JOSÉ LUIS
CONTRERAS GONZÁLEZ

Born in 1962, I graduated in Fundamental Physics from the Complutense University of Madrid. I finished my PhD in Particle Physics in 1992, working on physics in accelerators, with long periods at CERN. After a three-year postdoc at the Laboratoire de l'Áccelerateur Lineaire de Orsay, near Paris, I focused on Astroparticle Physics. Since then, I have worked at the Cherenkov Observatories HEGRA, and MAGIC and now at the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA). My main scientific interests are data analysis and experimental techniques, particularly in Astroparticle Physics. Since 1998, I have taught at the Complutense University of Madrid, where I now hold a full professor position. I am part of the Department of Structure of Matter, Thermal Physics, and Electronics and work inside the High Energy Physics Group, a group of around 15 people involved in Astroparticle Physics, Data analysis, and Instrumentation. I am also interested in Medical Physics and have coordinated the UCM Master in Biomedical Physics since 2021. The Spanish administration has recognised the impact of my research work with six six-year research periods. My teaching has consistently been evaluated as “very positive” or “excellent,” and I have supervised or co-supervised seven PhD theses and several other academic projects. In terms of outreach, I actively participate in physics demonstrations for undergraduates and collaborate to maintain a fairly well-known YouTube channel with videos of physics experiences.