I am 23 years old. I am from Madrid; Spain and I will pursue a PhD in Medical Imaging at the Medical University of Vienna under the supervision of Prof. Claudia Kuntner-Hannes. I am a second-year MSc in Molecular and Biological Chemistry student at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). Additionally, I hold a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM).
Throughout my academic journey, I have worked on diverse research projects spanning the fields of photochemistry, biomaterials, and nuclear medicine. For instance, during my bachelor’s thesis, I conducted research on the synthesis, spectroscopic analysis, and photochemical characterization of Ru(II) complexes for application in photodynamic cancer therapies. Subsequently, during my master’s internship, I acquired a solid foundation in nanoparticle synthesis, surface modification, and characterization. Currently, my master’s thesis project is focused on the design and optimization of novel peptide-based radioligands for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging of M2 macrophages within the tumor microenvironment.
My PhD project will aim the radiolabeling and in vivo evaluation of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) functionalized with chelators and/or anticancer drugs for osteosarcoma diagnosis and treatment. I have chosen this PhD project because of the immense potential of radiolabeled SPIONs, which exhibit high sensitivity in PET imaging, enabling early tumor detection and precise diagnosis. Moreover, I believe that the STRIKE network will offer me an interdisciplinary PhD experience, providing valuable knowledge and skills in novel techniques, methods, and technologies. This will not only enhance the quality of my research, but also expand my professional network, leading to valuable collaborations.