Carlos García Arcos, new PhD researcher in the ESISNA group with José Ignacio Martínez

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His name is Carlos García Arcos and he is a new PhD researcher at the Materials Science Institute of Madrid. Now, as a member of the ESISNA group, he is working under the supervision of José Ignacio Martínez, so he'll be working on atomistic simulations over the next four years.

Where do you come from?

My background is quite multidisciplinary. I graduated in Chemical Sciences from the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), where I realized I wanted to focus on research in physical chemistry. After that, I completed a two-year Master's in Theoretical Chemistry and Computational Modelling, coordinated by the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM). Most recently, I’ve been working for the past two and a half years as a research assistant at the National University of Distance Education (UNED).

What have you worked on so far? 

I began working in the field of quantum control of molecular motion in simple systems under the influence of intense laser fields. Both my final degree project and my Master thesis were focused on this outstanding topic. However, during my time as a research assistant, my profile has been more multidisciplinary, as my work has involved ab initio simulations of polymeric systems, such as PVDF or TrFE, as well as the use and application of spectroscopic techniques to support the computational findings.

What will you work on? With whom? 

The project that brought me here focuses on the interaction of emerging pollutants with low-dimensional materials. Simply put, it’s about how we can deactivate or eliminate harmful substances — either to human health or the environment — through the use of nanomaterials. The idea is to work closely with the research group: they’ll be in charge of the experimental part, while José Ignacio and I will handle the theoretical side of the process. I honestly couldn’t be more excited!

Why ICMM?

I’ve always found the work being done here to be highly interesting, exemplary, and truly at the forefront of research in Spain. I think there’s little more to add — the Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence accreditation speaks for itself.

And a personal touch: any hobbies? What would you like to contribute to the institute?

I'm an avid reader and really enjoy spending time with books. I read about many different subjects, but I'm especially passionate about fantasy fiction and the philosophy of science. I also enjoy being outdoors and practice a rather unusual sport for Spain—curling—which I find both challenging and fun. Altogether, I think these interests reflect who I am: friendly, hard-working, and someone who likes to bring a bit of humor into everyday life. I'd love for my time here to be remembered that way.