Born in 1971, I graduated in Physics at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain) in 1996. From then I have been involved in the development of a number of theoretical tools and numerical codes in the framework of wave propagation in complex systems. We could say that the skills acquired along the years have put me in a good position to work in the theoretical analysis of optical properties of resonant nanoscale systems (plasmonics, photonic crystals, magnetoplasmonics, radiative heat transfer).
The starting point was in the period 1996-2000, where I realized the PhD in Physics at the Condensed Matter Department of the same University. In that period we analyzed the properties of metallic systems all the way from the very small to the very long. In particular we focused on the statistics of the transport properties, making important contributions in the field of wave localization, such as A.G.M. and J.J. Sáenz (Phys. Rev. Lett., 87, 116603 (2001) ) that has become a reference paper in transport properties in the transition from the diffusive to the localization regimes. The PhD Thesis entitled "Theory of wave transport in complex systems: from ballistic transport to localization induced by rough surfaces" got the highest mark, unanimous Sobresaliente Cum Laude, and received the Outstanding PhD Thesis award.
After the PhD, I moved for a two-year postdoctoral stay to the Condensed Matter Department at the University of Karlsruhe to undertake theoretical studies on the properties of photonic crystals with intended defects and continued the study of transport properties in disordered wires. There, we developed numerical codes specially adapted to defect computations based on highly localized basis sets. The methodology is still in use at the group and the review paper (K. Busch et al., J. Phys.: Condens. Matter (Topical Review) 15, R1233-R1256 (2003)) is a reference work in the field.
Back in Spain, I joined the Instituto de Microelectrónica de Madrid in March 2003 (from July 2017 named as Instituto de Micro y Nanotecnología), where I got a permanent position, in 2005, and a promotion in 2015. My scientific interests lie in the area of nanophotonics, in particular in the optical properties of complex nanostructures possessing simultaneously magneto-optical activity and resonant excitations (magneto-plasmonic materials). Though being primarily theoretically oriented, the research activity develops very close to actual experiments. Nowadays our research is considered worldwide pioneer and a reference in this area. A number of breakthrough highly cited papers in this area have been the result of the activities in the last 10 years, including for example a Nature Photonics (Nature Photonics 4, 107 (2010)) or a Review on the topic (Advanced Optical Materials 1, 10 (2013))(Publications).
I have also hold some administrative duties as Head of the Department of Fabrication and Characterization of Nanostructures (June 2009 to May 2013) and I am the current Deputy Director since May 2013.
