26th Setember, 2019

Since 2008 my research career is focused in the molecular study of the male gamete, with the aim to increase the knowledge on the paternal contribution to the generation of the new individual.

I started my PhD in the Molecular Biology of Reproduction and Development Research Group from IDIBAPS, under the supervision of Dr Rafael Oliva. On the 19th September 2014, I defended my doctoral thesis “Characterization of the protein content of the human sperm nucleus and its epigenetic potential” receiving the highest qualification, Excellent Cum Laude. Right after, I moved to The Netherlands with a 2-years post-doctoral contract under the framework of the Marie Sklodowska-Curie FP7-People-2013-ITN GROWSPERM. During that time, my main research activity was conducted in the pharmaceutical company Lead Pharma BV (Nijmegen, The Netherlands) under the supervision of Dr Bas Jansen, while conducting research visits at the Centre for Reproductive Medicine from the Amsterdam UMC, under the supervision of Dr Ans van Pelt. Currently, I am back to Dr Oliva’s lab.  My stays in different R&D centers and companies have given me the opportunity to work with some of the main European research groups in the field, as well as to learn from the scientific activity of a private company.

The mature sperm is a cell with unique features and I have been specialized in the application of high-throughput strategies for its study. Much molecular data, mainly proteomic and genomic, have been generated from my studies, allowing the identification of targets and markers that might be applicable to the clinical practice. My work has resulted in 20 international indexed publications (6 as first author and 1 as first author and co-corresponding author) and a book chapter. Of these works, 8 were published in journals belonging to the top90 (D1) of their respective scientific areas and 3 additional ones of the top75 (Q1). My work has received 970 citations (Google Scholar) to date, and I have an H index of 15. I have been selected for oral communication in 9 international congresses, being one of them awarded by the University of Utah as the best work in the field of Genetics in Male Infertility. Also, in 2014 I was invited speaker at the 8th European Congress of Andrology. Thanks to my scientific achievements, I was selected to enroll the highly reputed course "Frontiers in Reproduction” at the Marine Biological Laboratory of Woods Hole (Massachusetts, US) in 2014.

My research experience allows me to act as reviewer of top journals in the field of Reproduction and Andrology, and I have recently joined the Editorial Board of Human Reproduction (D1) as Associate Editor. I am also board member and treasurer of the non-profit organization "Network for Young Researchers in Andrology (NYRA)", whose objective is to help young researchers providing information, holding congresses and promoting interaction between international groups.

Finally, I have also conducted teaching activities at the Universitat de Barcelona, and I am currently co-supervising 1 doctoral thesis, 1 master’s thesis and 1 undergraduate student.