Dr. Manuel Ignacio Azócar is a researcher and professor at the Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH), where his work focuses on bioinorganic chemistry, nanomaterials, and the development of functional metallic nanoparticles for biological and analytical applications. His research interests include silver, gold, copper, and selenium-based nanomaterials, surface functionalization, nanoparticle–biomolecule interactions, antimicrobial nanomaterials, and plasmonic technologies for molecular detection and biosensing. His current scientific interests particularly emphasize surface plasmon resonance (SPR), localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), plasmonic nanostructures, and their application to biomolecular recognition, quantitative molecular analysis, and the development of advanced biosensing platforms. He is also actively involved in scientific publishing, peer review, editorial activities, and the training of undergraduate and graduate students in chemistry, biochemistry, nanotechnology, and related interdisciplinary areas.