Katherine Villa

Katherine Villa is a Group Leader at the Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ), where she leads cutting-edge research in light-driven systems for energy, health, and environmental applications. Her work bridges chemistry, materials science, and nanotechnology, focusing on nanostructured photocatalysts and self-propelled micro/nanorobots.

• PhD in Chemistry from Autonomous University of Barcelona
• Former senior scientist at Center for Advanced Functional Nanorobots, Prague
• Current research group leader at ICIQ, Tarragona, Spain

Her research interests center on photocatalysis, nanomaterials, renewable energy, and environmental remediation. She designs nanostructured materials for solar fuel generation and develops photoactive micromotors for water purification and biomedical applications. Her work aligns with EU Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in clean energy and environmental protection.

The recent publications highlight a strong trend in functional micro/nanorobots, gas-phase CO2 conversion, and advanced photocatalytic systems. These works span from fundamental charge transport studies to real-world applications in pollution removal and green hydrogen production.

Scientific awards and honors include:

• ERC Starting Grant (2022)
• BBVA Leonardo Grant in Basic Sciences (2023)
• RSEQ Young Investigator Award – Group Leader (2023)
• Member, Young Academy of Spain (2023)
• BIST Mother of Science Award (2021)
• Member, Early Career Editorial Board, Applied Catalysis B

She actively mentors a diverse team of PhD and master's students, and her group receives substantial funding from the European Research Council (ERC), Horizon Europe, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, and Spanish national programs such as Juan de la Cierva and FPI. She is also involved in outreach, training workshops for grant applications, and public science communication.

Her research group operates within a collaborative ecosystem at ICIQ, leveraging advanced scientific core facilities for material characterization, synthesis, and analysis. Projects like PhotoSwim, TherMotors, and PhotoClean reflect the interdisciplinary and innovative nature of her lab.