The DNA topology Lab, located at IBMB-CSIC and headed by Joaquim Roca, is engaged in understanding how DNA topology (twisting, coiling and entanglement of DNA molecules) interplays with the 3D architecture and functions of the genome, and how this is regulated by topoisomerases and other enzymatic ensembles or motor activities. To this end, this group develops and exploits novel methods to assess the topology of intracellular DNA and complements their experimental findings with in vitro and in silico analyses.

Theoretical studies of mesoscopic systems consisting of metals, ferrmomagnets, superconductors, semiconductors, cold atoms, organic materials and topological insulators, with emphasis in electronic transport (charge, spin, heat) and applications for nano electronics, spintronics and caloritronics.

The "Modelization and Simulation" group is devoted to theoretically study the electronic and structural properties of complex materials, clean and decorated surfaces, and nanostructures. We mostly use first-principles electronic structure methods for this purpose. An important part of our research activity is devoted to the development of simulation tools. We are one of the groups involved in the development of the linear-scaling SIESTA code (http://www.icmab.es/siesta). SIESTA is currently used by hundreds of research groups worldwide and freely distributed under GPL license.

The NanoPhysics Lab (NPL) initiated its activities in 2001, and has steadily grown in terms of equipment and personnel ever since. In the context of experimental surface science, we study structural, electronic, magnetic and chemical properties of in-situ and ex-situ grown nanostructures prepared in ultra high vacuum conditions (UHV). The NPL holds some of the most modern and complete set of surface-sensitive techniques and instrumentations, combined in a variety of multi-technique ultra-high-vacuum setups, and distributed in five different laboratory rooms.

The group of "Polymers & Soft Matter (http://www.sc.ehu.es/sqwpolim/PSMG/) is a well-established and cohesive group of research, which carries out its activity in the “Materials Physics Center (CFM)”. The scientific activity of the group of “Polymers & Soft Matter” deals with the study of materials based on polymers and soft condensed matter. This activity is mainly focused on basic and basic-oriented science.

The group is devoted to the theoretical study of the interaction between electromagnetic radiation and nanostructured materials. The topic is commonly names as Nanophotonics.

i) Synthesis and physical characterization of photonic materials Optoelectronic properties of new materials: ii) Design, make up, and simulation of optoelectronic devices such as optical amplifiers, lasers, light conversors, etc. iii) Optical characterization of photonic materials by using high resolution spectral and temporal spectroscopies. iv) Theoretical and experimental studies of laser-induced cooling processes in solid-state materials. v) Theoretical and experimental studies of light propagation and confinement in micro-nano structurated inhomogeneous media: random lasers and biomedical

The main mission of the Group is to conduct world-class basic and applied research in nanophotonics and novel nanomaterials with the focus on the mechanisms and applications of light harvesting and energy transfer/conversion on the nanoscale.

The principal aim of the group is to explore the effects of stressors and forcing processes on marine ecosystems with special attention to marine living resources and human activities. The group began in 1993 as a Research Group of Consolidated Quality of the Autonomic Government of Catalunya. Since then, the group has grown steadily by training Ph.D. students that later were contracted under various Spanish and European research programs such as Ramon y Cajal, Marie Curie, Juan de la Cierva, and JAE, and/or became CSIC permanent employees.

Marine ecosystems, their populations and habitats are affected by a wide array of factors, both of natural (environmental changes, seasonality, natural hazards) and anthropogenic (fishing activity, habitat loss, climate change) origin. The group mission is to provide the scientific basis for the sustainable use and conservation of the marine living resources and their habitats.