David Écija Fernández

David Écija Fernández is a tenured Research Professor at IMDEA Nanociencia since May 2019, specializing in condensed matter physics and surface nanoscience. He leads the Nanoarchitectonics on Surfaces research group, focusing on atomic-scale design of functional nanomaterials.

His research centers on three interconnected domains:

• Rational design of surface-confined metal-organic materials for sensing, catalysis, and quantum information
• On-surface synthesis of 1D/2D soft nanomaterials for optoelectronics and carbon magnetism
• Atomistic engineering of nanocatalysts for energy applications including water splitting and CO₂ reduction

Notable scientific recognition includes:

• ERC Consolidator Grant (2018) for ELECNANO project
• Marie Curie Intra European Fellowship enabling research at Technical University of Munich
• Prestigious Ramon y Cajal Fellowship prior to IMDEA appointment

Écija Fernández received his PhD in Physics from Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, where his doctoral work focused on self-assembly of nanostructures on surfaces. His subsequent four-year postdoctoral period at Technical University of Munich under Prof. Barth established his expertise in functional molecular nanoarchitectures. He joined IMDEA Nanociencia in January 2014 as a Ramon y Cajal researcher before achieving tenured Research Professor status.