Emilio M. Pérez, new director of the IMDEA Nanociencia institute

02.02.2026

Emilio M. Pérez, Director of IMDEA Nanociencia.

IMDEA Nanociencia is pleased to announce the appointment of Prof. Emilio M. Pérez as its new Director.
Prof. Pérez has a solid academic track record; his profile combines scientific excellence, strategic vision, and a strong commitment to training and knowledge transfer.

Madrid, 2^nd February, 2026. The Board of Trustees of the IMDEA Nanociencia Foundation has approved the appointment of Prof. Emilio Manuel Pérez Álvarez as the new Director of the Institute. Prof. Pérez assumes the position with the unanimous support of the governing body, with the aim of ensuring continuity while further strengthening and projecting the Institute’s scientific and academic mission.

Emilio M. Pérez (48) holds a degree in Chemistry from the University of Salamanca and a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Edinburgh, UK (2005). After a postdoctoral stay in the group of Prof. Nazario Martín at the Complutense University of Madrid, he joined IMDEA Nanociencia in 2008 as a 'Ramón y Cajal' researcher. His career includes the development of two projects funded by the prestigious European Research Council (ERC), as well as an ambitious collaboration with the company Nanocore. With more than 130 scientific publications, 6 patents, 100 invited talks at international conferences, and the supervision of 13 doctoral theses, Emilio Pérez is an internationally recognized expert in the field of low-dimensional materials chemistry and carbon nanotubes. He has received numerous distinctions, including the 'Miguel Catalán Research Award' 2014 granted by the regional government of Comunidad de Madrid, and the Research Excellence Award 2024 granted by the Spanish Royal Society of Chemistry. At the Institute, Prof. Pérez has combined his research activity with management responsibilities, serving as Executive Director for Outreach since 2015 and Executive Director for Scientific Strategy since 2023.

Over recent years, Prof. Pérez has played a key role within the Institute, actively contributing to the development of strategic research lines, the consolidation of scientific teams and the strengthening of the institution’s external visibility. His commitment to bringing science closer to society has been strong, with more than 1,890 students from different educational stages visiting IMDEA Nanociencia over the past three years. Pérez's commitment has been instrumental in talent recruitment, securing competitive funding and fostering an open, collaborative and demanding scientific culture.

In this new stage, Emilio M. Pérez has expressed his commitment to promoting science of the highest quality and impact, strengthening the Institute’s research excellence, fostering interdisciplinarity and supporting early-career researchers. His vision focuses on reinforcing evaluation, internationalization and knowledge-transfer mechanisms, as well as on boosting strategic alliances with universities, research centers and industry. All of this aims to consolidate Madrid as a leading global hub in nanoscience.

The new Director succeeds Prof. Rodolfo Miranda, who has led the institution since its foundation and has been the driving force behind the Institute for 18 years. IMDEA Nanociencia expresses its deep gratitude for his dedication, leadership, and vision, which have been fundamental in consolidating the centre as a benchmark of scientific excellence, as reflected in the Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence accreditations awarded consecutively in 2017 and 2021.

With this appointment, the Institute IMDEA Nanociencia begins a new stage marked by ambition and momentum under the direction of Emilio M. Pérez, while continuing its mission to promote excellent research in nanoscience and nanotechnology.

Contact:

IMDEA Nanociencia Dissemination and Communication Office
divulgacion.nanociencia [at]imdea.org
+34 91 299 87 12

Source: IMDEA Nanociencia.

IMDEA Nanociencia Institute is an interdisciplinary research Centre in Madrid (Spain) dedicated to the exploration of nanoscience and the development of applications of nanotechnology in connection with innovative industries.