José J. Baldoví, awarded RSEQ 2025 Young Investigator Prize in the “Group Leader” category

José Jaime Baldoví Jachán (Xàtiva, 1986), distinguished researcher of the GenT Programme of Generalitat Valenciana and head of the 2D Smart Materials group at the Institute of Molecular Science (ICMol) of the University of Valencia (UV), has been awarded the 2025 Young Investigator Prize in the “Group Leader” category by the Spanish Royal Society of Chemistry (RSEQ). This award recognizes excellence in the creation and consolidation of emerging research groups in the field of chemistry by young Spanish scientists.

“I am deeply grateful to every member of my research group for their passion, dedication, and perseverance. This award is a recognition of the work we do every single day,” said Baldoví upon hearing the decision, which was officially approved by the RSEQ Governing Board at its General Assembly on Wednesday, April 30.

In addition to leading his research group at ICMol, José Jaime Baldoví is President of ACCENT, the Association of Scientists of Excellence of the GenT Programme, a full member of the Young Academy of Spain, and a member of the teaching and research staff of the Department of Physical Chemistry of the UV. He currently leads an ERC Starting Grant project and is a representative of Spain in the Management Committee of the COST Action SuperQumap.

He obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Valencia in 2009, followed by a Master’s and PhD at Professor Eugenio Coronado’s group at ICMol, earning extraordinary awards at every stage of his academic career. His PhD thesis was selected as the best chemistry thesis of his cohort. In 2017, he moved to the University of the Basque Country and later became a Marie Skłodowska-Curie postdoctoral fellow at the Max Planck Institute for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter in Hamburg, Germany. He returned to the Valencian Community in 2020 thanks to the GenT Programme, and since 2024 he has held the position of Distinguished Researcher of Excellence.

His research focuses on the development of theoretical and computational frameworks for the chemical design of molecular and 2D smart devices for information technologies. His work bridges physics, chemistry, and materials science to explore emerging applications in magnonics, spintronics, quantum computing, and sensing devices.

At present, he supervises a Marie Skłodowska-Curie postdoc, two additional postdoctoral researchers, five PhD students, and two undergraduate students, from five different nationalities. He has published over 80 articles in international journals, one book chapter, and three science outreach articles, and has delivered around 40 invited talks at international conferences and 18 seminars.

Among other honors, he received the 17th Scientific-Technical “City of Algemesí” Prize for Young Researchers (2022), the “La Costera” Prize from Rotary Club Xàtiva (2023), and the 9 d’Octubre Award from the City of Xàtiva (2024). He has visited 61 countries, speaks six languages fluently, and holds a Master’s in Science Communication, which has enabled him to actively engage in public outreach and science dissemination.

The award ceremony will take place during the RSEQ Young Chemical Researchers Symposium in November.