Profiles and links
Contacts
E-mail: jenaina.soares@ufla.br
Office Address:
Department of Physics
Federal University of Lavras (UFLA)
Trevo Rotatório Professor Edmir Sá Santos, s/n
P.O. Box 3037
37203-202 - Lavras, MG
Brazil
Short CV:
PDF file here!
Education:
Ph.D. in Physics
Federal University of Minas Gerais (with a one-year year research stay at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA) (UFMG), Brazil
2011 – 2014
M.Sc. in Physics
Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brazil
2009 – 2011
B.Sc. in Physics
Federal University of Goiás (UFG), Brazil
2005 – 2009
Jenaina Ribeiro Soares, PhD
Associate Professor of Physics
Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), Brazil
Principal Investigator - Nanomat Research Group
About
Jenaina Ribeiro Soares is a condensed matter physicist working on nanomaterials, vibrational spectroscopy, and advanced functional materials. Her research focuses on light-matter interaction phenomena, phonon dynamics, and structure-property relationships in two-dimensional and carbon-based systems, combining experimental spectroscopy with theoretical approaches.
She is the founder and scientific coordinator of two nanoscience and optics laboratories in Brazil and leads interdisciplinary research integrating optics, materials science, and nanotechnology, with applications in environmental and energy-related systems.
She has played a key role in establishing advanced nanoscience and optics infrastructure in Brazil, contributing to the development of experimental capabilities in spectroscopy and nanotechnology.
Highlights
* h-index: 24 | > 2100 citations (Google Scholar);
* 45+ peer-reviewed publications in journals such as ACS Nano, Nano Letters, Carbon, npj 2D Materials & Applications;
* 3 journal cover articles (2 as corresponding author);
* 2 granted patents in nanospectroscopy instrumentation (TERS);
* Founder and coordinator of two nanoscience and optics laboratories in Brazil (one shared facility and a group laboratory);
* Principal Investigator in major funded projects (FAPEMIG, CNPq).
Honors and awards
* Elected Affiliate Member, Brazilian Academy of Sciences (ABC), 2026-2030;
* CNPq Productivity Research Fellowship (Level 2), 2023-present;
* L’Oréal-UNESCO-ABC For Women in Science Award (Brazil), 2017;
* Cover Article (Corresponding Author), Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics (RSC), 2024;
* Cover Article, Journal of Physical Chemistry C (ACS), 2023;
* Highlighted Article, Brazilian Materials Research Society Bulletin, 2022;
* Outstanding Reviewer Award, 2D Materials (IOP Publishing), 2017;
* Trusted Reviewer Recognition, IOP Publishing, 2020;
* Medal of Honor (Distinguished Alumna), Federal University of Goiás, 2017
Research focus
* Nanomaterials and two-dimensional materials
* Applied Optics
* Raman and infrared spectroscopy
* Structure-property relationships for material's science
* Carbon-based materials and biochar for environmental applications
Selected contributions
* Development of quantitative Raman models for structural analysis of carbonaceous materials;
* Theory-based frameworks for optical selection rules in two-dimensional materials;
* Spectroscopy studies revealing interlayer coupling and vibrational properties in layered materials;
* Integration of spectroscopy and DFT to understand phonon behavior and anisotropy in emerging materials.
International experience
Research visits and collaborations with institutions including MIT, Penn State University, and international partners in Europe, India and the USA.