The main objective of SAB is to improve our scientific knowledge and, on this basis, promote the sustainability of agricultural systems in a context of climate change. Our research lies at the interface of soil biogeochemistry, soil microbial ecology, ecosystem science and agronomy, and combines experimental work in long-term field trials, urban agroecosystems and greenhouses with modeling and global observational datasets. SAB is one of the founding and core groups of the Interdisciplinary Thematic Platform SOILBIO.

The research activity of the group is developed in the following areas of knowledge: 1) Mathematical modeling and optimization of biological processes: growths (bacteria, yeasts, algae, roosters, etc.), metabolic productions (bacteriocins, enzymes, etc.), complex responses to bioeffectors (hydrocarbons, heavy metals, bacteriocins, dispersants, antioxidants, bioactive peptides, toxins, etc.). 2) Microbial and enzyme productions in both, submerged liquid and solid-state culture from flask to pilot plant.

The research activity of this group aims, on the one hand, to achieve a better understanding of the factors affecting the spatial and temporal development of the major crop pests. To accomplish this, monitoring tools and technologies are used to obtain and process spatial information, such as proximate and remote sensors, GIS and specific software for the analysis of geospatial data. In addition, the joint application of these technologies and Decision Support Systems is proposed to transfer the information to intelligent pest control.

IVPP group focuses its research in the field of pathogen-vector-plant interactions, biology, behavior and control of insects transmitting plant pathogens, their epidemiology and integrated pest management.

The Group’s research mainly focuses on the study of the Rhizobium-legume and the ectomycorrhizal symbioses. The physiological, biochemical and molecular aspects that regulate biological nitrogen fixation in legumes are investigated, taking into account the structure-function of the nodule and the interaction between symbionts. We analyse the mechanisms of response to drought, salinity and heavy metals, and work on the production of legumes and microorganisms with improved tolerance to abiotic stresses.

The Force Probe Microscopy & Surface Nanoengineering Group is devoted to the investigation and exploitation of interfacial phenomena arising from the nanostructuration of surfaces and from the interaction of surfaces with molecules. The main focus areas are (i) force probe microscopy & spectroscopy, (ii) interfacial water (structured & confined water, wetting), (iii) engineered surfaces (functionalization, graphene, polymers, etc.) and (iv) electronic properties of surfaces.

The Nanomaterials Growth Division, led by Dr José Santiso, provides support in thin-film fabrication and film characterisation to ICN2 researchers and external collaborators. The Division specialises in fabrication of oxide thin-films and heterostructures by Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) and Metal-Organic Chemical Vapour Deposition (MOCVD), as well as advanced structure characterisation of these films by X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED), and their electronic-ionic conductivity properties, among other techniques.

Our group has focused on the development of new methodologies and processes to assembly (bio)molecules with specificity to generate nanomaterials with a designed property or function. Hierarchical nanomaterials, both bulk or nanostructured on a surface, are produced with controlled structures over different length scales and their properties investigated in terms of possible applications. The nanostructuration is achieved by different means. Bulk materials in the form of nanoparticles or nanotubes are prepared by means of self-assembly, coordination chemistry and templating techniques.

The Group works in Materials Science, Nanoscience and Electrochemistry for energy-related applications. It leads various research projects on energy storage and conversion, an increasingly strategic area which urgently needs fundamental improvements. The group is internationally recognized for work on hybrid nanocomposite materials, nanofluids and a growing activity on graphene (including synthesis, composites, nanofluids and energy storage). We design and synthesise new materials with a strong emphasis on structural control at different scales (from nano- to macro-).

The Nanobiosensors and Bioanalytical Applications Group focuses its activities in the development of novel nanobiosensors devices based on plasmonics, nanoplasmonics and silicon-based photonics principles, including surface biofunctionalisation, microfluidics and complete lab-on-a-chip integration for point-of-care devices. Application of the nanobiosensors for real clinical diagnostics and environmental control is one of the main objectives of the group.