Dr. José Miguel Cardemil has been the director of the Solar Energy Research Center (SERC Chile) since 2026. An Industrial Civil Engineer from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, he holds a Master’s in Thermal Sciences and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (Brazil). He is an Associate Professor at the UC School of Engineering, in the Department of Mechanical and Metallurgical Engineering.

Since 2024, he has directed the UC Master's in Energy Engineering. He has been a principal investigator on FONDECYT, FONDEF, FONDAP, and COPEC UC projects, as well as international collaboration initiatives with ISES and the IEA's SHC program. His research focuses on solar thermal energy and thermal storage, process integration, and applied thermodynamics.

Dr. Anahí Urquiza Gómez has been the deputy director of the Solar Energy Research Center (SERC Chile) since 2026 and serves as the Director of Innovation at the University of Chile. She has had a significant influence on Chile's public policies regarding energy and climate change through her interdisciplinary research and leadership. Her studies on energy poverty have highlighted inequalities in energy access, promoting more inclusive policies for vulnerable communities and participatory energy transitions.

In the field of climate resilience and water security, her research has contributed to the design of climate change adaptation strategies in areas affected by water scarcity. Additionally, her contributions to the analysis of urban climate risks have strengthened the actions of local governments to increase the resilience of cities against environmental impacts.

Urquiza has also played a key role in promoting a just energy transition through her participation in the Green Hydrogen Commission, the Scientific Advisory Council on Climate Change, and CORFO. Furthermore, her leadership in research networks has strengthened collaboration between science, public policy, and communities, consolidating the Chilean approach to energy governance, climate adaptation, and sustainability.

Dr. Ricardo Andrés Salazar González has been a principal investigator at the Solar Energy Research Center (SERC Chile) since 2026. An associate professor at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC), he has over 15 years of experience in research, teaching, and university management. His work has focused on sustainable water treatment, environmental chemistry, and the pollution of aquatic systems, leading various projects funded by national and international organizations.

Since 2013, he has served as an associate researcher at SERC Chile in the solar water treatment line, training new generations of scientists through the supervision of students and researchers. His work has driven innovative projects aimed at addressing emerging challenges in water management through advanced technologies and sustainable solutions.

In addition to his academic activity, he has contributed to the development of environmental regulations, participated in international scientific societies, and actively promoted the scientific dissemination of water sustainability. His vision integrates technologies such as solar electrochemical treatments with circular economy principles, seeking effective solutions for current water problems.

Dr. Edward Fuentealba Vidal is a Principal Investigator at SERC Chile and a Full Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Antofagasta. He serves as the principal investigator for Line 3, where he contributes to the development, adaptation, and integration of solar technologies geared toward mining, agriculture, industry, transportation, and communities with specific energy needs.

He is the founder of the Antofagasta Energy Development Center, where he has promoted applied research in photovoltaic energy, energy storage, solar hydrogen, and territorial characterization of solar resources. His career has been instrumental in developing scientific and technological capabilities in solar energy in northern Chile, particularly in high-radiation desert conditions. He has contributed to the creation and consolidation of postgraduate programs, including the Master's and Doctorate in Solar Energy at the University of Antofagasta. Furthermore, he has participated in strengthening national scientific infrastructure, such as the Atacama Desert Solar Platform, and has been part of SERC Chile since its inception (2012).

Alongside her academic and scientific work, she has contributed to the design of public policies and regional development strategies associated with energy, mining, and green hydrogen in the Antofagasta Region. Her participation in advisory bodies, boards, and strategic initiatives such as Alta Ley, CEIM, ATAMOSTEC, the Clean Technologies Institute, and the 2050 Energy Policy has strengthened technological innovation and sustainable development in the territory, consolidating it as a national benchmark in solar energy applied to production systems and sustainable communities.

Dr. Valeria del Campo has served as a principal investigator at the Solar Energy Research Center (SERC Chile) since 2026. She holds a PhD in Physics and is currently an academic at the Federico Santa María Technical University (USM). For over a decade, she has dedicated herself to research in nanotechnology applied to solar energy. Her studies on solar module fouling and nanomaterials have enabled her to develop nanotextured surfaces with self-cleaning properties and to evaluate new materials to improve the performance of photovoltaic systems.

At the solar cell level, she has researched the use of materials such as graphene and copper to increase efficiency and reduce costs in photovoltaic technologies. She has been part of collaborative work with other researchers, incorporating the radiation conditions of the Atacama Desert and contributing to the development of mathematical models and solutions adapted to local conditions.

She has participated in SERC Chile since 2014, where she stands out for her leadership in promoting the inclusion of more women in STEM careers—an effort she also led as the institutional director of the INES-Gender project. She continues to inspire her students as the head of the Physical Civil Engineering program (USM) since 2023, with a deep commitment to human capital formation. Additionally, she was a principal investigator for the NanoBioPhysics Millennium Nucleus, demonstrating her capacity for multidisciplinary research.

Dr. Shahriyar Nasirov has been a principal investigator at the Solar Energy Research Center (SERC Chile) since 2026. He holds a PhD in Energy Economics and Policy and has over 15 years of international experience in the energy sector. He currently serves as an associate research professor at the Energy Transition Center of the Adolfo Ibáñez University (CENTRA-UAI).

His research focuses on interdisciplinary approaches to energy policy, with a special emphasis on systemic perspectives that address the multiple dimensions of energy policy to drive and accelerate the energy transition. Additionally, he led the creation of and currently directs the Professional Master's in Renewable Energy Technologies and Management, a program running since 2020 in close collaboration with the public and private sectors.

His career has been recognized through various awards in research, teaching, and internationalization, establishing him as a benchmark in the field of energy policy and the transition toward sustainable energy systems. Currently, he also serves as a Non-Resident Fellow at the Balsillie School of International Affairs (BSIA) in Ontario, Canada. During 2024, he was a Visiting Research Professor at the University of Waterloo, Canada, where he joined the interdisciplinary team of the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy (WISE).

Dr. Claudia Carrasco has been a principal investigator at the Solar Energy Research Center (SERC Chile) since 2026. She joined the center in 2018, where she has made significant contributions to interdisciplinary research related to advanced materials and technologies for the energy transition. She is a full professor at the University of Concepción, and her research focuses on energy, electrochemistry, and materials science, promoting sustainable solutions for energy and environmental challenges.

Her main contributions include the development of electrocatalysts for green hydrogen production, energy storage materials, and the integration of solar energy with electrochemical technologies. Her research ranges from the design and synthesis of functional materials to the evaluation and optimization of industrial processes and systems.

In addition to her scientific work, she has trained new generations of professionals and researchers in materials science and engineering, energy, and electrical engineering. Her collaborative work with industry and her international experience have driven the link between research, development, and industrial application, contributing to the strengthening of scientific and technological capabilities for a sustainable and low-carbon energy transition in Chile.