This summer, I had the pleasure of supervising Bridget Allan (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) during her fellowship at the Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ). Bridget joined us for a two-month stint as part of the ICIQ Summer School Fellowship, bringing her enthusiasm and fresh perspective to Dr. Villa team.
The ICIQ Summer Fellowship Programme is a prestigious initiative that invites outstanding undergraduate students from around the world to participate in cutting-edge research projects at ICIQ. The programme runs from July 1st to August 31st, offering a two-month paid internship where students work closely with ICIQ researchers. This year, the programme successfully concluded its 12th edition, providing hands-on learning experiences to twelve students. Participants are mentored by PhD students or senior researchers, allowing them to apply theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios and gain valuable insights and skills in chemistry and related fields.
During Bridget’s time at ICIQ, we focused on developing upconverting BiVO4 micromotors (her project). We began by doping BiVO4 microparticles with the well-known Yb3+,Er3+ dopant pair to generate upconversion emission. Our goal was to explore different concentrations of these dopants to achieve the highest possible emission intensity. This phase of the project was crucial, as it laid the foundation for the subsequent steps.
Once we optimized the doping concentrations, we moved on to exploring the potential of these particles as light-activated micromotors. Using hydroquinone/benzoquinone as fuel, we observed remarkable propulsion under low excitation power density. This was an exciting development, as it demonstrated the practical applicability of our research.
Bridget’s work has significant potential for future applications. The upconverting BiVO4 micromotors we developed could be used for near-infrared propelled micromotors, which have various biomedical and industrial applications. Additionally, the upconversion emission could enable in situ tracking of micromotors, providing valuable insights into their behavior and interactions in different environments.
The suppervision of Summer School Fellows aligns perfectly with Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowship (MSCA PF) objectives. In particular it helps the development of my career goal of becoming an assistant professor. By mentoring a talented young researcher, I have honed my supervisory and leadership skills, which are crucial for an academic career. Additionally, the successful collaboration and the innovative results achieved during this fellowship have strengthened my research portfolio, enhancing my prospects for future academic positions and international collaboration network.
“Supervising Bridget was a rewarding experience. Her dedication and innovative approach contributed greatly to the success of our project. I am confident that her work will pave the way for further advancements in the field of micromotors and upconversion technology. I look forward to seeing her future contributions to science and technology.”
The Summer Fellowship Programme is made possible through the support of the State Research Agency / Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities through the “Severo Ochoa” Centres of Excellence Programme (CEX2019-000925-S, MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033, 2020-2024).
