Where do you currently work, and what is your position?

I currently work at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, doing research in the field of molecular diagnostics. I completed my PhD some time ago, but I’ve continued along a similar line to what I was doing at IRTA, as I’m still working on the development of detection tools and biosensors. The main difference is that I apply the tools to the health sector. I’m also learning a lot about molecular biology, antimicrobial resistant-infections and detection of DNA mutations.

Tell us a bit about the evolution of your research: what were you doing at IRTA and what are you doing now?
At IRTA, I did my PhD in La Ràpita, working with the development of biotechnological tools and biosensors based on DNA. My research was also focused on applying these tools to microalgae and marine viruses, within the areas of environmental monitoring and food safety. I completed my PhD in 2019.
After that, I started looking for opportunities and received a fellowship that brought me to Stockholm I started a postdoctoral position at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology, and later transitioned to the Karolinska Institute, which is a medical university.
The type of device I work with now became very well-known during the pandemic — remember the COVID-19 antigen tests? Those quick and simple tests you could do at home? They became really popular because they were cheap and accessible, but they had quite a few limitations: a lot of false negatives. PCR tests were much more accurate, but also more expensive and required trained personnel.
A large part of my current work is focused on finding solutions to decentralize these diagnostic processes, bringing them closer to the patient — making them more accessible and affordable. We aim to develop devices that can detect viruses, bacteria, or even complex diseases like cancer.
On top of that, I have a lot of freedom to choose, experiment, and propose new ideas here — and I really enjoy that.

From La Ràpita to Stockholm… quite a change, isn’t it?

Yes! Even though Stockholm is a capital city, life here is very calm. Everything is quiet, and not as much happens as you might expect. I’m from Reus, and although Stockholm is much bigger, I don’t really feel like I’m living in a big city.
The quality of life is good, but integrating is not easy. I mostly move in international environments. It’s hard to build connections with locals, and not speaking the language makes it even more difficult. It’s a vicious circle: if I spoke Swedish, I might feel more integrated, but since I don’t feel integrated, I haven’t really found the right moment to fully learn it.
I do miss home. The weather here is really tough — it still snows in April. But at the same time, it’s a beautiful country.
At first, I didn’t want to leave. I thought, “Why do I have to leave in order to be able to come back?” But now that I’m abroad, I understand much better what that means. You see different ways of doing things, and you learn a lot. It’s not that they’re better or worse — they’re just different, and that helps you grow, both personally and professionally.

What motivated you to do a PhD at IRTA?
Mainly the project itself. It was in the field of biotechnology, included analytical chemistry (which I really like), and what really interested me was that it was applied research, not just basic research — which was very important to me.
Also, the people. From the start, I had a very good impression of my supervisor — a very approachable person — and the team made me feel very welcome. The atmosphere was key.
At that time, I also didn’t feel ready to move far away. Doing the PhD in La Ràpita, being from Reus, was an option that allowed me to stay close to home.

How do you remember your experience at IRTA, and how has it impacted your professional life?

I have very good memories of it. I worked hard and we got a lot done, but looking back now, I can see that we were doing high-quality science. During those years, I was able to publish quite a bit, and I felt very supported.

The team was very collaborative — there was no competition between us. We even received a prize from the Royal Academy, and we all agreed that it should go to the whole team. That really reflects the collective spirit we had .
We had a lot of discussions about results, there was a lot of exchange of ideas, and I think we all learned a lot from each other. One thing I really value now is having had the chance to work on real-world applications. In human health research, everything moves much more slowly. I was lucky to be able to directly apply my tools to real samples like microalgae and oysters, and that gave me a very solid foundation that I still rely on today.

What do you think are the main challenges in the sector today?

In relation to my current research, one of the biggest challenges is finding the right balance between reliability and accessibility. PCR tests are still the “gold standard” due to their accuracy, but they’re centralized, expensive, and require trained personnel. Rapid tests like antigen tests are more accessible but less reliable.
The real challenge is to decentralize diagnostics without losing reliability: bringing these systems closer to the patient, making them affordable, simple, and effective. Just think — in many countries, advanced diagnostic tests don’t even reach the population. Democratizing access to diagnostics is key.

What are you most proud of in your work?

It’s hard to highlight one thing. Working in a lab is very demanding; you need a lot of patience. But it’s true that when you try over and over and things finally work out… you feel really proud. Those are the moments that keep you going.
I think I’ve had a few small but meaningful victories. One of them was when I decided to go abroad and move to Stockholm. It was a brave decision, and I think it was the right one.
Another recent one was filing a patent here in Sweden. It was a long process, and I didn’t really know how to do it, but I pushed through and I made it. Knowing that my work might have a real impact is incredibly rewarding. It also made me see how important it is to turn research into something that can benefit society, and that has given my work new meaning.