The PhD thesis was supervised by Arántzazu González Campo (FunNanoSurf Group, ICMAB-CSIC) and M. Lluïsa Pérez García (Supramolecular systems in Nanomedicine Group, Universitat de Barcelona). The PhD Committee that evaluated the Thesis was formed by Prof. Jaume Esteve Tintó, IMB-CNM-CSIC, Spain (President), Dr. Francesca Anna Scaramuzzo, Sapienza Università di Roma, Italy (Secretary), and Prof. Elvira Gómez Valentín, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain (Vocal).

Sandra's PhD thesis was part of the PhD Programme in Drug Research, Development and Control from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB).

Dr. Sandra Giraldo and collegues in front of the ICMAB building.

Why did you choose the ICMAB for your PhD?

When I was in the last year of my degree in chemistry, I had the opportunity to join Arancha González in their research group at ICMAB because I was eager to know more about the research world. Then, I decided to continue doing the master thesis with them but the group in the moment that I finished my master could not offer a PhD, so I moved to Belgium for 1 year. Being there, Arancha contacted me to apply to a PhD fellowship from the Spanish government with the Professor M. Lluïsa Pérez at the Faculty of Pharmacy at UB. So, I gained the fellowship, and I started the PhD between the two institutions.

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

We are trying to move objects at the micro- and nanoscale along of a conductive surface induced by applying redox stimulus.

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

The idea is to create models for sensing and drug delivery in a controlled manner.

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

I think that all lessons that I have learnt are valuable because they have helped me grow as a professional and as a person.

What will you miss the most from ICMAB?

The amazing people that I have known and the pleasure to be with them.

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

In a PhD you have the opportunity to work with people around the world, learning from other countries and cultures, and face with techniques and challenges that you never have dealt with. I think that all these experiences open your mind, helping you to come up against anything in your future.

What are your plans once you finish your PhD?

Not decided yet but I will try to find a job that I’m passionate about.

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

I think that to succeed in your PhD you have to be very well-organized, read a lot of articles to inspire you and see realistic possibilities of what you can do. In addition, you have to know perfectly the objectives that you want to achieve, this way you can focus yourself to reach that objective.

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

In my opinion one becomes a scientist when you are curious about everything that surrounds you. In my case, I love to know why things happen and I think that science can help you answer all those questions.

Who is your favourite female scientist? And why?

Well as a chemist, the most relevant ones are Marie Sklowoeska-Curie and Irène Joliot-Curie, but thanks to all the efforts from the ICMAB and from other institutions, to know more about the forgotten female scientists, I cannot choose. All of them are incredible models to follow and an inspiration to be whatever you want without gender influence.

Describe in 3 keywords…

• Your research: experimental, multidisciplinary, challenging
• Barcelona: sea, diversity, culture
• Your experience at ICMAB: friendship, laboratory, science

Any other comments you would like to say:

Good luck, I will miss you a lot!

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