Rafael Valiente received the B.Sc. degree in physics from the University of Cantabria, in 1991, and the Ph.D. degree in physics, in 1998, where he is currently an Associate Professor of physics with the Applied Physics Department. He has contributed to more than 120 reviewed journal articles and more than 40 international conferences. His main research interests include the design, synthesis, and characterization of materials and nanomaterials.