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Bio

I received a B.Sc. and an M.Sc. in Physics from the Metropolitan Autonomous University (UAM) in Mexico City, where I also served as an assistant professor in the Physics Department. I am currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Physics of Biological Systems at UAM.
Outside of research, I enjoy studying biology, playing guitar, and running.

Contact
Metropolitan Autonomous University.
Physics Department, Complex Systems.
Building T, Room 323
Email: [email protected]
[email protected]

Research Overview

My research encompasses a wide range of topics, including diffusion processes, particle trapping and absorption, biologically motivated physics, and physical virology. Currently, I focus on the self-assembly, growth, and formation of viral capsids, aiming to uncover the fundamental principles of virus polymorphism, assembly pathways, and mechanical properties through theoretical modeling and computer simulations.

Recent congresses and workshops

Congreso Nacional de Física LVXIII
Talk: Influence of Bending Energy and Kinetics on the Self-Assembly of Viral Capsids.
Poster: The Competition Between Bending and Edge Energy Drives Viral Capsid Compression and Increases Nucleation Rate.
Oct, 12-17, 2025. Toluca, México.ICTP-SAIFR-School and Workshop on the Physics of Life
Poster: Bending Energy Drives Viral capsid compression and Increases Nucleation Rate.
March, 24-30, 2025. São Paulo, Brazil.LIII Winter Meeting in Statistical Physics
Poster: Bending Energy Drives Viral capsid compression and Increases Nucleation Rate.
January, 7-10, 2025. Mexico City, MexicoWorkshop on Statistical Physics
Talk: Theory of Viral capsids self-assembly.
May, 27-28, 2024. Barcelona, Spain.

New Book!

Dagdug, L., Peña, J., and Pompa-García, I. (2024). Diffusion Under Confinement: A Journey Through Counterintuition. Springer Nature Switzerland.

Recent Publications

Peña, J., Dagdug, L., and Reguera, D. (2025). On the Influence of Bending Energy on the Assembly of Spherical Viral Capsids In Press.Peña, J., Dagdug, L., and Reguera, D. (2025). Kinetic description of viral capsid self-assembly using mesoscopic non-equilibrium thermodynamics. Entropy, 27(3), 281.Peña, J., et al. (2024). Autoensamblaje de cápsides virales: Teoría y simulación. Contactos Rev Educ Cienc E Ing, 139, 6-19.Peña, J., and Dagdug, L. (2023). Elliptical chemoreceptors: The key to an effective absorption. AIP Conference Proceedings, 2731(1), 050008.