Irene Alda Ferrero

Dr. Irene Alda started to do research as a young physicist before and during her undergraduate studies. She participated in projects on the detection of drugs through Raman Spectrocopy (CSIC-Instituto de la Materia, 2010), the characterization of thermoelectric materials (CSIC-IMM, 2012), the measurement of the thermal dilation of graphene (UAM, 2013-2014), and the characterization of adaptive thermoplasmonic optical lenses (ICFO, 2014).

In 2015, she started a Ph.D. in Physics—technically in Photonics—at the Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO) with her own scholarship (FPU). Irene’s research project was part of the ERC consolidator grant QnanoMECA in the group of ICREA Professor Dr. Romain Quidant. She graduated in 2020 “Cum Laude” with her dissertation: "Levitodynamics on-a-chip: from planar Paul traps to near-field optical nanocavities". Her work included modeling, fabrication, and testing of nanophotonic devices. She also designed the experimental optical setup and analyzed all experimental data. Additionally, she co-led teaching activities for undergraduate students from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. 

After graduation, Irene began to work part-time for ThePaperMill (Barcelona) as an editor, grants consultant, and project manager. She supported scientists in communicating their scientific findings and ideas in an effective way: from content review in ERC grants to language polishing of papers. This was balanced with her yoga & wellness entrepreneur project “living la vida yoga”, which she began in 2014. She has taught across Europe, created content for international brands, been recognized by several fitness magazines, and published a book on yoga, pregnancy, and postpartum.

In 2023, she joined IE University as the Academic Director of the Bachelor in Applied Mathematics. She ensures academic quality, excellent student experience, and effective management of the undergraduate program, plus, she is also involved in teaching activities.

Corporate Experience

• Academic director of the Bachelor in Applied Mathematics, IE University, 2023 - Present

• Grants manager, grants consultant, and editor, ThePaperMill, Spain, 2020 - 2023 

• Yoga and wellness entrepreneur, Spain, 2014 - Present

Academic Experience

• Professor in the Bachelor in Applied Mathematics, IE University, Spain, 2023 - Present 

• Professor of laboratory activities for UPC Physics Engineering students, ICFO, Spain, 2016 - 2019

Academic Background

• Ph.D. in Physics (Photonics), ICFO & Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Spain, 2020

• M.Sc. in Advanced Materials, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain, 2015

• B.Sc. in Physics, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain, 2014