Internships at INMA

Topic: A relatively little known and recently developed facet is the use of AI to solve mathematical problems. The last includes Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINNs), Deep Operator Networks (DeepONet) and Fourier Neural Operator Networks (FNON), among others. In the Institute of Nanoscience and Materials of Aragón (INMA), which is a joint Institute between CSIC and the University of Zaragoza, we initiated several works in the use of these techniques to solve simple differential equations. Our aim here is to extend the possible applications of these techniques to physics and go into their mathematical basis.
Supervisors: Sergio Gutiérrez Rodrigo & Luis Martín Moreno
Group: Quantum Materials and Devices (Q-MAD)
Studen: Javier Colominas Villalba
Type of internships: JAE Intro ICU

Tope: A relatively little known and recently developed facet is the use of AI to solve Partial Differential Equations (PDE) by means of Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINNs). This type of neural networks allows solving all types of differential equations, Our aim here is to continue this work going further simple differential equations, trying to solve the PDEs appearing in the problems our group is currently involved in the area of Nanophotonics, whether ordinary or partial, with one or several variables, single equations or systems of equations.
Supervisors: Sergio Gutiérrez Rodrigo & Luis Martín Moreno
Group: Quantum Materials and Devices (Q-MAD)
Student: Luis Medrano Navarro
Type of internships: JAE Intro ICU

Topic: A relatively little known and recently developed facet is the use of AI as a means to surrogate a Mathematical Operator. The technique relies on the Universal Operator Approximation Theorem, which states that a neural network with a simple hidden layer can accurately approximate any nonlinear continuous operator. This theorem suggests the use of deep networks in learning continuous operators from data. In the Institute of Nanoscience and Materials of Aragón (INMA), which a joint Institute between CSIC and the University of Zaragoza, we initiated the study of mathematical operators to solve simple differential equations, in the context of a Final Degree Project. Our aim here is to continue this work going further simple differential equations, trying to solve the PDEs appearing in the problems our group is currently involved in the area of Nanophotonics.
Supervisors: Sergio Gutiérrez Rodrigo & Luis Martín Moreno
Group: Quantum Materials and Devices (Q-MAD)
Student: Javier Pardos Cardiel
Type of internships: JAE Intro ICU

Topic:Síntesis de copolímeros bloque con termorrespuesta basados en policarbonatos alifáticos y polietilenglicol combinando técnicas de polimerización controlada y pos-funcionalización mediante química click. Estudio de las propiedades de autoensamblado en agua, caracterización de los autoensamblados y evaluación de su potencial como nanotrasportadores para la liberación controlada de fármacos.
Supervisors: Milagros Piñol
Group: Cristales Líquidos y Polímeros (CLIP)
Student: María Val-Carreres Castellote
Type of internships: Programa PI2

Topic:The conjugation of inorganic and organic elements often allows obtaining materials with improved properties for applications in energy or catalysis, among others. Polyoxometalates (POM) – nanometric clusters of metal oxides (mainly W, Mo, and V) – are catalytic compounds that also stand out for their bioactive properties. These include antiviral, anticancer and antimicrobial properties. The biomedical application of POMs, in the form of cluster ions, hybrid materials and POM-based nanoparticles, has tripled in the last decade.
In this TFM we propose to carry out research with materials combining polypeptides with polyoxometalates to obtain antimicrobial materials with improved properties. On the one hand, the ring-opening polymerization of N-carboxyanhydrides of amino acids allows us to obtain, in a simple and fast way, polypeptides that emulate the characteristics of natural peptides.
The proposed work consists of the preparation of a series of polyoxometalate-polypeptide hybrids for which an amino group on a Wells Dawson polyoxometalate will be used to initiate the polymerization of the monomers (glutamic acid derivatives). The target molecules will have the character of macroamphiphiles and as such the structures they form in solution, their effect on catalytic activity (oxidation reactions), and their antimicrobial activity (against fungi and bacteria) will be studied.
During the work we will use synthesis techniques including the use of schlenk line and characterize polyoxometalate monomers and polymers by NMR, FTIR and mass spectrometry. For polymers, size exclusion chromatography will also be used. The prepared materials will also be studied for their behavior in solution by dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques, while the catalytic activity will be studied by colorimetric assays. The evaluation of antimicrobial activity against fungi and bacteria will be carried out through standardized microbiology assays, fluorescence techniques for the detection of ROS (e.g. DCFH), as well as the study of biofilm formation and its extracellular matrix (by means of crystal violet, SEM and TEM).
From a more general point of view there will be the opportunity to develop a small project, facing real laboratory research problems and learning how to manage them. The objective is that at the end of the course the student will be autonomous in the laboratory and will be able to select the most appropriate experimental techniques, as well as to analyze and interpret the results.
They will have opportunities to present the results of their research in group seminars and project meetings, and will receive any complementary training relevant to these aspects.
Supervisors: Scott Mitchell y Rafael Martín
Group: Bio-Funcionalización de Nano-Particulas y Superficies (bioNANOsurf)
Student: Ofertado
Type of internships: Programa PI2