Resume

Dr. Cueto has been involved in the organic chemistry and applied material science fields over <12 years. His research career started at the URJC where he was appointed as a PDI (2008), during this period, the team developed new materials displaying fair electron mobilities which made them suitable substrates for OFETs application. In this period, the candidate also mentored and lectured 1st and 2nd year graduate students, and Co-tutored one undergraduate thesis project; furthermore, he successfully completed his Master thesis (DEA). Due to the economic crisis the project could not be extended. In 2011 Dr. Cueto was enrolled in the Marie Curie ITN Fellowship program (FP7-PEOPLE) as he was selected among dozens of candidates to a start a PhD project in the "TOPBIO" consortium. There, under the supervision of Dr. Blanchard-Desce, Dr. Cueto initially worked developing i) a new class of "ultra-bright" biocompatible and eco-friendly organic nanoparticles as an alternative to quantum dots (QDs), mimicking the confinement effect of QDs by using fluorophores grafted to eco-friendly phosphorus-dendritic scaffolds and ii) molecular frameworks for the delivery of bioactive molecules (drug-delivery), by means of FRET. This work led to the publication of 4 peer-viewed articles in Q1 journals. This priceless experience at the Marie Curie consortium also gave him the opportunity to work both at the Oxford chemistry department and at the Bologna University, furthermore he successfully co-mentored his first Master student resulting in the publication of his first scientific article. During this period, he also had the opportunity to disseminate his work in across Europe and overseas. The extensive array of compounds investigated during the course of his PhD resulted in obtaining the so-called "Idex" (Initiatives d’excellence) grant, as a postdoctoral fellowship in a project led by Dr. Laurent Cognet. Here, as a member of the "Extrabrain" network, he got good command in antibody bioconjugation techniques While his earlier experience encompassed analytical techniques such as NMR, HPLC, Schlenk line synthesis, and one-photon and two-photon spectroscopies, this phase of his career provided specialized training at the juncture of organic and biological sciences, focusing on antibody cross-linking and DOSY, NMR experiments. The project’s primary objective was to pioneer cutting-edge imaging tools that could venture into one of the brain’s last uncharted regions- the extracellular space or "terra incognita" of the brain. Pursuing promising lines of investigation, he was appointed in 2016 (CNRS, Montpellier) as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Montpellier. There, he worked, in a project focused in producing non-viral vectors in combination with the 2P absorption process. With the aim of selectively target ARMS tumour tissue, Dr. Cueto synthesized porous silicon nanoparticles (pSiNP) grafted with conotoxins and, porphyrins moieties. The first targets overexpressed acetylcholine receptors (consequence of this cancer) and the second, incorporated as a singlet oxygen generator, produces apoptosis in the tumorous cell. After 6.5 years abroad, the candidate had the opportunity to return back to Spain in 2018 as a member of the antiparasitic group, led by Dr. Dardonville. Despite his lack of experience with parasite inhibitors, Dr. Cueto’s knowledge in photonics was very welcome, becoming the leading player in the design of a scientific project. Indeed, he suggested the integration of molecular rotors in the pharmacophore as a method for tracking the parasite’s death (release of glycerol). His valuable contribution resulted in the publication of, several articles, one review and a licensed patent (Chemical Iberica). Finally, his most recent and current research experience has been carried out in the Center for Astrobiology thanks to a (junior) Talent Attraction research contract. He is currently leading two complementary research lines; 1) the design of new porous materials at the nanoscale level that are highly sensitive to the presence of gaseous CO2. The nano-spherical shape of the active material allows for an increase in specific surface area, thereby improving detection efficiency and capture as well, and 2) designing and developing reaction systems (mineral/surfaces interactions) that could replicate prebiotic reactions which lead to complex biomolecules that might have been involved in the origin of life, characterization and identification of these relevant biomolecules in order to develop stablished protocols for the handle and the analysis of the samples related to the Mars Sample Return (MSR) program, coordinated by NASA and ESA. During this period, Dr. Cueto has published 5 articles (Q1), being the corresponding author of three of them. His pivotal role in the design, synthesis and characterization of the porous materials allowed the creation of a new research line in the department, which is expected to be maintained in the near future.