The PhD thesis was supervised by Nora Ventosa and Elisabet González, from the NANOMOL group at ICMAB-CSIC. The PhD Committee that evaluated the Thesis was formed by Silvia Muro, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), (President), Marina Giannotti, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), (Secretary), and Jordi Díaz Manera, Newcastle University, UK (Vocal).

Judit Tomsen’s PhD thesis was part of the PhD Programme in Materials Science from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB).

Left to right: Nora Ventosa, Silvia Muro, Judit Tomsen, Marina Giannotti, Jordi Díaz Manera and Elisabet González

Why did you choose the ICMAB for your PhD? 

I met the group thanks to the nanomedicine’s subject from the degree, and from the beginning I found the topic really interesting. So, when my supervisors proposed me to carry out the thesis, I accepted it. 

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

My research is about using tiny capsules in the nanometric range to encapsulate pharmaceutical drugs and try to improve some of their characteristics. 

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

The main (and final) application is to provide new strategies based on nanotechnology to overcome some of the limitations of current pharmaceutical treatments. For example, in my thesis I worked in the improvement of the current treatment for Fabry Disease. 

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

A PhD is a long road, and there were many lessons to learn! The most valuable lesson for me: do not hesitate to ask for some help in the hard moments. 

What will you miss the most from ICMAB? 

For the moment I am not leaving since I’ll stay one more year at ICMAB, so I’m not still ready to answer this question! 

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

I think that the PhD road give us experience in dealing with different situations, to solve problems, and to lose fair to unexpected or difficult situations. 

What are your plans once you finish your PhD? 

For the moment, I will stay one year more in the group, continuing with the project. But first... Summer time! 

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

To be sure that you are interested in the selected topic, as well as knowing about the group (and people!).

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

I was always interested in science and in “know more” about things. 

Which is your favourite female scientist? And why? 

It is difficult to choose only one! Maybe Katherine Johnson or Rosalind Franklin 

Describe in 3 keywords… 

• Your research: liposomes, drug delivery, Fabry disease 
• Barcelona: home, life, friends 
• Your experience at ICMAB: friends, family, amazing

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