Dr.
Laia Vilà-Nadal
Affiliated Member
In June 2006 I obtained a Degree in Chemistry at the University Rovira i Virgili (Tarragona, Spain), where in parallel with my Chemistry studies I also enrolled in Biochemistry courses. I have a remarkable multidisciplinary motivation and in July 2007 I obtained a Degree in Biochemistry, having started Ph.D. studies in January of the same year. The aim of my Ph.D. was the study of POM formation processes by means of Quantum Molecular Dynamics simulations (CPMD code) and standard DFT methods, NMR chemical shifts calculations. Since I joined the Cronin group in 2011 I have been involved in several cross-disciplinary projects including the synthesis and characterization of new POM architectures, the combination of experimental techniques; such as mass spectrometry, EPR and NMR, with theoretical calculations to elucidate POMs isomerization mechanisms and assembly mechanisms. For me working at the Cronin Group has been an amazing opportunity to expand my research skills while being involved in several collaborative research projects.
In June 2015 I started my post as research Group Co-ordinator and became a Senior member of the Cronin group. These four years as Co-ordinator of a group of 60+ have been a great opportunity to gain management and leadership skills and continue to develop as a scientist.
In June 2019 I started my independent academic career as a Lecturer. Research in the LVN group centres in understanding the self-assembly mechanisms of inorganic metal oxide materials, aiming to design new materials with diverse applications, for example, in energy storage, molecular electronics and sensing, etc. The LVN group is looking forward to a continued and fruitful cooperation with the Cronin Group.