Rubén Canales, new predoctoral researcher at ESISNA group

In 2025, and even this year, the ICMM is bringing in many new researchers. One of them is Rubén Canales Moreno, who joined the ESISNA group a few months ago as a predoctoral researcher. He is from Madrid and he works at the photon lab. 

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What have you worked on so far?  

This is my first job so far. My first contact with science, however, was during my master and bachelor thesis where I focused on studying the mechanical properties of lipid bilayers, so that one can use vesicles as means of transport of a great variety of molecules (medicines, RNA, etc.) through our body. 

What will you work on? With whom?

In this research group I am working with Pablo Merino Mateo and Borja Cirera Salinas at the light-matter interaction laboratory of our research group ESISNA. We employ techniques such as Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (TERS) or Scanning Tunnel Microscopy (STM), which give us the electronic and topographic properties of the molecules we study.

Why ICMM? 

I personally was always interested in material science, so, when the opportunity raised to work within a group like ESISNA, focused mainly on 2D materials and, specifically our lab, on light-matter interactions, I decided to take it and give it a try. 

And a personal touch: any hobbies?
I really enjoy reading, playing games and have always practised swimming since childhood, as a way to relieve some stress.