Mario Merino

Mario Merino holds a PhD in Aerospace Engineering from the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, where he was an assistant professor from 2010 to 2013. After receiving his PhD, he worked as a visiting professor for 5 years at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, in the Department of Aerospace Engineering, then as an associate professor, and since 2024 as a full professor. Mario is a member of the ‘Plasmas and Space Propulsion’ (EP2) research group 

Mario’s research interests include plasma space propulsion and space systems. In particular, Mario studies propulsive magnetic nozzles, electrodeless plasma thrusters, hypersonic plasma jets, plasma-satellite interaction, and active deorbiting of space debris. His work has received several awards, including a Young Researcher Medal by the Royal Academy of Engineering (2023); the prestigious “Prof. Kuriki Award for Young professionals”, awarded by the Electric Rocket Propulsion Society (2022); the UC3M Excellence Award (2021). He is recipient of EUCASS ”Young Aerospace Engineer of the Year 2010” award. His PhD, “Analysis of magnetic nozzles for space plasma thrusters”, received the cum laude qualification, the international mention, the UPM Extraordinary PhD Award, and the SENER Foundation award for the best doctoral thesis in engineering.

As of 2025, Mario has participated as a researcher in several European (5) and national (5) projects, for a total funding of 6.5 M€, of which 2.5 M€ as PI, including the ERC Starting Grant ZARATHUSTRA. He has also worked on research contracts with the European Space Agency, the US Air Force, and the aerospace industry, in particular with SENER, Airbus, and DEIMOS, for a total funding of €825k. He has carried out research stays at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the Institute for Space Systems of the University of Stuttgart (IRS Stuttgart), the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering of the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), and the University of Beihang (China).