Research Focus and Academic Achievements
Gonzalo Santoro Domingo is a Ramón y Cajal researcher at the Instituto de Estructura de la Materia (IEM, CSIC). His research primarily focuses on the application of synchrotron radiation techniques to study soft matter and polymers. He earned his Ph.D. in 2011 from the Institute of Polymer Science and Technology (ICTP-CSIC, Madrid, Spain). Specifically, his research centered on polymer-carbon nanotube nanocomposites. Moreover, he developed vibrational microspectroscopic methods to analyze these materials, while also exploring their unique properties in greater depth.
Postdoctoral Experience and Collaborations
From 2012 to 2014, Gonzalo Santoro worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the P03 MiNaXS beamline at the PETRA III storage ring at DESY, Hamburg, Germany. During this time, he made significant contributions to beamline development, focusing particularly on new hard X-ray focusing strategies and innovative sample environments. Furthermore, his work involved applying Grazing Incidence X-ray Scattering (GIWAXS, GISAXS, and GIUSAXS) as an in-situ, time-resolved tool for studying kinetic phenomena in thin films. As a result, he expanded his expertise in synchrotron techniques.
Involvement in the ERC-Synergy NANOCOSMOS Project
Between 2015 and 2022, Gonzalo Santoro continued his postdoctoral research at ESISNA, where he worked on the ERC-Synergy NANOCOSMOS project. Notably, he played a pivotal role in developing the STARDUST machine, an Ultra High Vacuum (UHV) apparatus. This machine aims to explore the mechanisms of interstellar dust formation in dying stars. His work has not only contributed to the field of astrochemistry but has also bridged the gap between materials science and space exploration.
Current Role and Ongoing Research
Currently, Gonzalo Santoro is an Associate Scientist at ESISNA, where he continues his collaboration on laboratory astrochemistry projects. His research integrates synchrotron radiation and material science to better understand the interactions between soft matter, polymers, and nanoparticles in space environments. Therefore, his multidisciplinary expertise keeps him at the forefront of cutting-edge research in nano-space science and astrochemistry.
