Ignacio Martin-Fabiani

Dr Ignacio Martin-Fabiani (also known as Dr Nacho Martin-Fabiani) is a Senior Lecturer in Materials Science and UKRI Future Leaders Fellow at Loughborough University, UK. He leads an experimental and modelling research group within the Department of Materials, focusing on advancing the understanding of liquid formulations and their applications across multiple industries including paints, coatings, adhesives, inks, and cosmetics.

Dr Martin-Fabiani's educational background includes:

• 2022: Medici Enterprise Training Programme, University of Birmingham
• 2013: PhD, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and Complutense University of Madrid
• 2010: MSc in Plastics and Rubber, Menéndez Pelayo International University
• 2008: BSc in Materials Physics, Complutense University of Madrid

His research interests span colloid science, interface science, soft matter science and engineering, with particular focus on liquid formulations that film-form. His group employs advanced spectroscopy, microscopy, and scattering techniques to progress understanding in this field. More recently, his research has expanded into sustainable formulations including lifecycle analysis of biobased coatings, artificial intelligence for formulation optimization using evidence- and science-based approaches, and methods for microplastics detection and characterisation. His work has significant relevance to paints, coatings, inks, adhesives, cosmetics, and agricultural sectors.

Dr Martin-Fabiani has received numerous prestigious awards including the 2024 Science Award at the Coatings Science International Conference, the 2020 UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship, the 2019 Polymer Lecture Exchange Award by the Institute of Physics and the American Physical Society, the 2016 Vice-Chancellor's Research Fellowship at Loughborough University, the 2016 Santander Mobility Award, and the 2015 Award for the best PhD Thesis using synchrotron light.

He is actively involved in research funding through his UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship and welcomes applications from prospective researchers interested in joining his group. Dr Martin-Fabiani collaborates extensively across disciplines including Chemistry, Physics, Microbiology, and various branches of Engineering. He is passionate about soft materials research and its applications in liquid formulated products.

Dr Martin-Fabiani's research group is multidisciplinary, focusing on fundamental science underpinning formulation and application, investigation of inorganic nanomaterials for antibacterial or abrasion resistant properties, development of optimization methods for product development, trials of environmentally friendly formulation ingredients, and sustainability assessments.