I studied Biology and Genetics at the UCM (Madrid) and after two years in Denmark and New Zealand working on (alternative) splicing evolution, I did my PhD at the Universitat de Barcelona, where I worked on (regulatory) genomic changes underlying the origin of vertebrates. I then did a short postdoc at Stanford University (USA) and a longer one at University of Toronto (Canada) investigating the function, conservation and regulation of cell type specific alternative splicing, specially of microexons. Our lab is now interested in any of those topics, Evolutionary Medical Genomics, or anything that relates to transcriptomics, development and/or evolution.

Random facts: I love diving and traveling far away, and I try (hard) to play violin.

I am a molecular biologist from Mallorca interested in understanding the molecular basis of human diseases. I obtained my PhD at the University of Barcelona studying the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying muscular dystrophies. After a postdoc at the Free University of Brussels, my research interests shifted to the study of pancreatic islet biology and glucose metabolism. My work is focused in understanding the role of transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulatory programs, in particular alternative splicing, in the differentiation and function of hormone-secreting islet cells and its impact on diabetes.

Random facts: I love history, mountains and electronic music.

I graduated in Biotechnology at the University of Napoli (Italy). Following my Master's studies on the molecular mechanisms of retinal disorders, I moved to the CRG for my PhD, to study photoreceptors and sensory cells from a transcriptomic, alternative splicing perspective. Currently, as a Postdoc, I integrate experimental and computational approaches to identify new splicing mutations in retinal diseases. I am also exploring sensory cell signatures across species with single-cell methods.

Random facts: biking and climbing enthusiast, aspiring guitarist. In my free time, you can easily find me on a mountain.

I completed my PhD thesis at the CSIC Institute of Neuroscience of Alicante, where I studied the epigenetic and transcriptional regulation of memory formation. Afterwards, I moved to Stanford University (USA) for a first Postdoc, where I continued researching on Neurogenomics at the single-cell multi-omic level. Following my passion for memory and evolution, I joined the Irimia lab to try to answer a fundamental problem in biology: what are the genomic and regulatory bases that support the de novo origin of cell-types in metazoans, particularly vertebrates.

Random facts: I love skiing.

I studied Molecular Biotechnology as an undergrad at the University of Torino (Italy), but my passion has always been for bioinformatic in general and evolutionary projects in particular. After some research experiences in Sweden and Germany, I started my PhD at the CRG. I recently defended my thesis, where I studied the evolution of tissue-specific transcriptomes across bilaterian animals, with a particular focus on tissue-specific gene expression and alternative splicing. I am currently staying as a Postdoc to close up the remaining projects.

Random facts: I love sunny weather, weird animals and long trips.

I am a biologist fascinated by how evolution has sculpted vertebrate genomes to build our embryonic architecture. I have a BSc in Biology from the University of Athens, an MSc in Biotechnology from the University of Edinburgh and a DPhil (PhD) in Zoology from the University of Oxford, where I investigated early vertebrate developmental genetics. During my first postdoc in the Hellenic Center for Marine Research, I also worked on teleost comparative genomics. My current project focuses on Conserved Non-Coding Elements, ancient genomic regions regulating key developmental genes, aiming to map CNE-gene contacts and understand how they function and evolve.

Random facts: My dream situation is food and games with friends on a remote mountain or beach. I love hiking, cooking and running weird D&D campaigns. I also play the bouzouki and have a black belt in aikido.

I studied Biology at the University of Valencia (Spain), where I fell in love with evolution. Subsequently, I pursued a Master's in Evolutionary Biology, where I worked on the genetic basis and evolution of color polymorphism in stick insects (CNRS, Montpellier) and on the evolution of toxin-antidote systems in nematodes (IMBA, Vienna). Currently, I am a PhD student at Irimia's lab where I am trying to understand the zygotic genome activation in animals from an evolutionary perspective.

Random facts: I love music

I studied Medicinal Biotechnology at the School of Health in Porto, Portugal, where I'm from. Following my passion on virus I did a Master's in Tropical Heatlh in Lisbon where I studied Hepatitis and Sars-Cov-2. Later I worked as a technician in zebrafish retina development and tissue morphogenesis. Now as a PhD studient at Irimia's Lab my goal is to study the influence of pancreas microexons in pancreas development and, its conservation across species.

Random facts: I'm a retired classic ballet and contemporary dancer that loves to watch soccer.

I studied a bachelor’s in Biology and a master’s in Molecular Genetics at the University of Seville (Spain). I am interested in the evolution of animals and how new elements are integrated into complex networks. I am doing my PhD supervised by Manuel Irimia and Ignacio Maeso (University of Barcelona), in which I’m studying the domestication of retroviral capsids for neural functions, focusing on the ARC genes, both in tetrapods and dipterans.

Random facts: I love to spend time in Nature and observe animals.

During my BSc (Hons) Neuroscience at The University of Edinburgh with a voluntary year abroad at McGill University I had the opportunity to be involved in various research projects ranging from brain organoids to fish behaviour. The latter inspired me to commence my PhD in the Irimia lab investigating zebrafish sleep/wake behaviour from a neuroscience perspective while learning more and more about transcriptomics and specifically alternative splicing.

Random facts: Finally started sailing and am aspiring to become the lab pirate.

I studied Systems Biology Engineering at the UPC (Barcelona), where I started working with zebrafish. Thanks to this, I joined the lab as a zebrafish tech and learned a lot about molecular biology. Finding this passion led me to do a Master’s in Molecular Biotechnology, studying pancreas microexons in zebrafish. I am currently the Lab Manager and I finally found my place: being able to help everyone to do great science.

Random facts: I find pottery the most relaxing activity after a crazy lab day; I'm a crazy cat lady, and flowers and plants always make me happy.

I studied Biotechnology at the UAB (Spain). My main interests are transgenic technologies and I was incredibly lucky to work in PSS/GeMS - a transgenic facility - at the NIMR/The Francis Crick Institute under Sarah Hart-Johnson for 6 years. In 2017 I went back to my sunny roots and joined the lab. I really enjoy working in a research lab and applying my technical expertise to contribute to the different projects.

Random facts: I once baked 6 cakes as a test for a friend's party (and the leftovers were very much enjoyed in the lab)

I'm the proud Mexican bioinformatician in love with RNA of the Irimia lab. I did my PhD in Mexico at the UNAM working with alternative splicing and its evolution in legumes. I also spent some time in New York working at Weill Cornell Medicine, where I studied the expression of human endogenous retrovirus in cancer and upon viral infections. I'm involved in the data analysis and results visualizations of many projects of the lab.

Random facts: I'm passionate about football and love to play as goalkeeper.

After completing my PhD in transcriptomics of nervous system tumors at La Paz University Hospital (Madrid), my professional path led me to the University of Michigan where I studied epigenetics of hematologic cancers. Afterwards, and within the same lab, I moved to the University of Miami, where I continued my research. My American experience concluded with another two years at the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City studying transcriptomics and mutations in liver cancer. Then, I was transferred to IDIBAPS in Barcelona. In the most recent years, I have been working as a bioinformatician in the Genetics Department at the Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital.

Random facts: I like mountain biking, cooking, and board games. But above all, I love playing Super Mario with my little kids.

I worked on IRES-mediated translation initiation during my PhD (at University Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France) and delved into the intricacies of pre-mRNA splicing regulation by diverse RBPs during my time as Post-doc, and currently, as Staff Scientist in the Valcárcel lab at CRG. I can't pinpoint exactly when my passion for Life Sciences began, but an iodine test.