The PhD thesis was supervised by Imma Ratera, Judith Guasch and Nora Ventosa from the Nanomol-Bio group at ICMAB-CSIC.

The PhD Committee that evaluated the Thesis was formed by Jesús Martínez de la Fuente, Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA-CSIC) (President), Ana Paula Candiota Silveira, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) (Secretary) and Anna Lagunas Targarona, Institut de Bioenginyeria de Catalunya (IBEC) (Vocal).

Doctor Marc Martínez's PhD thesis was part of the PhD Programme in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biomedicine from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB).

Doctor Marc Martínez at his PhD Thesis Defense | ICMAB, CSIC

Why did you choose ICMAB for your PhD?

I found a very nice group (Nanomol) that felt like a family.

How would you explain your research to a non-scientific audience?

I produce nanoparticles in the lab and I use them to see how cells react to them. I work at the interface between cells and materials.

What are the main applications of your research? Could you give us an example?

My research can be applied to cell culture, which can be relevant for the development of new therapies for the regeneration of organs or for building implants to replace missing organs and body parts.

Marc Martínez with the PhD Committee and the supervisors | ICMAB, CSIC

From the lessons learnt here, which one do you value the most?

To let myself be helped by others. In the end, science is a collaborative process and every research project is the result of the effort of many people working together.

What will you miss the most from ICMAB?

The people. I think of the people at ICMAB as my second family.

How do you think this experience will contribute to your training and to your future?

There are a lot of skills that I have aquired during my PhD. Not only the scientific ones, such as the laboratory techniques and the use of equipments, but also planning and organization, data analysis and critical thinking, and many others that will be helpful for my career. I think that the PhD offers a mix of a very interesting set of skills that can be applied to many cases.

What are your plans once you finish your PhD?

I will probably look for work at the industry, either pharmaceutical o chemical.

What do you wish you had known at the beginning of your PhD, that you can recommend to the ones who are starting?

I would recommend everyone to let themselves be helped by others. Even though it seems at times that you are alone in this, you are not! Ask for help!

Why did you become a scientist? Who have been your role models?

Mainly for the curiosity. It is an amazing feeling to design an experiment and see its results. I don't think I have a specific role model, but I remember fondly a teacher from my high school who instilled this curiosity in me.

Let us know who are your favourite scientists (man and woman). Why?

I think that Severo Ochoa and Margarita Salas. They are two spanish scientists that have been very relevant in the field of biochemistry globally, which is in fact my training!

Marc Martínez with his three supervisors, Nora Ventosa, Judith Guasch and Imma Ratera | ICMAB, CSIC

Congratulations, Doctor Marc Martínez!

More information and photos.