Jon López de Lacalle an Early Stage Researcher from POLYMAT-UPV/EHU (Spain) is also spending 5 months at Deakin University in Australia, under the supervision of Maria Forsyth. He will continue his work focused on the synthesis and characterization of new ionic polymers. In particular, he will study the use of PDES based on polyphenols for the separation of metals such as cobalt or nickel. Enjoy your secondment, Jon!

Naroa Lopez, an Early Stage Researcher from POLYMAT UPV/EHU (Spain), is back to KAUST (Saudi Arabia) this year. Her plan there is to create bioelectronic devices using new conductive polymer that she synthetised in POLYMAT earlier this year. Furthermore, she will assess the performance of such devices and do tests to confirm the newly developed materials can serve as biosensors. Busy 3 months for you, Naroa. Enjoy!

Alejandro Herranz Berzosa, an Early Stage Researcher at at POLYMAT-UPV/EHU (Spain) is performing a 5 months secondment at Deakin University (Australia). The objective of the stay is to study the electrochemistry of nanostructured polymers for solid-state electrolytes and the characterization of novel polymers for energy storage. Enjoy your stay, Alex!  

Sofía Cabrera is our newest #IonbikeR! An Early Stage Researcher at CONICET-Universidad del Litoral (Argentina), Sofía is currently seconded at UPV/EHU-POLYMAT (Spain). Over nearly 6 months, she will develop new biobased polymeric materials from starch and biomonomers for their characterization and processing for bioelectronics. Enjoy your time in Donostia!

Emilia Zambroni (left) and Rocío N. Abalos (right), both ESRs from CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Rio Cuarto (Argentina), are currently spending 6 months at UPV/EHU-POLYMAT (Spain). Rocío will be working in the development and optimization of gels through photo-polymerization induced by  porous or solid semiconducting polymer nanoparticles and in the development of opto-electronic porous nanofibers. Emilia will be working on the synthesis of conjugated polymers, nanoparticles and testing differents photoinitiator systems for 3D printing. Enjoy your secondments!

POLYMAT-UPV/EHU (Spain) is delighted to welcome yet another secondee from Universidad Nacional del Litoral-CONICET (Argentina). Lucila Navarro is an experienced researcher and plans to spend the next 4 months in Donostia-San Sebastián. The aim of her stay is to synthesize and characterize novel bio-based ionic polymers for biomedical applications.

Antonio Domínguez, an experienced researcher from POLYMAT-UPV/EHU (Spain), is spending one month in Panaxium (France). This intersectoral secondment will take place under the supervision of another IONBIKE secondee, Dr. Isabel del Agua, and will serve to test a new and innovative set of electrodes for underwater recording electrophysiology measurement.

Carlos Chesta, a senior researcher from Universidad de Rio Cuarto-CONICET (Argentina), will be spending the next 3 months at POLYMAT-UPV/EHU (Spain), where he will characterise a series of conjugated polymers that the IONBIKE team at his home institution synthezed. We hope you like it in Donostia-San Sebastián, Carlos!

Antonela Gallastegui, currently an Experienced Researcher at UPV/EHU-POLYMAT (Spain) holds several IONBIKE secondments on her shoulders. She´s currently enjoying her time at DEAKIN (Australia), where she´s developing new materials for their potential application in battery and fuel cell technologies. Have a great secondment, Antonela!

The Organic Bioelectronics Laboratory at KAUST (Saudi Arabia) are happy to welcome Naroa López, an Early Stage Researcher from POLYMAT (Spain) for a 3-month secondment. She’s making cell culture on the PEDOT-based materials previously developed at POLYMAT in order to determine their cytotoxicity, and the adherence and proliferation of the cells on them. She also aims to determine whether PEDOT-based materials can be used in organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs). Good luck, Naroa!

Ana Aguzin, an Early Stage Researcher from CONICET (Argentina), is coming to the end of her three month secondment at University of Cambridge (United Kingdom). Ana has been developing 3D printed electrodes for their use as wearable electronics and further investigating the potential applications of the materials previously developed in POLYMAT.

POLYMAT-UPV/EHU are delighted to host Lolita Arévalo, an Early Stage Researcher from UCIMED (Costa Rica). This year Lolita will keep progressing on the research path Erick and Xabier worked in the past. Ongi etorri, Lolita!!!

Nerea Casado, an Experienced Researcher from POLYMAT-UPV/EHU (Spain), is performing an intersectorial one month secondment at Panaxium (France), where she will apply some of the developed IONBIKE iongels in the fabrication of bioelectronic devices. In this picture we can see her together with Isabel de las Aguas, a former Panaxium secondee at POLYMAT.  Bonne chance, Nerea!

Nora Aramburu, an Experienced Researcher from UPV/EHU-POLYMAT (Spain), is carrying out a secondment at Georgia Institute of Technology (US). For the next few months, Nora will investigate the characterization of the phase behaviour and the electric and ionic conductivities of PLA/CNT and PBSA/CNT bionanocomposites, and PLA/PBSA bioblends containing different ionic liquids. Good luck, Nora!

Nearly three years and one pandemic later, Dr. Melissa Moya, an Experienced Researcher from UCIMED,  was back to UPV/EHU-POLYMAT in May. Besides carrying some lab work, Melissa took the opportunity to plan the research lines and activities of upcoming UCIMED secondees at POLYMAT. We hope you enjoyed your stay, Melissa!

As the end of his secondment approaches, IONBIKE secondee Matias Picchio, an experienced researcher from CONICET – Universidad de Santa Fe, was invited to deliver a lecture within the POLYMAT seminar series 2021/2022. The title of Matias´talk was “Natual deep eutectic solvents as emerging low-cost electrolytes for seigning ionic soft materials”. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with the POLYMAT community, Matias!

Busy secondment times at UPV/EHU 🙂 Ana Aguzin (pictured left) , an ESR from CONICET-Universidad del Litoral (Argentina) has recently joined the Innovative Polymers Group of David Mecerreyes at POLYMAT (Spain). Her colleague Matias Picchio (pictured right), who is slowly moving towards the end of his secondment, welcomed her at this side of the Atlantic Ocean. Bienvenida, Ana, have a great time in Donostia-San Sebastián!

UPV/EHU is delighted to welcome Gonzalo Cagnetta as one of the first IONBIKE secondees of 2022. Gonzalo, an ESR from CONICET-Universidad de Rio Cuarto (Argentina) will be spending 6 months under the supervision of David Mecerreyes at POLYMAT (Spain). His research activity will focus on the synthesis and characterisation of conjugated polymers for application in bioelectronics. We wish you a fruitful secondment, Gonzalo! Bienvenido 🙂

Almost one year after her arrival in Spain, Antonela Gallastegui (pictured right), an experienced researcher at POLYMAT, travelled back to Argentina recently to carry out a secondment at CONICET-Universidad de Rio Cuarto, where she was once an Early Stage Researcher. Antonela keeps working in the synthesis of iongels based on biocompatible ionic liquids, and during this secondment she had the opportunity to exchange her knowledge with a former secondee of IONBIKE, Antonia Cuello (pictured left). How nice it is too see ionbikers collaborate!

University of The Basque Country is delighted to have Isabel del Agua, an Experienced Researcher from PANAXIUM (France), back at the POLYMAT premises. This is the third time Isabel visits San Sebastián within the IONBIKE project. She´s working towards the synthesis of fluorinated polymers used in photolitography processes for the fabrication of bioelectronic devices. Come back again soon, Isabel!

We´re coming to the last days of a short (but sweet) secondment by Naroa López (right), an Early Stage Researcher from POLYMAT (Spain), at Panaxium (France), where she´s been exploring the processability and applications of some of the materials she had developed. Good news is that this is not the end of Naroa and Panaxium´s fruitful collaboration, as Isabel will be paying back a visit to Polymat very soon. Well done, team!

Xabier Lopez de Pariza, an Early Stage Researcher from POLYMAT-University of the Basque Country (Spain), travelled all the way to UCIMED (Costa Rica) for a one-month stay in August. This secondment emerged from Erick Cordero´s stay in San Sebastian, where new opportunities for collaboration and knowledge transfer were identified. As part of his stay in the Central American country, Xabier delivered a workshop on innovative iongels and polymers to UCIMED researchers. We are happy to see how IONBIKE researchers are finding their way out through the pandemic situation!

Daniela Minudri, an Experienced Researcher from CONICET-Universidad de Rio Cuarto (Argentina), is back to UPV/EHU (Spain). Having successfully completed a secondment in 2019, Daniela has been willing to return to POLYMAT to work under the supervision of David Mecerreyes. She will be exploring new routes towards the development of iongels for biolectronic applications. Welcome back, Daniela, have a fruitful stay!

Dr. Matias Picchio, an experienced researcher from CONICET-Universidad del Litoral (Argentina), is spending six months at POLYMAT-University of the Basque Country (Spain). In collaboration with our project coordinator Dr. David Mecerreyes’s group, Matias will be generating new knowledge for the synthesis and characterisation and processing of innovative iongels for bioelectronics. Enjoy your stay in San Sebastian, Matias!

Amid the current difficult times for the mobility of researchers all around the globe, our coordinator University of the Basque Country (Spain) is delighted to host Erick Cordero, an Early Stage Researcher from UCIMED (Costa Rica), at their premises. Erick fought against all the odds to make his way to San Sebastián, where he will spend the next six months. Welcome to IONBIKE, Erick!

Gisela Luque, an Experienced Researcher from CONICET-Universidad Nacional del Litoral (Argentina), and Isabel del Agua, an Experienced Researcher from PANAXIUM (France), have become good collaborators during their secondments at the University of the Basque Country (Spain). Pity this fruitful period will only last one month!!!

Almost one year after her first stay at POLYMAT, Isabel del Agua, an experienced researcher from PANAXIUM (France), has just finished another secondment at the University of the Basque Country (Spain). We keep making progress towards the development of IONBIKE bioelectronic components and devices. Como again soon, Isabel!

Gisela Luque, an Experienced Researcher from CONICET-Universidad del Litoral (Argentine) is enjoying a secondment at the University of The Basque Country (Spain) since last October. The COVID-19 crisis caught her in Spain, so she decided to extend her stay for a few more months. The group of David Mecerreyes at POLYMAT are delighted to have Gisela, who is developing 3D printable and biocompatible iongels for body sensor applications within IONBIKE. We wish Gisela lots of success!

Jorge Olmedo and Rafael del Olmo, researchers from POLYMAT-University of the Basque Country (Spain), are currently visiting DEAKIN University (Australia), where they will stay for the next five months.

Mariana Allasia from CONICET (Argentina) will spend five months at POLYMAT (Spain) working under the supervision of Dr. David Mecerreyes. During her secondment, Mariana will develop new synthesis pathways for iongel precursors.

Our POLYMAT-University of the Basque Country project coordinator, Dr. David Meverreyes, is spending a few weeks at DEAKIN University (Australia). This is being be a great opportunity for him to get to know Prof. Maria Forsyth’s group and discuss the next steps of the IONBIKE developments. Have a great time in Australia, David!

Dr. Melissa Moya Granados, a researcher from Universidad de Ciencias Médicas – UCIMED, is spending one month at POLYMAT-University of the Basque Country (Spain). Current discussions with the group of Dr. David Mecerreyes will lead to new collaborations in the field of iongels for bioelectronics. We are happy to have you onboard, Melissa!

Liliana Tomé, a researcher from POLYMAT-Univeristy of the Basque Country (Spain), visited our partners at CONICET (Argentina). First, she had the opportunity to hold discussions with Universidad Nacional de Litoral’s colleagues in Santa Fé. Can you see any other known faces on the picture? Yes, those are IONBIKE members Roque Minari, Ana Dos Santos and Gisela Luque! Next she moved to Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Our collaboration in new ionogels and its applications will be very much reinforced after this visit.

Ana Patricia Dos Santos Martins, an early stage researcher from POLYMAT (Spain), is already enjoying her stay at CONICET-Universidad del Litoral (Argentina). During her four-month stay, Ana will be making progress towards the characterisation of innovative iongel membranes. Here you can see Ana’s poster at the Symposium Argentino de Polímeros in Buenos Aires. A great venue to disseminate our project results!!

Georgios Nikifiridis, an early stage researcher from KAUST (Saudi Arabia), is currently at POLYMAT-University of the Basque Country. During four weeks, Georgios will explore new pathways for the synthesis of iongels precursos. We hope you enjoy the experience, Georgios!

Isabel del Agua, an experienced researcher from PANAXIUM (France), is a visiting researcher this month at POLYMAT. A wonderful chance to exchange knowledge and progress towards the development of IONBIKE bioelectronic components and devices!

Emma Antonio Cuello, an early stage researcher from CONICET-Universidad de Río Cuarto (Argentina, is currently at POLYMAT (Spain). During a three-month secondment and under the supervision of Dr. David Mecerreyes, Emma will gain knowledge on the pathways to synthetise innovative iongels. Enjoy your stay, Emma!

Antonella Gallastegui and Daniela Minudri are researchers from CONICET-Universidad de Río Cuarto (Argentina). Thanks to the IONBIKE RISE project they will be spending seven months at POLYMAT, where they will gain expertise on the development of iongels precursos. We wish Antonella and Daniela a happy stayin San Sebastian and fruitful collaborations within the Innovative Polymers Group.

Ana Sonzogni, an early stage researcher from CONICET-Universidad del Litoral (Argentina), is spending six months at POLYMAT-University of the Basque Country (Spain). Under the supervision of our project coordinator Dr. David Mecerreyes, Ana is gaining expertise for the synthesis, characterisation and processing of innovative iongels for bioelectronics. Enjoy your stay in San Sebastian, Ana!

Dr. David Mecerreyes is delighted to have Leire Meabe and Esther Udabe back at POLYMAT. These two early stage researchers have spent the last three months at DEAKIN (Australia), where they have gained very useful expertise for the completion of their PhD studies. Good luck!

Juan José Torres, a researcher from CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto (Argentina), will be spending the next few months at POLYMAT, where he will work in the development of new bio(iongels). We wish Juan José a fruitful and collaborative stay in beautiful San Sebastian!

Roque Minari, principal investigator from CONICET-Universidad Nacional del Litoral (Argentina) is visiting POLYMAT-University of the Basque Country for 3 months. Lots of collaborations are being discussed!

Leire Udabe and Esther Meabe, early stage researchers from POLYMAT-University of the Basque Country (Spain), are spending three months at DEAKIN (Australia). Both of them are there to expand knowledge on the properties of new iongels in the group of Prof. Maria Forsyth. Enjoy your stay!