On April 29 and 30, 2025, the Master’s Degree in Engineering, Processing and Characterization of Materials (MUIPCM) is organizing the 1st Young Researchers Conference – New Fields, a space for meeting, reflection and scientific dissemination focused on the new challenges in the world of materials.
The event will be attended by young researchers from Spain, Argentina and Poland, whose lines of work represent the cutting edge in areas such as bioprinting, eco-design, artificial intelligence applied to biodegradable materials and sustainability in the medical environment.
This conference is part of the activities of the master’s degree and takes place within the framework of the project financed by the State Research Agency: “Recycling and Valorization of Plastic Materials. Incorporation of Industrial and Post-consumer By-products (RED2022-134806-T)”.
Guest Speakers
–Jesús Manuel Rodríguez Rego (University of Extremadura)
Professor of the Department of Graphic Expression at the University of Extremadura, specializing in Graphic Expression in Engineering. His research focuses on bioengineering and technical development, combining areas such as biomedicine (bioprinting), technology (Arduino and 3D printing) and energy. He is an Electronics and Automation Engineer, with a background in renewable energy, research and 3D printing. His career includes participation in European bioprinting projects, the development of utility models and patents, as well as master studies in renewable energies and supercapacitors. He is currently part of a multidisciplinary research group at UEX.
–Laura Mendoza Cerezo (University of Extremadura)
She is a biologist with a Master’s degree in Microbiology Applied to Industrial Biotechnology. Her academic and professional career includes research experience in the area of materials and biosciences, as well as collaborations with the INMA research group of the School of Industrial Engineering of Badajoz, where she has contributed to several publications in conferences. In addition to his training, he has complemented his studies with specialized courses in research and biotechnology. He is currently working on a bioprinting project at the University of Extremadura.
–Franciszek Józef Pawlak (Accenture Technology, Poland)
Franciszek Pawlak is an IT Technical Consultant (Accenture Technology), specializing in IT infrastructure, databases and security applications in enterprise environments. His background in materials science, with a focus on biodegradable plastics, has allowed him to apply technical knowledge in a functional area. In his thesis, he used machine learning for materials characterization, which reflects his ability to integrate technological innovations into his professional work. This research experience, combined with his specialization in cloud solutions and data science, allows him to bring a unique perspective to projects that require both technological solutions and materials understanding. His experience as a Technical Consultant has allowed him to work for leading global companies in the public and private industrial sectors.
–Wiktoria Barbara Karczewska (Antoni Jurasz University Hospital, Poland)
Wiktoria Barbara Karczewska is a physician at the Antoni Jurasz No. 1 University Hospital in Bydgoszcz, Poland, specializing in psychiatry. Throughout her career, she has gained experience in the use and disposal of single-use polymeric materials in medical applications, especially in the context of hospitalized patients. His work has allowed him to delve into aspects of medical contamination and how materials interact with the human body. In particular, prolonged hospitalization, common in psychiatric patients, increases contact with these materials, making it essential to consider both their safety and environmental impact. From her practical experience, Karczewska highlights the importance of optimizing materials used in the hospital setting, suggesting that 3D printing could be a solution to reduce medical waste and improve the quality of contact of materials with the human body.
–Yamila Victoria Vazquez (Universidad Nacional del Sur, Argentina)
Associate Researcher at PLAPIQUI (Chemical Engineering Pilot Plant) and Associate Professor at the Department of Chemical Engineering of the Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS). Her work focuses on the development of sustainable technologies for plastic waste management, aligned with circular economy principles and with real-world application. Through a co-development approach, he collaborates with various actors in the plastic value chain, including producers, users, recyclers and the government sector. Its research encompasses the valorization of recycled materials and the eco-design of plastic products, ensuring their applicability in the socio-economic environment. It also has experience in the processing and recycling of plastics, as well as in their characterization by advanced techniques, including FTIR, DSC, TGA, mechanical testing and microscopy.