Fitxa persona

Dr. Rebeca Martinez-Haya is currently a Senior Postdoctoral Researcher at the Institut of Molecular Science (ICMol) and Substitute Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Valencia (UV). She graduated in Chemical Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) and completed a Master’s degree in Experimental and Industrial Organic Chemistry (UPV–UV).

In 2014, she joined the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) to pursue her PhD under the supervision of Professors Miranda and Marin at the Institute of Chemical Technology (ITQ, UPV-CSIC). Her doctoral research focused on photocatalytic redox processes for environmental and chemical applications. During this period, she acquired extensive expertise in elucidating reaction mechanisms through photophysical studies, mainly using fluorescence spectroscopy and laser flash photolysis techniques. She was awarded with a German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) predoctoral fellowship, which enabled a six-month research stay in Professor König’s laboratory in Regensburg, Germany. In 2018, she obtained one of only two national Ford–Apadrina la Ciencia contracts and completed her PhD with Cum Laude distinction and an International Mention. In parallel she also earned a Master’s degree in Secondary Education.

Her postdoctoral career has been supported by two competitive individual fellowships. The first was an APOSTD fellowship funded by the Generalitat Valenciana, which allowed her to undertake a one-year research stay in the group of Professor Nazario Martín at the Complutense University of Madrid. This work focused on the synthesis and characterization of new metal-doped carbon nanodots with advanced photophysical and photochemical properties. She subsequently held a Juan de la Cierva postdoctoral contract awarded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, which enabled her to join Dr. Gonzalo Abellán’s 2D Chem group at the Institute of Molecular Science (ICMol UV) up to date.

Currently, her research activity is focused on the development and study of novel nanomaterials based on carbon and two-dimensional pnictogens. Her work addresses their structural, photophysical and photochemical properties, as well as the design of Layered Double Hydroxides (LDHs) for energy-related applications. Her scientific contributions have been recognized with the Best Doctoral Thesis Award in Photochemistry from the Spanish Royal Society of Chemistry in 2020 and the Extraordinary Doctorate Prize from the UPV in 2021.

She has also been actively involved in teaching and academic mentoring supervising Bachelor’s Final Degree Projects and Master’s theses. She has participated in more than 15 conferences, including contributions as an invited speaker, and has served on the organizing committees of international scientific meetings, such as the 29th IUPAC Symposium on Photochemistry held in 2024. Committed to fostering social responsibility and equality in academia, she is a member of the Equality Committee at ICMol and has authored a specialized publication on science education from a gender perspective.