry of Materials (9.89), Journal of Materials Chemistry A (9.93), … It can be verified on: https://publons.com/a/1401166; +I have attended 17 congresses, 6 national and 9 international (11 with oral presentations) +3 Secondments: 1 Colorado State University-CSU (Colorado, 3 months) and 2 CRG beamline SpLine-BM25 at The European Synchrotron-ESRF (4 months both of them); + 1 Spanish Patent: ES2666704
Fernando Gálvez Alonso
Post-doctoral fellow at the Institute of Applied Magnetism since January 2018. He holds a PhD in Physics from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid which he achieved under a FPU grant awarded by the Spanish Government. His researching topics include superconductivity, plasmonics and magnetism. He has co-authored 8 scientific publications and participated as speaker in several international scientific meetings.
Irene Morales Casero
PhD Student

Born in Madrid, I did my Bachelor in Physics and Master studies in the University Complutense of Madrid. I started my researcher career with the Final Project of my BSc in the field of nonlinear quantum optics. Later I achieved my MSc in Nanophysics and Applied Materials, specializing in magnetic nanoparticles and hyperhermia. At this moment I am carrying out my PhD studies in the Institute of Applied Magnetism as a member of the Applied Magnetism and Magnetic Nanostructures research group, and I have also been part of the Nanomagnetism group in Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie des Nano-Objets (LPCNO-INSA) in Toulouse during different internships in the framework of my PhD, one of them funded by the EU Framework Programme Horizon2020 COST-STSM-TD1402-36082. Part of the results of this collaboration was published in a Q1 journal with the title “High Frequency Hysteresis Losses on γ-Fe2O3 and Fe3O4: Susceptibility as a Magnetic Stamp for Chain Formation”. During my thesis, I am studying different superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle suspensions to better understand their heating mechanisms when subjected to high frequency magnetic fields and to use them for biomedical applications. By coprecipitation and electrochemical synthesis routes, I obtain the suspensions in water and I make the structural and magnetic characterization. Then I carry out AC magnetometry and hyperthermia experiments to determine their heating efficiency. I have participated in different congresses as NanoSpain2017 held in San Sebastian, and in the CEMAG annual meeting in 2017 and 2018 with oral presentations in the framework of The Young Researchers in Magnetism Sessions. Besides, I have been part of the organizer committee of the CEMAG Summer School held in Miraflores de la Sierra in 2018.
Dhoha Rashed Alshalawi
PhD Student

I am Dhoha Alshalawi from Saudi Arabia. PHD student of physics in the Complutense University of Madrid. Holding master degree in Theoretical Physics from The City University of New York- Brooklyn College, (2014-2016). Working in a research about magnetic materials that have a strong geometrical frustrated such as Kagome layers and pyrochlore lattices of Quantum spin liquid, Quantum spin glass, Quantum spin ice materials. During the master worked in a research of calculation the conversion efficiencies and magnetic properties of LaFeSi as ferromagnetic materials that used in thermomagnetic generator. Presented a poster at the 25th annual Science Research Day in Brooklyn College about The Renewable Energy Strategy, and Solar Energy Development Roadmap in Saudi Arabia cooperating with K.A.CARE. After graduation worked during a year in investigation about developing monocrystalline silicon materials that used at solar cells and panels for more improvement of producing solar energy for large consumption. In 2017, Registered patent in Saudi Arabia patent office of Thermomagnetic Technology for cooling ( Thermomagnetic Generator). Beside, holding three language ( Arabic, English, Spanish)and having full PHD Scholarship from Saudi Arabia Ministry of Higher Education.
Omar Díaz
PhD Student

Omar finished his degree in Physics in 2017, at Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM). He achieved a Master degree in Nanomaterials and Advanced materials at the same university in 2018, working in thin films oxidation.
At the end of 2018, he received a grant from Universidad Antonio de Nebrija (Madrid), in order to start a PhD degree about magnetic energy storage with applications for vehicles, under the supervision of Dr. Pilar Marín from Instituto de Magnetismo Aplicado (IMA) and Dr. Rafael Barea from Universidad Antonio de Nebrija.
Diego Archilla Sanz
PhD Student

Diego Archilla Sanz is graduated in Physics by the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM) and is a member of the applied magnetism and magnetic nanostructures research group at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. He is currently attending PhD student under the supervision of the professor Pilar Marín Palacios, PhD thesis that will be about the control of the microwires nanostructure and its application in hyperthermia and magnetocaloric effect, in the Institute of Applied Magnetism (UCM), where did the master’s degree final project in 2017, entitled: “Stress realize and nanocristalization influence on High frequency Giant Magnetoimpedance effect in magnetic microwires”. This work was very successful, it was presented in an international congress and a scientific paper in a Q1 journal was published about the research. He has participated national and international research projects. He has been part of the organizing committee of CEMAG Summer School. He has attended to a master class course “Electromagnetic fields, today: Physics and Biology” and to a summer school “Challenges in basic and applied magnetism”. His research topics are focus in magnetic properties of amorphous magnetics microwires, in the control of the nanostructure of amorphous magnetics materials, in magnetic sensors, in magnetic hyperthermia and in magnetocaloric effect of amorphous materials.
Sonsoles García Alonso
PhD Student

Degree in physical sciences and materials engineer and currently she is a PhD student in Universidad Antonio de Nebrija. She studies the detection of longitudinal stresses in railway tracks. She participate as investigator in two projects with ADIF one of them is funded by UIC (International Union of Railway).
Papa Gorgui Birame Gueye
PhD Student

Before beginning the thesis, I was doing some measurements about magnetic resonance using ribbons and microwires. This work was done for sensors applications. From there I followed my work about amorphous microwires and generally about soft magnetic materials by studying their magnetic properties. On relation with the European Project called “AMPHIBIAN” (Anisometric Permanent Hybrid Magnets Based on Inexpensive and Non-Critical Materials), I’m doing my thesis about this field. Note that the aim of this project is to improve the energy product BHmax of this hybrid magnets fabricated by ball milling. Nowadays i have 2 posters and 3 presentations orals national and international. My first presentation was about the “Influence of ball milled Pyrex free magnetic microwires on strontium ferrite, BHmax”. So we are studying the soft amorphous and nanocrystallized materials (in our case ribbons and microwires) in order to perform their magnetic properties and to use it as soft material in a hybrid permanent magnet with a strontium ferrite (SFO) as hard phase. During my thesis I have used some instruments as scanning electronic microscopy SEM, X-ray diffraction and VSM at room temperature to get informations about these materials.