Dr Ainara Aguadero has joined the Institute of Materials of Madrid (ICMM), a research centre of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC).

The Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) is the leading research institution in Spain, founded in 1939. 

Dr Aguadero started her new role at the Institute of Materials of Madrid in September 2021, leading a research line on solid-state ionics for electrochemical devices for batteries and H₂ technologies. 

Previously, Dr Aguadero was a Senior Lecturer and Postdoc and Fellows Champion in the Department of Materials. Her research focus was tailoring ceramic materials to improve their performance on the conversion and storage of energy in solid-state devices. In addition, she led a large consortium focus on developing a unique facility called High Five.

A look back on fond memories

Dr Aguadero has reflected on her time at Imperial and shared some of her fondest memories.

There are so many things that I have learnt and enjoy during my time in the Department that I wouldn’t know where to start! Dr Ainara Aguadero

Dr Aguadero first highlights how she is hugely grateful for her interactions with students and staff over the years, explaining that these interactions "helped me grow as a lecturer, mentor and supervisor."

Alongside her research, Dr Aguadero was Postdoc and Fellows Champion in the Department of Materials. Sharing more about her experience, she said:

"I have truly enjoyed my role as PDRA and Fellow Champion, the great individuals that I have met and the great moments that we have shared. Building my research group and growing together with them has been an unforgettable experience! Also, the relationships that I have built with members of staff have developed into important friendships."

The Postdoc Representatives in the Department of Materials also commented: "We sincerely thank Ainara for all her efforts over the years as Postdoc Champion and it was a great pleasure working with her to organise a wide variety of events for our Postdocs and Fellows."

Proudest moments

When recalling her proudest moments at Imperial College London, Dr Aguadero remembers the joy of receiving her first grant award - "after several failed attempts, getting my first grants was such a proud and exciting moment!"

She also explains how enormously proud she is of her students and postdocs, commenting "seeing them succeed and grow has been incredible." 

Continuing role in the Department

Dr Aguadero comments that she found Imperial College London "a very competitive and diverse" environment that allowed "interactions with a broad range of people with different expertise coming from different parts of the world."

Therefore she is pleased to retain her connection with the Department of Materials as a Visiting Reader and hopes to foster continuous collaborations between the department and the Institute of Materials of Madrid (ICMM).

We wish Dr Aguadero all the best with her new role, and we look forward to future collaborations.