Curriculum vitae

Education

Ph.D. in Physical Organic Chemistry at Facultad de Ciencias Químicas from Universidad de Salamanca (Spain). 2012
Title: “Kinetic study of the alkylation of nucleosides and 4-(p-nitrobenzyl)pyridine (NBP) by alpha,beta-unsaturated compounds” (Summa cum laude)
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Julio Casado
Doctoral research stay at the Biophysical Organic Chemistry Department from Universiteit Leiden (The Netherlands). 2011
Supervisors: Prof. Jörg Matysik and Prof. Huub de Groot
M.Sc. in Chemistry at Facultad de Ciencias Químicas from Universidad de Salamanca (Spain). 2009 (Diploma de estudios avanzados)
Title: “Kinetic study of the alkylation of 4-(p-nitrobenzyl)pyridine (NBP) by acrylamide” (Summa cum laude)
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Julio Casado
B.S. in Chemistry at the School of Chemistry from Universidad de Costa Rica (Costa Rica). 2007

Academic positions

Associate Professor at Tecnológico de Costa Rica (TEC, Costa Rica). 2023-present
Assistant Professor at TEC (Costa Rica). 2021-2023
Lecturer at TEC (Costa Rica). 2016-2021
Invited Professor at Universidad de Costa Rica (Costa Rica). 2017-2020
Postdoctoral researcher at the Institut für Analytische Chemie from Universität Leipzig (Germany). 2013-2015
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Jörg Matysik
Postdoctoral researcher at the Biophysical Organic Chemistry Department from Universiteit Leiden (The Netherlands). 2012-2013
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Jörg Matysik

Published articles (peer-reviewed)

  1. Céspedes-Camacho, I. F. Costa Rica Chemistry Congress: “Chemistry: a solution to global changes”. Pure Appl. Chem. 2025
  2. Peña-Romero, I.; Céspedes-Camacho, I. F.; Ramírez-Gualito, K.; Salas-Arias, K.; Villalta-Romero, F. Comparative NMR-based profiling of polyphenols in Fragaria x ananassa cv. Marisol and Festival strawberry leaves. Pure Appl. Chem. 2025
  3. Alpízar-Rojas, T.; Barboza-Carmona, J. D.; Butenschön, E.; Musabirova, G.; Castellón, E.; Matysik, J.; Céspedes-Camacho, I. F. The Synthesis and Spectroscopic Characterization of Structural Changes in Hydrophobic Silica Aerogels upon Encapsulation of the LCC ICCG Enzyme. Gels 2025, 11(2), 92.
  4. Borloz-Chinchilla, A.; Céspedes-Camacho, I. F. Resonancia Magnética Nuclear en Costa Rica: una perspectiva histórica. Tecnol. Marcha 2024, 37(3), 48-76.
  5. Céspedes-Camacho, I. F.; Matysik, J. Solid-state NMR and hyperpolarization methods for the Research, Development, and Innovation in Costa Rican science. Biophys. Rev. 2022, 14, 549-551.
  6. Barboza-Carmona, J. D.; Wenzel, M.; Eckert, L.; Enke, D.; Matysik, J.; Céspedes-Camacho, I. F. A spectroscopic insight of the porous structure of hydrophobic silica aerogels by hyperpolarized 129Xe NMR. J. Sol-Gel Sci. Technol. 2022, 101, 176-184.
  7. Gräsing, D.; Bielytskyi, P.; Céspedes-Camacho, I. F.; Marquardsen, T.; Engelke, F.; Matysik, J. Field-cycling NMR with high-resolution detection under magic-angle spinning: determination of field window for nuclear hyperpolarization in a photosynthetic reaction center. Sci. Rep. 2017, 7, 12111.
  8. Barillas, L.; Asenjo, J.; Alfaro-Mayorga, E.; Petretti, S. J.; Méndez, D.; Porras-Navarro, I.; Rojas-Chávez, M.; Vargas, V. I.; Céspedes-Camacho, I. F. Plasma medicine research in Costa Rica: Overview of first steps. Plasma Med. J. 2017, 7, 245-260.
  9. Puente-Urbina, A.; Hollenbach, J.; Céspedes-Camacho, I. F.; Matysik, J.; Valle-Bourrouet, G. Effect of pretreatment temperature on the surface modification of diatomite with trimethylchlorosilane. J. Porous Mat. 2016, 23, 1439-1449.
  10. González-Jiménez, M.; Arenas-Valgañon, J.; Céspedes-Camacho, I. F.; García-Prieto, J.; Calle, E.; Casado, J. Detection of nitrite in water using a hair lotion as a reagent. J. Chem. Educ. 2013, 90, 1053-1056.
  11. Céspedes-Camacho, I. F.; Manso, J. A.; Calle, E.; Casado, J. Kinetic determination of the alkylating potential of vinyl compounds. Chem. Listy 2012, 106, s831.
  12. Céspedes-Camacho, I. F.; Manso, J. A.; González-Jiménez, M.; Calle, E.; Casado, J. The reactivity of vinyl compounds as alkylating agents. Monatsh. Chem. 2012, 143, 723-727.
  13. Gómez-Bombarelli, R.; González-Pérez, M.; Arenas-Valgañón, J.; Céspedes-Camacho, I. F.; Calle, E.; Casado, J. DNA-damaging disinfection by-products: alkylation mechanism of mutagenic mucohalic acids. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2011, 45, 9009-9016.
  14. González-Pérez, M.; Gómez-Bombarelli, R.; Pérez-Prior, M. T.; Manso, J. A.; Céspedes-Camacho, I. F.; Calle, E.; Casado, J. Reactivity of p–nitrostyrene oxide as an alkylating agent. A kinetic approach to biomimetic conditions. Org. Biomol. Chem. 2011, 9, 7016-7022.
  15. Céspedes-Camacho, I. F.; Manso, J. A.; Calle, E.; Casado, J. Alkylating potential of a,b-unsaturated compounds. Org. Biomol. Chem. 2011, 9, 6226-6233.
  16. Céspedes-Camacho, I. F.; Manso, J. A.; Pérez-Prior, M. T.; Gómez-Bombarelli, R.; González-Pérez, M.; Calle, E.; Casado, J. Reactivity of acrylamide as an alkylating agent: a kinetic approach. J. Phys. Org. Chem. 2010, 23, 171-175.
  17. Manso, J. A.; Pérez-Prior, M. T.; Gómez-Bombarelli, R.; González-Pérez, M.; Céspedes-Camacho, I. F.; Calle, E.; Casado, J. Alkylating potential of N–phenyl–N–nitrosourea. J. Phys. Org. Chem. 2009, 22, 386-389.
  18. Pérez-Prior, M. T.; Manso, J. A.; Gómez-Bombarelli, R.; González-Pérez, M.; Céspedes-Camacho, I. F.; García-Santos, M. P.; Calle, E.; Casado, J. Solvent effects in the decomposition reaction of some products formed by the reaction of sorbic acid with sodium nitrite: 1,4–dinitro–2–methylpyrrole and ethylnitrolic acid. J. Phys. Org. Chem. 2009, 22, 418-424.
  19. Arias-Carrillo, M.; Céspedes-Camacho, I.; Fatjó-Rojas, D. La cinética de esterificación de ácidos carboxílicos es de segundo orden con respecto al alcohol. Ciencia y Tecnología. 2006, 24 (2), 169-174.

Book Chapters

  1. Céspedes-Camacho, I. F.; Matysik, J. Spin in photosynthetic electron transport. In: The biophysics of photosynthesis, Golbeck, J. H.; van der Est, A, Eds.; Springer: New York, 2014; pp 141-170.
  2. Céspedes-Camacho, I. F.; Manso, J. A.; Calle, E.; Casado, J. Kinetic study of the alkylating potential of vinyl compounds. In: Physical chemistry today, physical chemistry tomorrow; Lodeiro, C., Ed.; Servizo de Publicacións: Universidade de Vigo, 2012; pp 32-35.

Invited presentations

  1. Hyperpolarization phenomena. 11th Experimental Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Meeting, Xalapa, Mexico. August 28th and 29th, 2025.
  2. LATAM+C Faculty Advisors Meeting. From Antigua to Bogotá: what we have done so far. Latin America Global Leadership Summit, Bogotá, Colombia. November 7th to November 9th, 2024.
  3. A short history of nearly everything…on hyperpolarization. VII NMR School. Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, Mexico. July 15th to July 19th, 2024.
  4. Fenómenos de hiperpolarización en Resonancia Magnética Nuclear. Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Lima, Perú. December 7th, 2023.
  5. Introducción a los fenómenos de hiperpolarización en los experimentos de RMN de sólidos. VI NMR School. Universidad de Chihuahua, Chihuahua, México. July 18th to July 21st, 2023.
  6. Solid-state NMR: basics and applications of hyperpolarization methods. University of West Indies, Jamaica. Department of Chemistry, Seminar series. February 2nd, 2023.
  7. Resonancia Magnética Nuclear: la fuerza de los espines en la obtención de energía. IEEE Power and Energy Society. Student Branch at TEC. April 28th, 2021
  8. The solid-state photo-CIDNP effect: new insights toward a renewable energy. Costa Rica Biophysics Symposium: Second Edition (virtual). March 12th, 2021
  9. Hyperpolarization methods: how to build a relation within photosynthesis and material science. University of Central Florida, USA. Department of Chemistry, Seminar series. March 5th, 2021.
  10. Resonancia Magnética Nuclear y sus posibles implicaciones con la investigación, el desarrollo y la innovación (I+D+i) en Costa Rica. Costa Rica National Academy of Sciences: San José, Costa Rica. November 2018.
  11. The chemical importance of the hyperpolarization methods: the photo-CIDNP MAS NMR effect. XXXVI Reunión Bienal de la RSEQ: Sitges, Spain. 2017.
  12. Resonancia Magnética Nuclear en estado sólido: principios, generalidades y aplicaciones. Short course during the 3rd Scientifc Workshop from the MADIMED network. Universidad de la Habana: La Habana, Cuba. 2016.
  13. ¿Qué son los fenómenos de hiperpolarización? Una mirada a la química de espines y su papel en la fotosíntesis. Costa Rica National Academy of Sciences: San José, Costa Rica. 2016.
  14. Programas de intercambio para la internacionalización y la interdisciplinariedad de la ciencia y la ingeniería: opciones y perspectivas. Costa Rica Academy of Sciences: San José, Costa Rica. 2016.
  15. The solid-state photo-CIDNP effect and its applicability in chemistry. VI EuCheMS Chemistry Congress: Sevilla, Spain. 2016.
  16. The analytical application of the photo-CIDNP MAS NMR effect. V EuCheMS Chemistry Congress: Istanbul, Turkey. 2014.
  17. Biophysical organic chemistry and physical organic chemistry: applications in our own research. Primer Foro Científico Internacional en Ciencias de la Salud: Juliaca, Peru. 2013.
  18. Aplicaciones prácticas de la cinética química y la termodinámica en toxicología y estudios epidemiológicos. Primer Foro Científico Internacional en Ciencias de la Salud: Juliaca, Peru. 2013.
  19. Kinetic determination of the alkylating potential of vinyl compounds. IV EuCheMS Chemistry Congress: Prague, Czech Republic. 2012.

Contributed Presentations (presenting author underline)

  • ACS LATAM Student Chapter Advisors Meeting: Strengthening support for Faculty Advisors and students. ACS Spring 2025: San Diego, USA. 2025. (Isaac F. Céspedes-Camacho, Santiago Sandí-Ureña, Carol Guzmán-Quillo, Gabriel Monzón)
  • III ACS Chemistry Festival in Costa Rica: logistic and impact. ACS Spring 2025: San Diego, USA. 2025. (Fabián Díaz-Sánchez, Cristina Baltodano-Rodas, Isaac F. Céspedes-Camacho)
  • NMR hyperpolarization techniques and its application in Costa Rica science. II Congreso Costarricense de Química (CR24): Heredia, Costa Rica. 2024.
  • Inclusive remote international poster sessions (iRIPS): an approach for student inclusion and diversity at ACS meetings. ACS Spring 2024: New Orleans, USA. 2024. (Isaac F. Céspedes-Camacho, Santiago Sandí-Ureña, Carol Guzmán-Quillo, Gabriel Monzón)
  • Nuclear magnetic resonance in Costa Rica: a historical perspective. ACS Spring 2024: New Orleans, USA. 2024. (Andrés Borloz-Chinchilla, Isaac F. Céspedes-Camacho)
  • Influence of functionalization agents on hydrophobic silica aerogel structural properties. ACS Spring 2024: New Orleans, USA. 2024. (Tatiana Alpízar-Rojas, Juan Diego Barboza-Carmona, Isaac F. Céspedes-Camacho)
  • Applied Physics as a bridge between Physics and Chemistry in the field of NMR: Costa Rica’s perspective. ACS Fall 2023: San Francisco, USA. 2023. (Diego Wüst-Calvo, Andrés Borloz-Chinchilla, Brandon Ortega-Cordero, Isaac F. Céspedes-Camacho)
  • Resonancia Magnética Nuclear de estado sólido en Costa Rica: avances y perspectivas. Congreso de Química 2022: San José, Costa Rica. 2022. (Isaac F. Céspedes-Camacho, Andrés Borloz-Chinchilla)
  • The first ACS Chemistry Festival in Costa Rica: a general overview. SERMACS 2022. South Eastern Regional Meeting from the American Chemical Society: San Juan, Puerto Rico. 2022.
  • Accomplishments and lessons learned by the ACS International Student Chapter at TEC during the COVID-19 pandemic. ACS Spring 2022: San Diego, USA. 2022. (Jeroen van Hoof, Kate Willis-Ureña, Martín Agüero-Venegas, Isaac F. Céspedes-Camacho)
  • Pura Vida, Festival Químico: the first Chemistry Festival in Costa Rica. ACS Spring National 2022: San Diego, USA. 2022. (Valery Rivera-Fernández, Daniel Montero-Murillo, Susan Chamorro-Rodríguez, Isaac F. Céspedes-Camacho)
  • The role of spin chemistry in photosynthesis: an approach for electron transport. Pacifichem 2021: International Chemical Conference of Pacific Basin Societies. Virtual Congress. 2021.
  • Synthesis and characterization of hydrophobic silica aerogel using SEM, TEM and FTIR. LatinXChem. Virtual Congress. 2020. (Juan Diego Barboza-Carmona, Isaac F. Céspedes-Camacho)
  • Preliminary kinetic study of NBP alkylation by the herbicide glyphosate. LatinXChem. Virtual Congress. 2020. (Luis Gómez-Vargas, Isaac F. Céspedes-Camacho)
  • Field-cycling photo-CIDNP MAS NMR: design of a shuttle system. Euromar 2015: Prague, Czech Republic. 2015. (Isaac F. Céspedes-Camacho, Jörg Matysik)
  • Use of hyperpolarized 129Xe NMR spectroscopy for the analysis of modified diatomite. Euromar 2014 & COST Annual Meeting: Zürich, Switzerland. 2014. (Julia Hollenbach, Allen Puente-Urbina, Isaac F. Céspedes-Camacho, Ben Anger)
  • The influence of high pH in the solid-state photo-CIDNP effect observed in the phototropin LOV1-C57S. 13th International Symposium on Spin and Magnetic Field Effects in Chemistry and Related Phenomena: Bad Hofgastein, Austria. 2013. (Isaac F. Céspedes-Camacho, A. Alia, Jörg Matysik)
  • Towards solid-state photo-CIDNP experiment in the Earth’s magnetic field. GDCh FGMR 34th Annual Discussion Meeting: Halle, Germany. 2012. (Joeri Verasdonck, Isaac F. Céspedes-Camacho, Jörg Matysik)
  • Estudio cinético del potencial alquilante de compuestos vinílicos. III Encuentro Gallego de Cinética y Catálisis: Laias, Spain. 2012. (Isaac F. Céspedes-Camacho, José A. Manso, Emilio Calle, Julio Casado)
  • Alkylation and DNA: a kinetic study of alkylation mechanism. I Xornadas a Química e as Novas Xeracións: Ourense, Spain. 2011.
  • Formation of guanosine–acrylonitrile adducts: a kinetic perspective. III EuCheMS: Nürnberg, Germany. 2010. (Isaac F. Céspedes-Camacho, José A. Manso, Emilio Calle, Julio Casado)
  • Alkylating capacity of acrylamide and its inhibition by the medium. XXXII Reunión Bienal de la Real Sociedad Española de Química: Oviedo, Spain. 2009.
  • Reactivity of acrylamide as an alkylating agent. XXIII International Congress of Thermodynamics of Metal Complexes (SIMEC–08): Baeza, Spain. 2008.

Presentations on mass media

  • Impresiones de los organizadores del II Congreso Costarricense de Química 2024. Programa Onda UNED. Canal UNED. July 24th, 2024. (Personal participation from minute 9:30)
  • Adquisición de equipo de Resonancia Magnética Nuclear de campo bajo. Entrevista y comentario en programa Panorama. Cámara Nacional de Radio. February 15th, 2023.
  • Baterías de iones de litio e impresiones sobre el Congreso de Química 2022. Programa Onda UNED. Canal UNED. December 1st, 2022. (Start watching from minute 20:00)
  • Visualizando la interdisciplinariedad: globalizando la ciencia. Programa Divulga ADN. Canal UCR. December 11th, 2020

Professional Affiliations

  • American Chemical Society (ACS). 2010-present (Division of Chemical Education)
  • International Society on Magnetic Resonance (ISMAR). 2023-present
  • Colegio de Químicos de Costa Rica (CQCR). 2016-present
  • TICOTAL network. 2014-present (Outstanding talent & Back at home)