Staff:

Joseba Alonso, PhD, Group leader

I did my undergraduate studies at the University of Valencia, and completed my PhD in experimental atomic physics with Prof. Günther Werth and Prof. Klaus Blaum at the University of Mainz. After a few years in a private consultancy, I joined the trapped-ion quantum information group of Jonathan Home at ETH-Zurich as a postdoc and, later, as a senior scientist. My CV can be found here.

Tel: +34963877000 Ext. 88255

Email: joseba.alonso[at]i3m.upv.es

Fernando Galve, PhD, Staff scientist

I did my undergraduate studies at the University of Valencia, and completed my PhD in experimental atomic physics with Prof. G. Werth at the University of Mainz. I did two postdocs in quantum information and open systems with Prof. P. Hänggi at the University of Augsburg, and with Prof. R. Zambrini at the University of the Balearic Islands, where I led my own research lines as PI of a project funded by the Spanish Ministry. My CV can be found here. Since 2023 Científico Titular at CSIC.

Email: fernando.galve[at]i3m.upv.es

Lucía Barajas, Finance Project Manager

Industrial Engineer at the Industrial University of Santander, Colombia, with an MBA in Business Administration from the University of Geneva and a CCA certificate in corporate control. I have extensive experience implementing control financial models, leading methodological procedures, and making data-driven strategic decisions. Participating in the management of innovative health R&D initiatives in technology companies, from start-ups to global consulting firms.

Email: lucia.barajas[at]i3m.upv.es

José M. Benlloch, PhD, Prof.

I am a full professor at the Spanish National Research Council. In my early career, I worked in particle detectors at CERN and at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, and later as staff member of the Massachussetts Institute of Technology under the direction of Jerome Friedman. When I returned to Spain in 1999, I started a research group on Medical Imaging, which eventually developed into the Institute of Molecular Imaging and Instrumentation, which I direct.

Tel: +34 96 387 99 07

Email: benlloch[at]i3m.upv.es

Juan Pablo Rigla Pérez, PhD, Staff scientist

I did my undergraduate studies at the University of Valencia and PhD in Nuclear Engineering with Prof. K. Koubychine at the Technical University of Catalonia (Barcelona, Spain). From 2006 to 2012 I was research assistant in the Nuclear Physics and Accelerators of the Institute of Energy Technologies at the Technical University of Catalonia. Later I joined the i3M as a PostDoc. In 2015 I joined as a researcher at the Tesoro Imaging S.L. My research interests involve the development of novel magnetic system for medical imaging diagnostic systems and for transport and propulsion of magnetic nanoparticles.

Tel: +34 96 072 81 11

Email: jprigla[at]i3m.upv.es

Senior scientists:

José Miguel Algarín Guisado, PhD, Senior scientist

I did my undergraduate in Physics (best academic record) in 2009 at the University of Seville. After my undergraduate I did a Master in Medical Physics and I completed my PhD in Physics in 2015 with Extraordinary Doctorate Award at the University of Seville. After my PhD, I joined the Institute for Research in Electronics and Applied Physics as a postdoc at University of Maryland (USA). In my freetime I like to immerse myself in the night sky with my telescope and my camera to get a record of the past of our universe.

Email: josalggui[at]i3m.upv.es

Postdocs:

Alba González Cebrián:

I studied my Bachelor Degree in Biomedical Engineering at the Universitat Politècnica de València, specialising in Information and Communication Technologies. I continued with a Master Degree in Data Analysis at the same university, working with Prof. Alberto Ferrer, who also supervised my PhD in Statistics. I worked as a research associate at the National College of Ireland from 2022 until 2024. Since I missed my link with the Biomedical field, I came back to Spain as a postdoc at the MRIlab. You can find more about me here.

Elisa Castanon, PhD, Staff Scientist

I did my undergraduate at the University of Oviedo, followed by a Masters in Photonics at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia. After that, I moved to the United Kingdom to continue my studies. There, I undertook a PhD co-joined between the University of Lancaster and the National Physical Laboratory (London). During the PhD, I was working on 2D materials systems and heterostructures with a strong focus on fabrication using polymeric stamps, and measurements with advanced modes of atomic force microscopy (AFM). After that, I did two postdocs, one at the National Physical Laboratory working on electronic measurements and systems development, and another one at the National Graphene Institute, where I focused solely on the fabrication of 2D material based heterostructures and complex devices in ultra-high vacuum environments. In August 2024, I joined the MRILab as a postdoc, to work on developing portable MRI low field systems. I have a strong interest in the development of neural network architectures to improve the image quality of low-field machines and the development of new systems.  

Lorena Vega Cid

I studied Industrial Engineering at the University of the Basque Country. In 2014, I joined CERN, in Geneva, to complete my undergraduate thesis, marking the beginning of my career in particle accelerators. I continued at CERN until 2024, gaining interdisciplinary experience in fields such as thermo-mechanical design, superconductivity, and radiofrequency. There, I also completed a PhD on cooling systems for kicker magnets in collaboration with the Technical University of Madrid. Driven to apply technological innovations to healthcare, I began a Master’s in Medical Physics at UNED in 2023 and joined MRILab as a postdoc in December 2024.

PhD students:

Pepe Borreguero Morata, PhD student

I did my undergraduate in Physics at the University of Valencia,  with a specialization in Theoretical Physics . After that I did a Master in Advanced Physics oriented to Particle Physics and Quantum Field Theory. In 2018, I joined i3M thanks to GJ program and since 2020 I’m working on my PhD focused on the development of disruptive MRI protocols specific for hard biological tissues.

Email: pepe.morata[at]i3m.upv.es

Teresa Guallart Naval, PhD student

I completed my degree in Physics at the University of Zaragoza. I worked as a programmer for a year at a tech consulting firm and then I started my master’s degree in Theoretical Physics at the University of Valencia. I am currently working on my PhD, developing portable low-field MRI scanners for musculoskeletal diagnosis.

Email: teresa.guallart[at]tesoroimaging.com

Eduardo Pallas Lodeiro, PhD student

I have a bachelor’s degree in Technical Industrial Engineering (Mechanical) from the University School of Ford Spain, and a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering (Mechanical) from the Polytechnic University of Valencia. I enjoy mechanical design and developing new products. I did two years practice agreement in the Railway Company Vossloh Spain (2014-2016), nowadays Stadler Rail Spain.

Email: epallas[at]i3m.upv.es

Pablo García Cristobal, PhD student

I did my undergraduate studies at the University of AixMarseille, graduating in  2021 with a specialization on Experimental Physics. Afterwards, I attended the   University of Toulouse III Paul Sabatier for my master’s degree in Medical Engineering specializing on Medical Physics, wherein I completed several academic projects focusing on the processing and analysis of medical images. I currently am part of the MRILab team as I am working on my thesis project.

Email:  pablo.garcia-cristobal[at]i3m.upv.es

Marina Fernández García,

I completed my Bachelors in Physics, with a focus on particle physics, at the University of Groningen, followed by my masters in Biomedical Engineering at ETH Zurich. Subsequently, I took on the role of Consortium Manager of the Consortium for Advancement of MRI Education and Research in Africa (CAMERA), an organisation advocating for MRI access in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs), primarily in the form of educational content and networking opportunities. This brings me to my PhD today at MRILab, working on the implementation of low-field MRI from a clinical and public health perspective.

email: mfergar2[at]i3m.upv.es

Luiz Guilherme de Castro Santos

I completed my Bachelor’s in Science & Technology (2018) and Biomedical Engineering (2021) at the Federal University of ABC (UFABC) in Brazil, where I also earned a Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering (2023) with a focus on medical devices. I started working with medical devices in 2018 and began specializing in RF coils and MRI hardware in 2019. Currently, I am a PhD student at the i3M, where I focus on developing and optimizing RF coils to ensure high-quality imaging and efficiency. My work involves designing, implementing, and testing RF circuits integrated into MRI systems, performing simulations to validate component safety and performance, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to integrate different parts of the equipment. Additionally, I am committed to documenting all stages of the projects and staying updated on the latest advancements in MRI and RF engineering.

Jesús Conejero Rodríguez:

In 2023, I graduated in Industrial Electronics and Automation Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Valencia and, at the same time, I joined MRILab through a JAE Intro scholarship. Since then, I have continued working at MRILab and I am currently developing my thesis of the Master Degree in Electronic Systems Engineering. The thesis focuses on the development of high and low-field RF coils and involves a collaboration with General Electric HealthCare in its facilities (Ohio, EEUU).

Email: jconrod[at]i3m.upv.es

Technicians:

Rubén Bosch Esteve, Staff engineer

Avionics maintenance technician from CIPFP in Cheste. Engineer in Industrial Electronics and Automation from Florida Universitaria (Valencia). Master’s in construction and applications of unmanned aerial systems. I currently works at MRI-lab designing and implementing the radiofrequency hardware needed for MRI scanners.

Email: ruben.bosch[at]i3m.upv.es

Lucas Swistunow, mechanical engineer

I completed a master degree in general engineering with a emphasis on mechanical and industrial engineering in the school of Arts et Metiers (ENSAM) in Paris. I joined The MRI-lab of I3M in May 2024 after learning spanish in Valencia for 3 meses. I currently work on the design of the structural parts composing the various MRI prototypes the lab is working on. 

Email: lswistu[at]upvnet.upv.es

Visiting scientists

(2019-20) Dr. Manuel Murbach, Zurich (Switzerland)
(2023) Prof. Dr. Andrew Webb

Former members

(2024) Auxelle Chauvet 
(2024) María Fernández Ramos, Master student
(2023) Dhareena Comlan, Student
(2023) Sity Mouhamadi, Student
(2023) Noémie Bernard, Student
(2023) Yasmine Ahssaini, Student
(2020-2021) Rubén Pellicer Guridi, PhD engineer
(2019) Carlos Gramage, Industrial Technical Engineer
(2016-2020) Daniel Grau Ruiz, PhD student
(2017-2020) Jose Manuel González, PhD student
(2019-2021) Carlos Gramage, Industrial Electronics Engineer
(2019-2021) Guillermo López, Physicist
(2014-20) Elena Díaz Caballero, R&D engineer
(2019) Miguel Corberán Ruiz, Control and Automation Engineer
(2019) Lasthenis Angelidakis, PhD student
(2017-18) Héctor Sánchez Izquierdo, Masters student
(2016-18) Guillermo Puchalt Casanys, Electronics engineer