MY INTEREST FOR ENVIRONMENTAL  MICROBIOLOGY

…started in Spain. During my bachelor studies, I became fascinated about the idea that microbes exist everywhere, even under extreme conditions like those found in polar regions.

EVER SINCE,

my passion has grown, not only for the study of microbes, but for their role and applicability in cold ecosystems. After gaining hands-on research experience from research institutions such as the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research (AWI) and the Institute of Marine Sciences of Barcelona (ICM). I decided to apply for a master’s degree in University of Oulu, Finland, where I could study microbes from the Arctic, while living in the Arctic myself.

AFTER YEARS LIVING
IN FINLAND,

I got a research assistant position in the Water, Energy and Environmental Engineering Unit, where, a year later, turned out to be the place where I started my doctoral research: “Searching for pollutant-recycler microbes in mining wastes: Hidden environmental solutions in cold climates”.

The goal of my PhD is to find bacteria that utilize metal(loid)s as part of their metabolism, with the aim of employing them to recycle raw materials and remove pollutants. I worked from the starting point of collecting the samples, to the laboratory experiments, data analyses (e.g. R and Unix) and scientific writing.

HOWEVER, WHEN YOU LOVE MAKING ART, YOU SIMPLY CANNOT REPRESS IT.

Even if you try to hide it, it comes out in one way or another. During my studies, I never stopped painting or dancing and, while working on my PhD, I published an illustrated book about a scientific expedition to Svalbard.

AS EXCITING AND
SCARY AS IT IS

I am still figuring out what I want to do with my career and personal life. From continuing in academia or not to the place for putting down my roots. I like to nurture myself with inspiration from inside and outside the university and to discover new interests. Every piece of knowledge will shape the way you think of life and, consequently, make you a better professional.

CV

Want to know more about my skills? I coded this interactive diagram for you.

2021-Present

PhD researcher

My PhD is part of the Doctoral Degree Programme in the Water Resources and Environmental Engineering faculty of the University of Oulu in Finland.

Master of Science
degree in Ecology and Population Genetics

2018-2020

I majored in Genetics (126 ECTS). I also enrolled myself in subjects, such as Entrepreneurship for Sustainability, Recycling of Bioproducts or Introduction to Data Visualization.

Master of Science
degree in Advanced Microbiology

2016-2017

Microbial Biotechnology and Environmental Microbiology major (60 ECTS) at the University of Barcelona in Spain.

Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology

2012-2016

I did my bachelor studies (240 ECTS) at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain. In the last year of studies, I decided to specialize in environmental microbiology. Thus, I took courses like Microbial Genomics, Soil Science and Bioreactors among others.

INTERNSHIPS

RESEARCH VISITS

  • 2023: Research visit to the University of Hannover to work in one of my PhD experiments. Under the supervision of Prof. Marcus Horn.

  • 2022: Arctic Sampling Expedition in Longyearbyen located in the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard.

  • 2019: Field assistant in Bioremediation project in Kittilä, in Finnish Lapland.

  • 2016-2017: Laboratory assistant in the Marine Science Institute (ICM).

  • 2016: Laboratory assistant in the Alfred-Wegener-Institut (AWI) for Polar and Marine Research.

  • 2015: I worked with Antarctic Yeasts at the Faculty of Science in the University of Chile, Santiago supervised by Prof. Marcelo Baeza.

Map made with Arcgis Sources: Esri, TomTom, Garmin, FAO, NOAA, USGS, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS User Community. Edited in Adobe Illustrator, CSS and HTML code.