Carolina Vargas Estevez | Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna

Bio

I am an interdisciplinary biomedical and electronic engineer with extensive experience in international projects across diverse sectors, collaborating with professionals from biology, medicine, engineering, and materials science. My expertise includes micro- and nanotechnologies, smart materials, piezoelectrics, and energy harvesting. I have successfully led projects from research to potential spin-offs, with a strong background in funding, procurement, and project management, working in dynamic, cross-functional teams to address complex challenges. My career goal is to apply my broad knowledge to the field of micro and nanorobotics, focusing on innovative control and actuation capabilities.

EDUCATION

Universitat de Barcelona /Instituto de Microelectrónica de Barcelona IMB-CNM (CSIC) (2019) PhD in Nanosciences - CUM LAUDE
University of Minnesota (2015) Nano-magnetics and photonic group Academic Exchange
Universidad Politécnica de Madrid - UPM (Madrid, Spain) MSc in Biomedical Engineering (2012)
Universidad Nacional de Colombia (Bogotá, Colombia) (2010) Bachelor’s Degree in Electronic Engineering

Ricerca

The main aim of my research activity is to develop innovative micro/nanorobotics solutions for biomedical applications. As part of my postdoctoral research in Sant'Anna, my work is focused on the development of an implantable microrobot able to tune its geometry and size to perform medical procedures. This microrobot will be equipped with a controlled, non-invasive navigation system, to perform actuation activities in a wireless way.

Pubblicazioni

C. Vargas-Estevez, A. Blanquer, G. Murillo, L. Barrios, E. Ibáñez, C. Nogués and J. Esteve, «Electrical stimulation of cells through photovoltaic microcell arrays, » Nano Energy, vol. 51, p. 571-578, 2018.
C. Vargas-Estevez, M. Duch, M. Duque, F. J. del Campo, L. Enriquez-Barreto, G. Murillo, N. Torras, J. A. Plaza, C. A. Saura, J. Esteve, «Suspended Silicon Micro-photodiodes for Electrochemical and Biological Applications,» Small, vol. 13, no 41, p. 1701920, 2017.
C. Vargas-Estevez, A. Blanquer, P. Dulal, R. P. del Real, M. Duch, E. Ibanez, L. Barrios, G. Murillo, N. Torras, M. Duch, C. Nogués, B. Stadler, J. A. Plaza y J. Esteve, «Study of Galfenol direct cytotoxicity and remote microactuation in cells,» Biomaterials, vol. 139, p. 67–74, 2017.
G. Murillo, A. Blanquer, C. Vargas‐Estevez, L. Barrios, E. Ibáñez, C. Nogués and J. Esteve, "Electromechanical Nanogenerator–Cell Interaction Modulates Cell Activity," Adv Mat, vol. 29, no 24, p. 1605048, 2017.
C. Vargas-Estevez, R. R. Robaina, R. P. del Real and J. A. Plaza, “Nanometric Metal-Film Thickness Measurement Based on a Planar Spiral Coils Stack,” IEEE Transactions on Nanotechnology, vol. 14, no 2, p. 297-303, 2015.

Brevetti

Vargas-Estevez, C., Murillo, G., Esteve, J. Self-generating voltage device for electrical cell stimulation, and method thereof Patent Number: EP3351291A1 – US20190359969A1 20th January 2017

Corsi

CONFERENCE ATTENDANCE

2025 ESB European Society of Biomaterials, Conference Poster(Non-attended) "Magnetoelectric Conductive Hydrogels for Cardiac Tissue Engineering" C. Vargas-Estevez, A. Viteri, S. Colombi, E. Engel, C. Aleman, J. García-Torres

2024 WBC World Biomaterials congress, Oral contribution "Multifuctional bioengineered Active 3D hydrogels" C. Vargas-Estevez,, MP. Ginebra, J García-Torres

2019 ICAM International Conference on Advance Materials, Poster contribution Development of microphotodiodes as harvester device for single cell stimulation. C. Vargas-Estevez, A. Blanquer, G. Murillo, M. Duque, C. Nogués, L. Barrios, E. Ibáñez, J. Esteve.

2018 MNE International Conference on Micro and Nanoengineering , Poster contribution – C. Vargas-Estevez, A. Blanquer, G. Murillo, M. Duque, C. Nogués, L. Barrios, E. Ibáñez, J. Esteve. Photovoltaic microcell array for electrical stimulation of excitable cells.

2017 MNE International Conference on Micro and Nanoengineering, Poster contribution "Fabrication of Galfenol microparticles for bioMEMS applications" – C. Vargas-Estevez, A. Blanquer, M. Duch, P. Dulal, G. Murillo, R. P. del Real, C. Nogués, B. Stadler, J. A. Plaza, J. Esteve.

2017 Nanotechnology and Next Generation High Efficiency Photovoltaics International School & Workshop, Oral contribution Suspended micro-photovoltaic electrochemical and cells for biological applications. – C. Vargas-Estevez, A. Blanquer, F. J. del Campo, M. Duch, G. Murillo, J. A. Plaza, C. Nogués, J. Esteve.

2017 European Conference on Biomaterials Oral contribution participation "Electric stimulation of cells growing on microphotodiodes" – A. Blanquer, C. Vargas-Estevez, E. Ibanez, M. Duque, C. Duro, L. Barrios,J. Esteve, C. Nogués.

2017 International Forum on Progress and Trends in Battery and Capacitor Technologies Poster contribution participation "Magnetostrictive Fe1-xGax films prepared by electro-deposition" – A. Serra, C. Vargas-Estevez, J. Esteve, E, Vallés.

2017 MEMS IEEE International Conference on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems Oral contribution participation "Development of piezoelectric nanostructures for cell stimulation" –G. Murillo, A. Blanquer, C. Vargas-Estevez, L. Barrios, E. Ibañez, C., Nogues, J. Esteve.

2016 Nano Bio&Med Poster contribution "Single neural stimulation by photodiodes in suspension" – Vargas Estevez C., Enríquez Barreto L., Duch, M., Del Campo, F. J., Murillo G., Torras N., Saura, C. A., Plaza Plaza J and Esteve J.

2016 NFFA-Europe Summer School Oral and poster contribution "Suspended Micro/nanogenerators for cell stimulation" – Vargas Estevez C., Murillo G., Torras N., Blanquer, A., Enríquez Barreto L., Dulal, P., Nogués, C., Ibañez, e., Barrios, L., Saura, C., Stadler, B., Plaza Plaza J and Esteve J.

2016 WMC World Biomaterials Congress Poster contribution "Smart materials for embryonic neural development" – Vargas Estevez C, Enríquez Barreto L, Murillo G, Torres N, Saura C, Plaza Plaza J and Esteve J.

2014 IberoAmerican Congress on Sensors, IBERSENSORS Poster contribution "Fabrication and characterization of silicon microdiodes for electrochemical cells" – Vargas Estevez C., Duch, M., Llobet, J.S., Del Campo, F. J., Plaza, Plaza J and Esteve J.