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Meet our Bernalite Nataly Rey Munoz, a PhD Researcher in electrochemistry. Nataly’s area of research is in liquid-to-liquid interfaces, which is an innovative course in electrochemistry. Nataly uses electrochemistry to synthesise films of materials called, conducting polymers.

In Nataly’s spare time, she enjoys anything involving movement with the body. Her creative skills expand all the way from dancing specifically salsa, to drawing, painting, reading, and climbing. Her creative expression helps her feel more connected with her body, and helps to tap into her curiosity and vocation within the science realm. Nataly completed a Bachelors in chemistry in the National University of Colombia. Her curiosity in understanding “why the colours are formed in the things that we see” continued to grow and blossom. With that motivation, Nataly applied for a position in UL “I applied for the position, and it was nice because you know when you see a profile that fit’s every skill you have,” working with her current supervisor Micheál Scanlon, Professor in the Department of Chemical Sciences and Principal Investigator at Bernal Institute.

“This field of electrochemistry at liquid liquid interfaces was super new for me. When I started learning about that, conducting polymers, and seeing all the potential that it had, I just fell in love with it. I think it's impossible not to fall in love with something that sounds like magic.” Nataly and her team are developing an innovative methodology to synthesise thin films of materials that are very useful for the technology applications that we use all the time. Applications, including electronic applications, for example, flexible electronic devices mainly. The material that she works with is for solar cells. So, it allows Nataly and her team to fabricate flexible solar cells. When asked if she experienced any memorable discoveries, she explained how the whole PhD is an interesting journey as you never know what is going to happen. She referenced her PhD to one of her many loves in life, climbing. “Normally when you climb, it’s like you go, and you see that the goal is very high, but you don't see the way and most of the time you can’t see the way. You just see whatever is in front of you and you just look for the little answers that are hitting everywhere, so you just go slowly and then you rest a little bit and sometimes it's problematic, but you keep going. The whole PhD has been like that for me, because this is a very new methodology.”

When asked about Nataly’s experience in Bernal Institute to date she said: “Bernal is a really, complete Institute and it’s great to work here because the whole institute is working in many different areas within the same building. Like sometimes in other Universities or Institutes, the groups work very apart, but here it feels like a real institute and that's something I really value from here. I've been here five years and I see the change. It's growing and it's building up and the people who are here are involved in the growing and continued change to the Bernal. I find that is not like an established rigid environment, but it's something very dynamic, and it's always growing. The community I find here makes you feel at home because you are always interacting with like-minded people and that makes the workspace here really nice.”

If Nataly’s life could be a theme song, that week she said: ‘Bicycle Race, from Queen.’

Why? “I think life is a journey with many questions and uncertainties, but I feel that I always try to enjoy that journey, you know and to keep moving, just keep moving.”

Well said Nataly Rey! Best of luck in all your work, we are proud to call you a , from .