Affiliation and background of Interviewee: 

What is your favorite thing about your research that keeps you interested?

As a researcher, my main goal is to develop something that could improve the quality of people’s lives, make the best use of the available resources, help preserve the surrounding environment, and decrease the negative impact of the climate crisis.

Have people ever misinterpreted or misinterpreted your research?

People are accustomed to hearing the two terms “chemistry” and “engineering” apart. So, when I mention that I specialize in “chemical engineering,” they would either think that I am an engineer or ignore the last word in the phrase “engineering.” The most common question is about the difference between chemistry and chemical engineering. Explaining to someone out of the field is difficult, but I have prepared the answer.

Can you share with us this answer?
Of course! Chemistry investigates the scientific background, including organic, inorganic, analytical, physical, and biochemistry aspects. Generally, chemists develop novel compounds, materials, and processes, analyze substances, measure their physical properties, and test theories. Chemical Engineering is more multidisciplinary and practical, applying engineering science to problems related to different processes, including heat and mass transfer, chemical reactions, fluid dynamics, equipment design, etc. Chemical Engineers focus on turning new ideas and discoveries into attainable, valuable products.

What is the impact of your research on the general population?
As I mentioned, some of the applications of the formulated colloidal systems are related to the encapsulation of drugs that target tumor/cancer cells. This could help to improve cancer treatment, a disease that affects a big proportion of people on earth regardless of their age. In a published work, in collaboration with researchers from ISPA-Finba, we demonstrated a study of this nano-colloidal system against sarcoma (A rare type of cancer that grows in connective tissue like bones, nerves, muscles, tendons, cartilage and blood vessels of the arms and legs. It causes abdominal pain, lump, bone pain, and weight loss).
Moreover, these colloidal systems can encapsulate antioxidants (e.g., resveratrol, lutein, iron, taxifolin, etc.) for food fortification or dermal delivery in cosmetic formulations.
Furthermore, synthesized nanoparticles of controlled size can be used as labels to improve sensitivity in analytical devices. I also had the opportunity to participate in two patents in my research group (NanoBioMem), which involve a possible transfer to industry. We also collaborate with industries from different fields, giving support in the field of colloidal formulations and stability.
So, in summary, my research can have diverse applications and a positive impact in different fields, affecting different groups of people with different needs.

As a female researcher, how do you balance your life between your family and career?

I likely have my continuous big family's support to take care of my daughters when necessary, without which I would not have been able to continue developing my career as I did. For example, when my first daughter was born, I was externally co-supervising a PhD student at Lund University in Sweden, and this required my presence there for at least two weeks per year for four years. I couldn’t do that on my own… Thanks to my cousin, I could travel, accompanied by her, to help me care for my baby/toddler when she was 6, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months. I am grateful to her. Also, at the beginning of my lecturing career, I had to give lessons, sometimes finishing as late as 8 pm. Unfortunately, this did not complement my husband’s work schedule, who is also working late. Therefore, the help of my parents to babysit my babies was necessary.

What about your husband? Was he supportive of your short stays abroad?

At that time, my husband could not stay with me for longer than a week due to his work duties, and it was very difficult to find a place where I could leave the baby for such short periods.

Does your answer imply that female researchers would mainly rely on their big family in that respect?

At least in my case. I consider myself lucky to have this support.

Have you ever thought of sacrificing your career ambition? How do you overcome these feelings? What do you tell yourself?

No. Never. It has never been a thought for me. As I said before, I always have the support of my family to take care of my daughters. I have an unstoppable desire to continue practicing science, learning about new developments and discoveries, and developing my teaching and research skills to be better than I am.

What are the most important steps you took to get where you are now, and what would you recommend other female researchers take to get where you are today?

I would advise them to study and work very hard. I would also recommend that they try to travel around to gain external experience, for instance, Erasmus's experiences when pursuing their masters, search for PhD programs in prestigious or highly rated Universities, or at least do research stays when doing their PhD in their home countries.

What is your goal? What do you dream of advancing in your field?

I would like to have the opportunity to lead research projects related to my passion… Research ultimately leads to improvement in our national society that can extend to the whole international perspective. I would be particularly interested in participating in a research project focusing on drug delivery targeting breast cancers since it has affected me personally.

Can you elaborate more on that? It is difficult to discuss, but can you tell us how you discovered your sickness? This could increase the awareness of other women, how did it affect your personal and professional lives?

In 2023, I felt something was going wrong since I lost some weight and felt more frequently tired than usual. This was also reflected in my hair and skin, which turned pale. Back then, the only thing I had different was a breast lump and a very slight discomfort in my armpits. However, after checking twice by doctors, it was supposed to be a benign tumor formed of mixed fibrous and glandular tissue (fibroadenoma), something that could be normal given that I had breastfed my daughters. However, a few months later, I continued feeling unwell, so I followed my inner feelings and decided to go to a private clinic; I insisted on performing a biopsy. It was when they found a small bad tumor of hormonal origin behind the fibroadenoma that explained the symptoms.

The prognosis was good from the beginning due to the type of tumor. Still, the situation was complex, and I needed to be operated on twice and had to receive chemotherapy and radiation therapy for almost nine months. Now I am feeling much better and healthy again. I resumed my work in May 2024 after nearly a year off. I currently do much more exercise, which makes me restore my muscle tone and feel better. I take great care of myself by paying close attention to what I eat and the formulations I use in daily care products to avoid endocrine disruptors.

Indeed, there are many lessons in your story. Following our feelings sometimes sounds a bit silly, especially in scientific society, but you did so and have not surrendered to the public health systems and, I believe, its unintentional delays in taking cases into account...What is the positive role of being a professor and mother in keeping your esteem high, even in the darkest moments?

During this year, I continued doing research remotely and met every week with the members of my research group and the PhD and Master's students. This helped me a lot to not focus on my health situation and be occupied with doing some constructive research. In these hard moments also, being the mother of two little princesses helped me a lot since I spent the rest of the day taking care of them, and the treatment time passed faster and smoother.

Do you think that gender equality is accomplished in career field?

No, I don’t think so. Nevertheless, the situation has improved significantly compared to the past, but it still needs to change. I tell you that while in my research field, I have been almost always surrounded by female researchers more than males. My PhD promoters were all women, and my current research group is mainly feminine and led by a woman. Also, the previous head of my department was a woman, and the current dean of the chemistry faculty is a woman. Nevertheless, it has never been the case that the rector of the University of Oviedo is a woman. Nowadays, in Spain, only 25% of rectors are women. This has happened in the last 40 years since the first woman who was rector was elected in 1982. So, things are going better but very slowly. This is a clear example that we still have much to do to achieve gender equality in senior positions of responsibility.

In your opinion, what is still challenging for women

Surely, combining motherhood with work. Especially when the children are in their infancy and require more care. With my first daughter, I had a high-risk pregnancy and was committed to the hospital for two months until she was born prematurely. Indeed, this gave me a tough time, for almost the first year of her age, trying to combine my career work after the end of my official maternity leave of 16 weeks and the necessities of the early special care required for my daughter. I don’t know about other countries, but in Spain, we, as teaching professors at the University, must fulfill a specific number of teaching hours to seek an accreditation “license” to be promoted. So, at that time, we female professors take off for maternity leave, and even though it is lawful, we pay off in the long term by being delayed when requesting accreditations or applying for possible promotions. This could be one of the reasons why the gender equality we seek is not even enough.

Do you think societies aimed at assisting female workers are really of help?

Yes, of course. I think some of them play a fundamental role in trying to achieve gender equality.

Do you think that flexibility should be considered on the professional level?

Flexibility is a key to creativity, especially in the research field. This has already been realized in many countries, while others still think that fixed work schedules are more effective… For female researchers like me, who are trying to learn this private life career balance, flexibility is essential and should be taken seriously by authorities. Flexibility with working hours and enabling remote work is essential, even for men. Flexibility is vital for working mothers to have near-equal opportunities because we cannot dedicate the same quality time to work if flexibility is not guaranteed.

I had the opportunity to work in Sweden in different periods, and the possibility of remote work was already implemented many years ago. In Spain, remote work was approved during the pandemic crisis in 2020, but afterward, this option was canceled again in many jobs. Unless I have teaching tasks, I can work remotely from home when one of my kids is sick and must stay home, something very frequent with the children. I consider myself lucky!! Otherwise, I would indeed need the help of one of my family members. Although remote work is efficient, many people still can't do it.

What advice do you have for aspiring female scientists in your field, particularly women in science?

Be patient, persistent, and serious about your dreams, and, above all, enjoy what you do. There is nothing better than loving your job.

About GWIS

Founded in 1921, Graduate Women in Science is an inter-disciplinary society of scientists who collectively seek to advance the participation and recognition of women in science and to foster research through grants, awards and fellowships. We comprise over 20 active chapters of more than 800 women who are "United in Friendship through Science" to support and inspire member professional goals and mutual appreciation of science. Learn more at www.gwis.org.

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