Biography

Biography


I obtained my Licenciate degrees in Chemistry and Biochemistry from the University of Navarra (Pamplona, Spain) in 2007 and 2010, respectively. Later I did my PhD studies in Organic and Medicinal Chemistry (2007-2012) under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Juan Antonio Palop and Prof. Dr. Carmen Sanmartín at the Department of Organic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry of the University of Navarra. The PhD research consisted on the design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel selenocompounds with chemopreventive, antiproliferative an cytotoxic activity; and included a 6-month research stay under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Claus Jacob at the Division of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Saarland State University (Saarbrücken, Germany).


From 2013 to 2015 I did a 25-month postdoc at the Jagiellonian University Medical College (Cracow, Poland) in the synthesis of pyridazine or urea-containing derivatives as novel ligands of Histamine H4 receptor, and in the search of inhibitors of ABCB1 efflux pump, one of the most frequent mechanisms used by cancer cells to develop multidrug resistance. The good inhibition results encouraged exploring if the compounds could also inhibit bacterial efflux pumps; and if the compounds enhanced synergistically the activity of chemotherapy drugs and antibiotics, respectively, when administered in combination. I did a second postdoc in 2016 at the Alexander Butlerov Institute of Chemistry of the Kazan Federal University (Russia) at the group of Prof. Mikhail A. Varfolomeev, in the synthesis of micro- and nanoparticles of metal oxides as catalysts in in situ oil-upgrading processes.


I started my work as CSIC Tenured Scientist the Institute of General Organic Chemistry (IQOG) of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) in 2017. Since then I have led the Group of Medicinal Chemistry of Sulfur and Selenium Compounds (QFCAS), focused in the synthesis of sulfur and selenium derivatives as novel anticancer and antibacterial agents, as well as inhibitors of the mechanisms that lead to cancer/bacterial resistance, as the efflux pumps. In these years I have mentored a ‘Garantía Juvenil’ laboratory technician (2 years), 2 Master Thesis and 4 internships of Bachelor students (one of them with a JAE-Intro excellence grant); I have published 23 scientific articles, 1 patent and 1 book chapter. Regarding funding, I have developed two CSIC projects (one of them an international i-LINK CSIC project in collaboration with three universities from Poland, Hungary and Germany) and three small projects funded with cancer/social associations. I have strong collaborations (proved with joint publications) with researchers from German, Hungarian, Polish, Russian, Slovak and Spanish universities and research centres.

Updated: December 2020

QFCAS Research Group (Summer 2018)

Professional Experience

  • 2017-ongoing: CSIC Tenured Scientist. Institute of General Organic Chemistry of the Spanish National Research Council (IQOG-CSIC, Madrid, Spain).

  • 2016: Visitor Postdoctoral Researcher. Kazan Federal University (Kazan, Tatarstan, Russian Federation).

  • 2013-2015: Postdoctoral researcher in Organic and Medicinal Chemistry. Jagiellonian University Medical College (Cracow, Lesser Poland, Poland).

  • 2011: Exchange PhD student in Organic Chemistry, Electrochemistry and Biochemistry. Saarland University (Saarbruecken, Saarland, Alemania).

  • 2007-2013: PhD Student in Organic and Medicinal Chemistry. University of Navarra (Pamplona, Navarra, Spain).

  • 2005-2007: Organic Chemist, Medicinal Chemist and Organic Analyst in formation. University of Navarra (Pamplona, Navarra, Spain).

  • 2006: Analytical Chemist in quality assays, in formation. Grupo Inzamac (Zamora, Castilla y León, Spain).

Teaching Experience

  • Supervisor of 2 Master Dissertations: Noemi Salardón (2019), Raquel Segura (2020).

  • Supervisor of research internships of Bachelor students: 3 summer internships (2017, 2018, 2020) y 1 JAE Intro internship (2019).

  • 2018-2020: Supervisor of a laboratory technician (GARJUV Program of Madrid Region and European Union to promote youth employment).

  • 2007-2011. Assistant Professor in laboratory practical lessons of five subjects at the University of Navarra (Spain, 259 h).

Academic Formation

  • 2012: PhD in Organic and Medicinal Chemistry. University of Navarra (Pamplona, Navarra, Spain).

  • 2010: Licentiate in Biochemistry. University of Navarra (Pamplona, Navarra, Spain).

  • 2009: MSc in Teaching (CAP, Spanish Teaching Accreditation). University of Navarra (Pamplona, Navarra, Spain).

  • 2007: Licenciate in Chemistry. University of Navarra (Pamplona, Navarra, Spain).