Juan Lión Villar, Former Staff Associate, Department of Chemistry
Which program/department were you in?
I was in the Department of Chemistry, in the Nuckolls group.
What is your primary area of study or research?
Organic lithium-ion batteries.
Which country (or countries) do you come from?
Spain.
How long were you in the US? What are you doing now after completing your time at Columbia?
I spent three months at the Columbia Chemistry Department developing new organic materials that can work as anodes in lithium-ion batteries. After finishing my work, I decided to organize a trip around the US to explore the West Coast, mainly.
What do you like best about living in the US?
Being part of this dynamic scientific community, surrounded by such a stimulating working environment, has been truly exciting. I feel deeply grateful for having the opportunity to learn about a field that differs from my expertise and being able to connect that knowledge to push my research ahead symbiotically. Beyond the lab, living in New York City is an enriching experience that will shape my character going forward. This city is really one of a kind!
What was the hardest thing about living here?
Probably not having my family around. NYC is a huge and dynamic city where you always have new things to explore, but it can also make you feel kind of lonely. Fortunately, my workmates were great hosts and I was able to build friendships with a lot of people from the Columbia community. This definitely made my stay a great experience.
What do you know now that you didn’t know before?
I enjoyed experiencing the NYC lifestyle for the first time. For instance, the food scene is completely different from Spain's - the offer is so wide sometimes it is hard to choose! I also found Americans are usually very straightforward when it comes to work issues. I was surprised but also glad because this fits very well with my character.
Is there anything you’d like to share about your research or projects?
Energy is one of the biggest problems that humanity is currently facing. Renewable sources of energy are definitely part of the solution, but these technologies are usually able to produce a continuous flow of energy, while the demand increases or decreases depending on the time of the day or the season of the year, for instance. This is where energy storage - batteries and supercapacitors - must play a decisive role. My research is focused on developing new carbon-based nanomaterials that can take energy storage technology to the next level and help manage energy more efficiently and sustainably.
What do you like to do (hobbies, etc.)?
Besides Science, which is both my profession and my passion, I have always been fascinated by History and Economics. My greatest hobby is traveling and learning about different cultures worldwide – I have been fortunate enough to visit 25 countries so far. I also consider myself a sportsman: I have played soccer since I was six and recently completed my first half-marathon in Madrid.
Connect with Juan Lión Villar on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).
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