Curriculum Vitae

Ultrafast laser-matter interaction, X-ray science, nonlinear and quantum optics, photonic integrated circuits, nanofabrication, Rydberg atoms, spectroscopy, solid-state physics, quantum technologies, extreme states of matter.

CERN, Geneva, Switzerland

Applied Physicist 2018 - Present

I work on advanced optical and laser systems at the CERN accelerator complex; my main focus is the production, acceleration and interaction of charged particle beams (mainly electrons and ions) using a large variety of laser systems. I am responsible for CERN's electron photoinjectors (CLEAR, AWAKE and CLIC), and I am the leader of the laser and photoinjector beamlines at the Advanced Wakefield Accelerator Experiment (AWAKE). I'm also involved in the production of X-rays and Gamma-rays at CERN: at CLEAR we are developing an inverse Compton scattering X-ray source based on burst-mode cavity enhanced Electro-Optic frequency combs, and at the Gamma Factory we are developing a 200 kW average power frequency comb to produce Gamma rays at extreme photon fluxes. I am also the principal investigator of the CERN's Knowledge Transfer "Singular Light" project, where we develop frequency stabilized spectrally pure integrated tunable lasers for high resolution nuclear spectroscopy of exotic isotopes at ISOLDE.

Stanford University, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, USA

Tenured Staff Scientist 2013 - 2018

Principal laser scientist at the Matter in Extreme Conditions instrument of the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS). Covered a wide range of research areas including: shock physics, planetary research, nuclear fusion, laser based plasma wakefield acceleration, betratron X-ray sources, HHG sources, and high energy proton and neutron production using lasers, to name a few. During this period, developed a 200 TW laser with double CPA / XPW capability, 200 J+ lasers with arbitrary waveform and spatio-temporal laser-particle diagnostic techniques. I took part in more than 40 LCLS X-ray pump-probe experiments.

Massachussets Institute of Technology, USA

Postdoctoral Fellow, Research Laboratory of Electronics, Quantum Optics and Electronics Group, 2010-2012

Development of EUV / X-ray ultrabright sources based on inverse Compton scattering using THz electron accelerators and manipulation. The work included the development of highly efficient THz sources, the design and development of cryogenic Yb-based high average power lasers, few cycle light generation from visible to mid-IR based on hollow core fibers and high harmonic generation.

PhD Electrical Engineering and Applied Physics, 2010

Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia

MSc Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2007

Colorado State University, USA

BEng, Telecommunication Engineering, 2005

Tecnun, University of Navarra, Spain

Donostia International Physics Center, San Sebastian, Spain

Adjunct postdoctoral researcher, 2013

National Energetics, Austin, TX, USA

Consultant, 2014-2016

CEIT, San Sebastian, Spain

Visiting Scientist, 2017