Max Robotics — Global Service Robot Directory + US Certification

About

Matias Guijarro is a leading figure in the automation of macromolecular crystallography (MX), a field critical for determining the 3D structures of proteins and other biological molecules. His primary research focuses on developing robotic systems and standardized hardware to dramatically increase the throughput and reliability of X-ray diffraction experiments. Guijarro’s most impactful contribution is the definition of the SPINE standard sample holder for cryocooled crystals, a foundational piece of infrastructure that enabled the widespread adoption of robotic sample changers. This work, published in 2006, has garnered over 110 citations and remains a key reference in the field. He further advanced the state of the art with the development of RoboDiff, an innovative device that integrates a sample changer directly with the goniometer, allowing for highly automated and efficient data collection. This system, described in a 2016 paper with 44 citations, reduces manual intervention and enables unattended operation. Through these contributions, Guijarro has helped transform MX beamlines from manually operated stations into high-throughput, automated facilities, accelerating structural biology research worldwide.