Personal profile
Artistic and research interests
I received my PhD in 2016 from the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid (Spain) under the supervision of Prof. T. Torres, focusing on the synthesis of water-soluble optoelectronic materials, such as phthalocyanines, fullerenes and carbon nanotubes.
After a short postdoctoral position at the University of Birmingham (UK), I joined Aalto University (Finland) as MSCA fellow, focusing on the synthesis and conjugation of optoelectronic materials and biological scaffolds, such as proteins, DNA origami and cellulose derivatives.
I currently hold an Academy of Finland Research Fellowship (2021-2026) to develop further research in the optically active biohybrids field.
Education/Academic qualification
Doctoral degree, Natural Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
Award Date: 20 Jun 2016
Master's degree, Natural Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
Award Date: 31 Dec 2013
Bachelor's degree, Natural Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
Award Date: 31 Dec 2010
External positions
Research Fellow, University of Birmingham
1 Sept 2016 → 19 Jan 2018
PhD Student, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
1 Sept 2013 → 6 May 2016
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
-
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation -
SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy -
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
Fingerprint
- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
-
Harnessing DNA Binding Proteins from Starved Cells for DNA Origami Protection
Saarinen, S., Sanz-Velasco, A., Indyka, P., Rawski, M., Biela, A., Anaya-Plaza, E. & Kostiainen, M. A., Jan 2026, In: Small Structures. 7, 1, 12 p., e202500626.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus)1 Downloads (Pure) -
Elucidating the Supramolecular Interaction of Positively Supercharged Fluorescent Protein with Anionic Phthalocyanines
Saarinen, S., Khan, R., Patrian, M., Fuenzalida-Werner, J. P., Costa, R. D., Zimcik, P., Novakova, V., Ruoko, T. P., Tkachenko, N. V., Anaya-Plaza, E. & Kostiainen, M. A., May 2025, In: Advanced Biology. 9, 5, 10 p., 2400308.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Web of Science)12 Downloads (Pure) -
Fusing fluorescent proteins and ferritin for protein cage based lighting devices
Sanz-Velasco, A., Patrian, M., Nieddu, M., Shen, B., Fuenzalida Werner, J. P., Kostiainen, M. A., Costa, R. D. & Anaya-Plaza, E., 26 Mar 2025, In: Nanoscale. 17, 17, p. 10793-10800Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus)17 Downloads (Pure) -
Quaternized phthalocyanines as a tool against melanoma and a broad spectrum of bacteria and fungi
Ziental, D., Anaya-Plaza, E., Talarska-Kulczyk, P., Kubicka, A., Żurawski, J., Dlugaszewska, J., de la Escosura, A., Torres, T. & Sobotta, L., Jul 2025, In: Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology. 268, 12 p., 113187.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Citations (Scopus)18 Downloads (Pure) -
Solid-State Synthesis of Cationic Cellulose Fibers from Low-Processed Cotton for Efficient Virus Capture
Nikonovich, T., Yu, Y., Korkiakoski, M., Yang, C., Seitz, I., Langerreiter, D., Kostiainen, M. A., Anaya-Plaza, E. & Kaabel, S., 27 Oct 2025, In: ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering. 13, 42, p. 18223-18231 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus)3 Downloads (Pure)
-
PhotoCage Tutkimuskulut I: Photoactive protein cage biohybrids for light-induced applications
Anaya, E. (Principal investigator), Sanz Velasco, A. (Project Member) & Rodriguez Perez, O. (Project Member)
01/09/2021 → 31/08/2026
Project: RCF Academy Research Fellow: Research costs
-
PhotoCage: Photoactive protein cage biohybrids for light-induced applications
Anaya, E. (Principal investigator)
01/09/2021 → 31/08/2026
Project: RCF Academy Research Fellow (new)
-
-: FinnCERES - Competence Centre for the Materials Bioeconomy: A Flagship for our Sustainable Future
Kostiainen, M. (Principal investigator), Anaya, E. (Principal investigator) & Langerreiter, D. (Project Member)
01/05/2022 → 31/12/2022
Project: Academy of Finland: Other research funding
-
-: PhotoCage Tutkimuskulut I
Anaya, E. (Principal investigator), Sanz Velasco, A. (Project Member) & Rodriguez Perez, O. (Project Member)
01/09/2021 → 30/11/2025
Project: RCF Academy Research Fellow: Research costs
-
-: CERES SolarSafe
Kostiainen, M. (Principal investigator), Anaya, E. (Project Member), Savolainen, A. (Project Member) & Langerreiter, D. (Project Member)
01/12/2020 → 31/12/2022
Project: Academy of Finland: Other research funding
Datasets
-
Data for the publication: Recombinant silk protein condensates show widely different properties depending on the sample background
Tersteegen, J. (Creator), Tunn, I. (Creator), Sand, M. (Creator), Välisalmi, T. (Creator), Malkamäki, M. (Creator), Gandier, J.-A. (Creator), Beaune, G. (Creator), Sanz Velasco, A. (Creator), Anaya-Plaza, E. (Creator) & Linder, M. B. (Creator), Zenodo, 16 Oct 2024
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.12529261, https://zenodo.org/records/12529262
Dataset
Prizes
-
CHEM School Research Action of the Year 2022
Anaya Plaza, E. (Recipient) & Kaabel, S. (Recipient), 15 Dec 2022
Prize: Award or honor granted for a specific work
-
Thieme Chemistry Journals Award 2023
Anaya Plaza, E. (Recipient), Jan 2023
Prize: Award or honor granted for a specific work
-
Life inspired materials – explore the future of materials science
Malkamäki, M. (Contributor), Sammalisto, F.-E. (Contributor), Aspelin, H. (Contributor), Debais, G. (Contributor), Harmat, A. (Contributor), Mantzari, E. (Contributor), Saarinen, S. (Contributor), Seitz, I. (Contributor), Sanz-Velasco, A. (Contributor), Anaya-Plaza, E. (Contributor), Niemiec, E. (Contributor), Haataja, J. (Contributor), Lepikko, S. (Contributor) & Tersteegen, J. (Contributor)
9 Jan 2025Activity: Talk or presentation types › Public talk to non-academic audience (public outreach)
-
Phthalocyanines as Functional Recognition Motif for Highly-Ordered Biobased Materials
Anaya Plaza, E. (Speaker)
12 Jul 2022Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited academic talk
Press/Media
-
Data from Aalto University Advance Knowledge in Supramolecular Research (Controlling Aggregation-induced Emission By Supramolecular Interactions and Colloidal Stability In Ionic Emitters for Light-emitting Electrochemical Cells)
Kostiainen, M. & Anaya-Plaza, E.
05/03/2024
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Media appearance
-
Hybrid Architectures at the Nanoscale: Constructing Materials through Electrostatic Interactions
Timonen, J., Kostiainen, M., Linko, V. & Anaya-Plaza, E.
27/10/2023
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Media appearance
-
DNA Origami Nanostructures: Reprogramming the Shape of Virus Capsids To Advance Biomedicine
Kostiainen, M., Linko, V. & Anaya-Plaza, E.
21/07/2023
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Media appearance
-
Aalto University Researchers Describe New Findings in Acinetobacter baumannii (Repurposing host-guest chemistry to sequester virulence and eradicate biofilms in multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii)
Kostiainen, M., Linder, M., Ras, R. & Anaya-Plaza, E.
02/05/2023
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Media appearance
-
Aalto-yliopiston tutkijat ottivat mallia luonnosta ja pudottivat liuotinmäärät sadasosaan entisestä luodessaan orgaanista väriainetta – ”Väri muuttui ensin vihreäksi, sitten syvän siniseksi”
02/09/2022
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Media appearance