Meet the Flock
Doctors
JONATHAN QUINSON
About me
I am a French citizen, born in 1987, grew up in Africa (Ivory Coast 
and Cameroon 
) and France 
. In particular, I lived in Brittany (West) and in Lyon (South-ish) where I did my undergrad studies (BSc) at Lycee du Parc (2005-2007). I also lived in Paris, where I received a MSc from ESPCI ParisTech (2007-2010). I also hold a MRes in Green Chemistry from Imperial College London, UK 
(2010-2011) and a PhD in Materials science from the University of Oxford, UK (2011-2015). I then moved to Denmark 
, to the University of Copenhagen, where I worked first with Prof Matthias Arenz for my first postdoc (2015-2017) and then under a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship (2017-2019). I then successively worked Prof Maria Escudero-Escribano (2017-2020) and Prof Kirsten M. Ø. Jensen (2019-2021) in the center for high entropy alloys catalysis center CHEAC under the lead of Prof Jan Rossmeisl. I then secured a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Global Fellowship (2020-2023) and despite the challenges related to the Covid-19 pandemic, I joined for 6 months the group of Prof Matteo Cargnello at the University of Stanford, USA 
(2021-2022).
In May 2022, I started a Tenure Track Assistant Professor position at the Biological and Chemical Engineering Department at Aarhus University, Denmark. In September 2025, I join the Interdisciplinary Center for Chemistry and Biology (CICA), University of A Coruña, Spain 🇪🇸, as a Ramón y Cajal Fellow.
I am part of the 1st cohort of the Danish Young Academy of Technology, Science and Innovation (YATSI).
My role in the Team
I supervise the work, give directions and training, present our work outside the University, try to secure and manage funding.
Outside NEST
When time allows, I like to dance (Lindy-hop), hike/walk, swim, read and watch movies.
Contact
Email: jquinson @ bce.au.dk
Phone : + 45 50 28 89 74
Other pages: Linkedin; ORCID; Google Scholar; ResearchGate; Scopus
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Postdocs
ARMIN ASGHARI ALAMDARI
About me
I was born in Tabriz, Iran, in December 1994. My academic journey in Materials Science began with a BSc in Materials and Metallurgical Engineering from Sahand University of Technology (SUT) in 2017, where I focused on anticorrosion coatings. I continued my education with a Master’s degree in Materials Science from Amirkabir University of Technology (AUT), graduating in 2020. My research during this period centered on graphene-based materials for supercapacitors. Most recently, I completed my PhD in Materials Science and Engineering at Koç University, Turkey, in 2024. My doctoral research explored the electrocatalytic behavior of High-entropy Alloys (HEAs).
My role in the Team
I work on the ReZilient EIC Pathfinder EU project in the NEST group as well as the Electrochemical Energy Conversion and Batteries group led by Prof Anders Bentien.
I know secure a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship (MSCA) to work on High Entropy Alloys and new concepts for metal-air redox-flow batteries.
Outside NEST
I am a football fan, and I follow the different leagues and their results.
Pulibcations
Contact
Email: armin @ bce.au.dk
Other pages: Linkedin; ORCID; Google Scholar; ResearchGate; Scopus
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XIE XIANXIAN
About me
I am a postdoctoral MSCA-CZ fellow specializing in electrocatalysis, nanomaterials, and energy conversion technologies. I obtained my PhD from Charles University, Czech Republic in 2024, where my research focused on the development of advanced catalysts for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). My work combines materials synthesis, surface science, and electrochemistry, with a strong emphasis on understanding composition-activity-stability relationships in complex catalytic systems.
My current research targets sustainable energy applications, including CO2 reduction (CO₂RR), ethanol Oxidation Reaction (EOR), oxygen reduction (ORR), and fuel cell technologies. I also integrate theoretical modelling and emerging machine learning approaches to accelerate catalyst discovery and optimization.
My role in the Team
Within NEST, I contribute to the design and development of advanced nanostructured electrocatalysts, particularly high-entropy alloy nanoparticles for CO₂RR. My work focuses on bridging synthesis, advanced characterization, and electrochemical evaluation to establish structure-property relationships. I also apply data-driven approaches, including Bayesian optimization, to accelerate materials discovery.
Outside NEST
Outside of research, I enjoy spending time in nature, including hiking, canoeing, and mushroom picking etc.
Publications
Contact
Email:
Other pages: Linkedin; ORCID; Google Scholar; ResearchGate
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PhDs
ALEKSANDRA SMOLSKA
About me
I hold a bachelor’s degree in chemical and process engineering from Cracow University of Technology, Poland. I further pursued a dual-diploma master’s degree in chemical and process engineering from Fachhochschule Münster, Germany, and Cracow University of Technology, Poland.
My professional journey includes considerable experience in nanotechnology and chemical engineering. I have previously worked on developing nanostructures for printed electronics and conducted various R&D projects.
I am currently a PhD student in my second year at Aarhus University, Denmark, specializing in the synthesis, catalysis, and recycling of nanomaterials. The project will develop a new type of hybrid catalysts consisting of gold nanoparticles and bismuth oxyhalides. Various compounds will be produced and investigated with a focus on water purification.
My role in the Team
I work on a DFF-Green funded PhD project in the NEST group as well as the Hybrid Materials Laboratory with co-supervisor Prof Nina Lock.
Outside NEST
Outside of research, I enjoy board games, RPGs, video games and fantasy books.
Publications
Publication 1, Publication 2, Publication 3, Publication 4, Publication 5, Publication 6, Publication 7, Publication 8, Publication 9
Contact
Email: asmolska @ bce.au.dk
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JAVIER EIROA SOTO 
About me
I was born in A Coruña, Spain, in 2002. In 2024, I received my Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the University of A Coruña (UDC). My final bachelor’s project, supervised by Dr. Alejandro Criado and Dr. Jesús Mosquera, focused on the synthesis of antibody-bioconjugated graphene oxide derivatives for an early detection of cancer cells using Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy.
Afterwards, I went to the University of Oviedo in Spain to study a Master in Chemistry and Sustainable Development. For my master’s thesis I worked, under the supervision of Dr. Maria Elena Lastra Bengochea, on the combined synthesis of MOF and silver nanoparticles to create a nanomaterial that could fight against antimicrobial infections.
In April 2026, I started as a PhD candidate in the NEST group under the guidance of Dr. Jonathan Quinson focused on the surfactant free synthesis of nanoparticles and its applications.
My role in the Team
I work as a PhD student on the surfactant free synthesis of nanoparticles and their applications.
Outside NEST
I really like to do sports such as football and tennis or to watch films.
Publications
Coming soon.
Contact
Email: javier.eiroa @ udc.es
Other pages: : LinkedIn
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Masters - MSc
Kristian started in Fall 2025 in a joint project with Prof Anders Bentien.
Kristian will help Armin on developing multi-metallic nanomaterials.
Publications
Contact
Email: 202106336 @ post.au.dk
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Laura 🇪🇸 started in Spring 2026 in a joint project with Dr Alberto García‐Fernández.
Laura investigates how to use our surfactant-free nanoparticles with other materials such as perovskites.
Publications
Contact
Email: l.pmendez @ udc.es
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Gael 🇪🇸 started in Spring 2026.
Gael investigates how nanomaterials are forming trying to couple various techniques. In collaboration with the NanoSelf group.
Publications
Contact
Email: g.fperez @ udc.es
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Bachelors - BSc
No one at the moment but it could be you…
Alumni
MSc – Hilary Kouawa Fokam (Cameroon) – Spring/Summer 2025 – Visiting Student from ENSIACET, FR – LinkedIn – Publication 1 – Publication 2 – Publication 3
MSc – Mathilde Pihl Sørensen (DK) – 2024-2025 – LinkedIn – Publication 1 – in collaboration with Prof Nina Lock.
MSc – Industry – Ákos Sinkovics (HU) – LinkedIn – Academic Supervision – 2024-2025 – ASP / Hydrogen Pro
MSc – Industry – Gergő Kukucska (HU) – LinkedIn – Academic Supervision – 2024-2025 – ASP / Hydrogen Pro
MSc – Dionysis Panagopoulos (GR) – Spring 2024 – LinkedIn – ERASMSUS+ student from Uni. Ioannina (Greece) – Publication 1
MSc – Márton Varga (HU) – Spring 2024 – LinkedIn – Publication 1, Publication 2
MSc – Athenais Pascal Touraine (FR) – Spring 2023 – LinkedIn – Visiting Student from ESPCI, FR – Project with ASP / Hydrogen Pro
BSc – Julie Christine Hamer Larsen (DK) – Spring 2025 – LinkedIn – Publication 1 – Publication 2
BSc – Frederik Jæger (DK) – Spring 2025 – Publication 1 + Manuscript in preparation
BSc – Kristian Junker Andersen (DK) – Spring 2024 –Publication 1
BSc – Julie Agerbro Burslund (DK) – Spring 2024 – LinkedIn – Results to be published
BSc – Lukas Lind (DK) – Spring 2024 – Manuscript in preparation
BSc – Ditte Røjkjær Rasmussen (DK) – Spring 2023 – Linkedin – Publication 1 – Publication 2
BSc – Oliver Hedahl Danielsen (DK) – Spring 2023 – LinkeIn – in collaboration with the Power to Chemicals group