Gemma Ibarz Ric
A short interview with
Gemma Ibarz Ric
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Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Potsdam (Germany) and M.Sc. in Innovation Management from the University of Zaragoza. After completing her doctoral thesis at the Max Planck Institute on the characterisation of polymeric micro- and nanocapsules, she joined the University of Santiago de Compostela as a postdoctoral researcher, working on targeted and controlled-release nanosystems for tumour therapy. She later continued her scientific career at the Aragon Institute of Materials Science, focusing on new strategies for the design and functionalisation of nanomaterials for biomedical applications.
Since joining the Aragon Institute of Technology in 2011, she has worked as a senior researcher in R&D activities to improve the performance of polymeric materials, including enhanced flame retardancy, moisture resistance, antifungal behaviour, self-healing capabilities and recyclable composites enabled by controlled debonding of adhesives and resins. She has coordinated a European research project in this field and actively contributed to others funded by both public and private organisations.
She is co-inventor of three patents licensed to industry, co-author of several scientific publications, and a frequent speaker at national and international conferences. Since 2018, she has also served as an expert for the European Commission, participating in evaluation panels for advanced materials proposals.
Her current research focuses on sustainable polymeric materials, extending their life cycle while integrating advanced functionalities. Since July 2025, she has been the coordinator of the Materials and Components Group at ITA, managing a team of 59 professionals.
Can you tell us about your professional journey and how you got started in this field?
I first had the opportunity to go to Germany with an Erasmus scholarship during the final year of my Chemistry degree, where I spent an academic year in the city of Paderborn. From there, I obtained a six-month internship in the R&D department at Henkel in Düsseldorf, which gave me my first experience in applied research, working on the formulation of detergents for laundry and dishwashing products. During that time, my supervisors told me about a collaboration they had with the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces near Berlin, where they were looking for new PhD candidates. I applied, was invited for an interview, and began my doctoral thesis.
I spent almost four years researching the permeability of polymeric micro- and nanocapsules, and in the final phase of my PhD I also worked on the delivery of magnetic nanoparticles for hyperthermia therapy. After completing my doctorate, I was offered a position at the University of Santiago de Compostela to investigate nanocapsule drug delivery systems for tumour therapy, where I worked for nearly two years.
I was then awarded a Juan de la Cierva fellowship, which allowed me to join the Aragon Institute of Materials Science, working on the functionalisation of magnetic nanoparticles for biomedical applications. After a few years, my career shifted more towards applied research, and I joined ITAINNOVA to work more closely with industry on polymer nanocomposites. Today, my role has evolved from hands-on experimentation to a greater focus on management — yet always keeping my passion for materials at the core of what I do
Have you ever doubted your abilities and why?
Of course. As a woman in a male-dominated field, there have been many moments when I have doubted my own abilities. Fortunately, thanks to my Aragonese genes — we are said to be quite stubborn — I didn’t let those doubts convince me to stop, and I kept learning and taking on new challenges. Like many women, I also struggled with impostor syndrome for quite some time, but through continuous learning and experience, I’ve gradually built confidence in myself. Looking back, I wish I had been more assertive when I was younger; in my desire to avoid conflict or upsetting others, I sometimes made choices that weren’t the best for my career.
Did you ever have the impression gender was an important factor on a raise, promotion, or key assignment?
Definitely yes — and it is not a matter of capability, but of visibility. If women do not make ourselves visible and claim our space, unconscious bias will always persist. We become invisible: we hesitate to apply for positions because we fear being seen as “too ambitious”; we often step back from our careers when motherhood arrives because we are forced to choose — something that men usually don’t have to face, although fortunately this is changing.
Many women of my generation were raised with self-imposed limitations that we weren’t even aware of, and this transcends culture or nationality — I’ve seen it everywhere. The good news is that we are progressively taking on more leadership roles, and through that visibility we are becoming strong role models for younger women who can see a path forward and feel supported in pursuing it.
During your career, have you ever been mentored?
Unfortunately not.
If you could give some advice to your younger self or other girls, what would that be?
Don’t hide.
Don’t ask for permission to take up the space you’ve already earned. Your voice is not an accessory — it’s a powerful tool. Use it before fear silences it.
Ambition is not a weakness.
Don’t downplay your goals to make others comfortable. “Wanting more” is the fuel of those who change the world.
Ask for what you deserve.
A “no” will never define your worth, but a “yes” can change your path. Don’t wait for someone to acknowledge your potential . show it!
Surround yourself with allies.
Networks aren’t unfair shortcuts; they are communities that grow together. Seek out role models, mentors, and people who lift you up.
When you doubt yourself — and you will — remember everything you’ve already achieved.
Confidence doesn’t come before you jump; it comes because you dared to move.
And above all:
Be brave with your story. Be generous with your achievements. Be the first to believe in yourself… because others are watching you to know if they can, too.
