Ainara Nova

Ainara Nova is a Senior Researcher at the Centre for Materials Science and Nanotechnology (SMN) and an associate member of the Hylleraas Centre for Quantum Molecular Sciences, both within the Department of Chemistry at the University of Oslo. Her research combines computational methods with experimental techniques to study homogeneous and heterogeneous reaction mechanisms involving organometallic molecular catalysts and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), focusing on CO2 and methane conversion into fuels and chemicals.

• PhD in Chemistry (University of Barcelona, 2008)
• Postdoctoral work (Montpellier, France; ICIQ, Spain, 2012)
• Moved to Norway in 2012

Nova has over 50 publications (H-index 26) and supervised 1 MSc and 5 PhD students. She leads a national project (FRIPRO-YT) and two international initiatives (MSCA-ITN, Nordic University Hub), fostering computational-experimental collaborations. Her work bridges computational modeling with practical catalytic applications, emphasizing sustainability and carbon capture strategies.

Recent publications highlight her integration of AI and microkinetic modeling to decode catalytic mechanisms, particularly in MOF-based systems and CO2 hydrogenation. She explores ligand design, single-atom catalysts, and multiobjective optimization for efficient catalysis at scale.

Nova’s expertise spans organometallic reaction mechanisms, MOF functionalization, and solvent dynamics in catalysis. She is actively involved in supervising computational chemistry projects related to metal-organic frameworks and CO2 hydrogenation, reflecting her commitment to advancing sustainable chemical transformations.