Briefly describe your career path leading up to your current role. What is your current position and at which company?
I am currently a Technician at G2G algae Solutions.
¿Cuánto tiempo lleva trabajando en el sector de la tecnología verde?
I have been working in the green technology sector for approximately seven months.
What motivated you to enter this field?
My motivation for entering this sector stems from my concern regarding climate change and the duty I believe we share as a society to ensure a sustainable future—primarily to ensure that future generations can live on a planet with suitable conditions
Describe los principales desafíos a los que te has enfrentado en tu carrera profesional.
On a professional level, my main challenge over recent months has been the job search, since I just recently finished my studies and had almost none professional experience.
For this reason, I found it difficult to find employment, which required me to develop tools to manage the anxiety and uncertainty caused by this situation. Another significant challenge I experienced was during my Erasmus exchange in Rennes (France) during the 2020-2021 academic year, where I had to learn how to navigate living in a foreign country in the midst of a pandemic.
I believe the challenge of living through a pandemic abroad ultimately had a very positive impact, both professionally and personally. On a personal level, I became more independent, learned that patience is sometimes necessary to see results, and it allowed me to immerse myself in a new culture and master a new language.
Professionally, it enabled me to pass all my subjects there, allowing me to graduate with a French degree in Sciences de la Vie.
Regarding the job search, I have ultimately achieved a very positive outcome; I am now in a position where, in addition to working with microorganisms that I enjoy in a field I find fascinating, I am learning new things and am very happy in my current role.
Furthermore, I believe the job search process allowed me to develop tools to handle stress and uncertainty and taught me to be patient. Having been through an active job search has also given me the ability to value my current work more deeply and to empathise more with those who are currently looking for employment.
Explica cómo superaste estas dificultades.
Regarding my time in France, I believe the main strategy was that I never gave up; it never crossed my mind to abandon my Erasmus placement and return to Spain. Additionally, I ultimately had help from others when preparing for my subjects.
Regarding the job search, being able to express my emotions and feelings with those close to me was incredibly helpful, as was having patience. It also helped to try and avoid negative thoughts, believing that everything happening was part of a process that would lead to me finding the right job for me.
Yes, I had a strong support network that has always stood by me, primarily my family, my partner, and my best friend.
Destaca tus principales logros y contribuciones.
I am proud of having moved to France, the work I am currently doing, and my language proficiency (B2 in English and C1 in French). I am also proud of holding two degrees (Biotechnology in Spain and Sciences de la Vie in France) and two Master’s degrees (an MSc in Health Biotechnology from the Pablo de Olavide Univeristy and another in Bioinformatics and Biostatistics from CEMP, which I completed simultaneously). Finally, I value all the professional experiences I have had so far, as I feel I have learned something from each one that has served me later in my career.
I consider my four diplomas (two undergraduate and two Master’s degrees) to be among my most significant achievements, alongside my language certificates. Furthermore, I believe my professional recognition is reflected in the letters of recommendation and positive appraisals I have received from the various organisations where I have gained experience throughout my career.
As a company (G2G Algae Solutions), we use microalgae (micro-organisms with photosynthetic pigments) as a tool to contribute to sustainability. Firstly, we have air purification systems where microalgae remove compounds such as CO2 and suspended particulate matter from the air. Secondly, we use microalgae as bio-stimulants for agriculture. Microalgae are part of the soil microbiome, where they perform vital functions such as aiding in the fixation of compounds and helping plants adapt to external environmental changes.
Moreover, the use of microalgae in agriculture allows for a reduction in the use of conventional chemical fertilisers. To this end, we have designed systems for farmers to produce their own algae-based fertilisers. This improves the soil microbiome, enabling them to reduce chemical usage while enhancing crop quality. Additionally, we have participated in other environmental projects, such as microalgae-based sewage treatment, which transforms wastewater into water that can be reused.
Proporciona algunos consejos para los aspirantes y futuros profesionales.
This advice is somewhat general, but I believe it is fundamental when bringing a product or idea to market: align your idea with real market needs. This is because, in the field of sustainability, ideas are often launched that either do not truly solve existing problems or are simply not feasible when put into practice (for example, an idea that works at laboratory scale but fails at an industrial scale or is not economically viable). I believe that for your work to have a real impact, it is key to direct your efforts towards the specific needs of the market, companies, or the planet. Once these needs are identified, I would speak with sustainability experts to see if your idea is viable for launch.
On a personal level, a fundamental lesson I have learned—and one I would like others to know—is the importance of patience and the ability to reinvent yourself, pushing forward even when you aren’t yet seeing the expected results. On a technical level, I have gained both practical and theoretical knowledge, especially in the microalgae sector. I enjoy passing this knowledge on to others because I feel that, in the various degree courses currently dedicated to sustainability, these micro-organisms—which can contribute so much to the sector—are hardly mentioned.
Furthermore, I wish I had been taught lab organisation (both maintaining order and planning my workload), scientific project management, and entrepreneurship skills. I also wish I’d been taught how to read a payslip, correctly interpret an employment contract, and understand matters related to National Insurance and social security