Fitxa persona

Summary of my scientific career. I obtained my degree in Chemistry (1999) and my PhD (2004) at the University of Valencia (UV). My research focused on the synthesis, characterisation and organization of magnetic molecules. During this time, I completed several short stays abroad: (1) Univ. of Miami. Organization of functional molecules on Au. (2) Univ. of Modena e Reggio Emilia. STM and XPS studies of molecules on Au. (3) Institute of Microelectronics Madrid. Local oxidation nanolithography. My main contribution to molecular magnetism was the synthesis of the first polycationic Mn12 single-molecule magnet (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2004, 43, 6152). The charge enabled efficient surface deposition and combination with anions to form multifunctional systems. My main contribution to our lab was to introduce the transfer and characterization of molecules on surfaces, which was essential for the development of the group. Subsequently, I was a postdoctoral fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research in Stuttgart (Germany, 01/2005-07/2008), supported by various competitive grants. I worked in the Nanoscale Science Department (Prof. K. Kern). This stay enriched my education in nanoscience from a physicist's point of view and introduced me to the fabrication and characterization of nanostructures, field effect transistors and electronic transport. I learned new experimental techniques such as atomic force microscopy, confocal Raman spectroscopy and lithography. I contributed significantly to the host group with my knowledge of molecular magnetism, which benefited the field of molecular electronics/spintronics with the optimization of a soft deposition technique for magnetic molecules (NanoLett. 2012, 12, 518) and the introduction of magnetic molecular systems on nanotransistors (Small 2008, 4, 1671). In 2008, I joined ICMol at UV with a Juan de la Cierva contract, and subsequently began a tenure-track period (2011-2016) granted by competitive Ramón y Cajal and Senior Researcher 5-year contracts. During this time, I developed a new line of research on molecular surface engineering. I oversaw the establishment of a surface laboratory with a chemistry lab, clean room, and instrumentation lab. In particular, I focused my research on three goals: (1) non-conventional lithographies for the organization of molecular systems; (2) formation of self-assembled monolayers for molecular spintronics; and (3) scanning probe microscopies for surface characterization. Our work with magnetic force microscopy on the possibility of imaging and manipulating spin textures in spin crossover nanoparticles (SCO NPs), was my most significant result in the fields of spintronics and molecular magnetism (ACSNano, 2016, 10, 1764). Since 2014, I have started to work with 2D materials (2Dms). My most important contribution in this field is the functionalization of a 2D semiconductor with bistable SCO NPs, giving rise to a new self-strainable 2D hybrid (Nat Chem 2021, 13, 1101) that extends the potential of 2Dms and has been the starting point for several publications by other researchers. In this framework, I have supervised 8 master's students (MS), 3 undergraduates and 6 PhD students (4 are now postdocs, 1 joined a company, and 1 leads her own team). I currently supervise 1 PhD student and 1 MS. In 2020, I was promoted to Associate Professor. In addition, I have raised several national and regional competitive projects as PI (2,162,261 euros) and participated as a researcher in more than 30. At all stages of my academic career, I have received several grants from competitive calls, which represents significant additional funding. During these years, I have been involved in the dissemination of scientific knowledge in schools, high schools, and public events for all audiences. In particular, I have organized and participated in activities that support the role of women in science to inspire young girls to study science. Therefore, I was one of the founders of the Science Dissemination and Gender Equality Committee at our research centre (IgualdadICMol), where we have been organizing outreach activities for 9 years already, and I am also a member of the Gender Equality Group of the Chemistry School at UV. As for administrative activities at UV, I am currently secretary of the ICMol, member of the Academic Committee for the Chemistry Programme, the Chemistry Degree Academic Commission, and the Standing Assembly of the Department of Inorganic Chemistry. I am also the Research Institutes Representative at the UV Research Committee. I have organised 2 international conferences, 2 schools and several research symposia. I actively participate as a reviewer for articles (e.g., Adv. Mater. Family; Matter; Nanoletters; Materials Horizons) and evaluation panelist (National Research Agency; Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft -DFG-; National Science Centre Poland)..

Present position. Associate Professor at the University of Valencia (Inorganic Chemistry department) Since 06/10/2020.

Research experience evaluation. Positive evaluation I3 programme by the ANEP (2016) Accreditated as Associate Professor by the ANECA (2019) 4 sexenios (research six-year terms. ANECA) 2000-2005; 2006-2011; 2012-2017;2018-2023.

. Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID): 0000-0003-0742-0457 SCOPUS Author ID: 6508331644 WoS Researcher ID: D-6711-2014 METRICS: h = 22 Total Citations = 1783 (1717 without self-citations). 52 articles; 1st quartile (Q1) = 44, among them 1st decile (D1) = 18 (data from publication year). 4 sexenios (research six-year terms, from National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation of Spain). Co-author of 2 book chapters and 52 papers, 22 of them as corresponding author (CA). Some journals are: Nat. Chem (1); JACS (2); Nano Lett. (2); Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. (1); Adv. Mater. (2)*; Adv. Funct. Mater. (3); ACS Nano (2); Small (3); J. Mater. Chem. (2); J. Phys. Chem. C (1); J. Mater. Chem. C (1); ACS Appl Mater Interfaces (2); Inorg. Chem. (7). Participation in 43 R&D projects funded through competitive regional, national or international calls (7 as PI or Co-PI) I have participated (oral/poster contributions) in more than 60 scientific meetings giving 32 invited lectures, e.g.: 1) 2025, July 2D Transition Metal Dichalcogenides. 2D TMDs2025. Cambridge; 2) 2024, July The 9th European Conference on Molecular Magnetism. ECMM2024. Krakov; 3) 2024, March, Materials for Sustainable Development Conference (MATSUS24), Barcelona; 4) 2022 May: Nature Conference: Chemistry of 2D Materials. China. 5) 2022, July: The Joint European Magnetic Symposia. Poland Co-director of 7 PhD Thesis: (1) E. Pinilla-Cienfuegos: Excelent Cum Laude, March 2014, 'Characterization and processability of molecular-based magnetic nanoparticles and 2D crystals by scanning probe microscopy'; (2) M. Mattera: Excelent Cum Laude, September 2017 ' Molecular nanostructures on ferromagnetic metals for spintronics'; (3) M. Morant Giner: Excelent Cum Laude, September 2020 'Hybrid heterostructures and materials based on transition metal dichalcogenides'; (4) R. Torres Cavanillas, Excelent Cum Laude, May 2021 'Nanomaterials based on magnetic switchable molecules for hybrid devices'. In progress: (5) I. Brotons, Excelent Cum Laude, September 2024 'Liquid phase exfoliation and properties of layered MPS3 (M=Mn and Ni) antiferromagnets' (6) N. Vassilyeva, Excelent Cum Laude, April 2025 'New 2D-based hybrid materials through molecular functionalisation', (7) A. Regueiro (in progress). * Paper: Adv. Mater. 2005, 17, No.8, 1018-1023, is wrongly indexed in the ISI Web of Science: Forment-Alicia, A instead of Forment-Aliaga, A.