The PhD thesis was supervised by Florencio Sánchez and Jaume Gázquez, from the MULFOX group at ICMAB-CSIC. The PhD Committee that evaluated the Thesis was formed by Fabio Miletto Granozio, National Research Council of Italy (President), Francesca Peiró Martínez, Universitat de Barcelona (Secretary), José Ángel Pardo Gracia, Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA), CSIC-UNIZAR (Vocal).

Saúl Estandía's PhD thesis was part of the PhD Programme in Materials Science from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB).

Jaume Gázquez, Saúl Estandía and Florencio Sánchez.

Why did you choose the ICMAB for your PhD?

I found the PhD project offered by my supervisors appealing.

How would you explain your research to a non-scientific audience? 

I study new ferroelectric materials; in particular, I study how the ferroelectric properties arise from the nanoscale characteristics of the materials.

What are the main applications of your research? Could you give us an example?

Fundamental understanding of ferroelectric materials will allow to design better performing materials that could be used for electronic devices such as memories or different kinds of sensors.

From the lessons learnt here, which one do you value the most?

Becoming able to learn and find creative solutions by myself.

What will you miss the most from ICMAB?

Probably working with some people I met here.

How do you think this experience will contribute to your training and to your future? 

I have learnt many different things during these years, and I am sure that my opportunities are much wider than before the PhD.

What are your plans once you finish your PhD?

I intend to continue in the academy for at least a couple of years, later we will see.

What do you wish you had known at the beginning of your PhD, that now you can recommend to the ones who are starting?

It would be ideal to know well if your PhD is the kind of project you want to enroll for the next years. Luckily, my PhD has been useful and I have enjoyed it.

Why did you become a scientist? Which have been your role models? 

It was not something planned. When I was a child I used to wonder about the universe. Then, already in the last years of the secondary school I discovered the beauty of physics and other sciences so I followed this path.

Which is your favourite female scientist? And why?

I admire Emmy Noether for her abstract work during hard times.

Describe in 3 keywords… 

• Your research: nanoscale, materials, ferroelectricity
• Barcelona: history, landscape, people
• Your experience at ICMAB: useful, thinking, busy

 Congratulations, Saúl! 

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