Jose Miguel González was born in Palma de Mallorca in 1984 and rooted in Mérida (Badajoz). After graduating in Chemistry at the University of Extremadura (Spain) in 2007, he obtained in 2009 the Advanced Studies Diploma in Organic Chemistry at the University of Zaragoza (Spain). In 2012, he obtained his PhD degree while working at the Instituto de Carboquímica (ICB-CSIC), under supervision of Prof. Maria Teresa Martínez. From 2013, he has been a Marie Curie ER fellow in Università degli Studi di Trieste (Trieste, Italy). In April 2015 he joined the University of Castilla-La Mancha (Spain) as a ‘Juan de la Cierva – Formación’ fellow. In February 2018 he re-joined his former group in Zaragoza with a ‘Juan de la Cierva – incorporación’ fellowship.
The awardee’s scientific contributions deal with the chemical functionalization and processing of carbon nanostructures (such as nanotubes and graphene derivatives). If conveniently designed, these may bring selective improvements in physical properties of polymer matrices. This can also be translated into new features such as piezoresistive effects. The above mentioned rational design of carbon nanostructures’ chemistry has allowed their efficient assemblies in films and fibres (for structural purposes), or as nano-hybrids for the electrochemical detection of clinically relevant analytes. Other chemical designs were applied to achieve water-soluble and biocompatible nanocapsules for medical purposes, and to graphene oxide nanoribbons for their application in sensing. The use of processed graphene in polymeric hydrogels exhibited enormous potential in the field of intelligent stimuli-response materials, with a view to their further use in medical applications. The awardee is currently working on nanocellulose derivatives, and their combination with carbon nanostructures for high-performance materials in medical and energy applications.
Jose Miguel achievements have been recognized by several young researcher awards. Besides, the awardee has significantly contributed to the dissemination of Chemistry, by imparting countless talks to the general public and by organizing scientific events (including “Pint of Science” and “ChemFest” franchises). On the other hand, the awardee has built up an educational project; INCLUCIENCIA, for bringing Science (and in particular, Chemistry) to teenage students in a way that empowers them and fights against academic exclusion.
