Parcours

Education

• Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France, 2017
• Ph.D., Chemistry,University at Buffalo - SUNY, Buffalo, New York, USA, 2003
• M.S., Biotechnology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain, 1997
• B.S., Chemistry (Biochemistry), University Autónoma of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain, 1995
• B.S., Chemistry (Organic Chemistry), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain, 1990

Experience

• 2021 – present, DR2 CNRS, Institut des Sciences Moléculaires de Marseille, BiosCiences, CNRS UMR 7313, Marseille, France
• 2013 – 2020, CRCN CNRS, Institut des Sciences Moléculaires de Marseille, BiosCiences, CNRS UMR 7313, Marseille, France
• 5/2008 – 2012, Group Leader, Head of the Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry and Peptide Design, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica (ITQB) - Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
• 2004 – 4/2008, Postdoctoral research, Chemistry Department, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
• 1995 – 1997, Research Scientist, R&D Department, Rhône-Poulenc, S.A, Barcelona, Spain
• 1992 – 1995, Laboratory Assistant (1992-1993)/ Manager (1993-1995), Development Department, Acabados Navas - KELAN, S.A, Barcelona, Spain

Distinctions

• Silbert Award Recipient Fall 2000-Spring 2001. University at Buffalo – SUNY.
• The Mark Diamond Research Fund Award 2002. University at Buffalo – SUNY.
• Margaret and Herman Sokol Postdoctoral Award Recipient 2005. University of Michigan.
• American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship 7/2006-4/2008, University of Michigan.
• Santander-Totta/UNL Scientific Award 2010 (shared with Prof. Ana Cecília A. Roque). Project: “Peptidomimetics on Magnetics Beads for Bioseparation Processes”.

Enseignements

• 2013-2020, Lecturer, Aix-Marseille Université, Campus Scientifique de Saint Jérôme, Master of Chemistry (M2R COCV): Synthetic Biology.
• 2017, Lecturer, FEBS combined practical and lecture course “Chemistry of metals in biological systems”, 21 – 28 May 2017, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
• 2009-2012, Lecturer ITQB - Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
• Ph.D. program in “Biological and Chemical Sciences and Engineering”:Chemical peptide synthesis, Trends in catalysis, Peptides and peptidomimetics.
• 2006-2007, Lecturer, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
• Advance Inorganic Chemistry CHE 402.
• 2000, Teaching Assistant, University at Buffalo – SUNY, Buffalo, New York, USA, Advance Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory CHE 322.
• 1998, Teaching Assistant, University at Buffalo – SUNY, Buffalo, New York, USA, Organic Chemistry Laboratory CHE 202.
• 1990-1991, High School Teacher, Private School, Barcelona, Spain.

Thématiques

Our research projects fold in the area of bioinorganic chemistry at the interface between biology, catalysis and medicinal chemistry. We are particularly interested in understanding how native systems work, in particular metalloenzymes, and using this knowledge to develop bioinspired functional systems with applications in the field of catalysis and therapy. In our approach we use peptides and peptidomimetics to harness chemical diversity with biological structural complexity and develop scaffolds with high affinity and specificity for different metal ions and targets of interest.

• De Novo designed metallo-peptides to understand biological relevant metal sites:

1. - Mn/Fe/Cu-Superoxidase Dismutases
2. - Zn-peptidases
3. - Formate dehydrogenases

• Pepzymes: developing bioinspired functional systems for environmentally friendly chemical transformations and therapy

Collaborations et groupes

French collaborations

• Pr. Bruno Guigliarelli, Dr. Anabella Ivancich and Dr. Vincent Fourmond, BIP UMR 7281 CNRS – AMU, Marseille
• Pr. Oliver Ouari, ICR UMR 7273 CNRS – AMU, Marseille
• Dr. Christelle Hureau, Laboratoire de Chimie de Coordination du CNRS UPR 8241, Toulouse
• Dr. Catherine Berthomieu, LIPM UMR 7265 CEA – CNRS – AMU, Cadarache

International collaborations

• Pr. Ana A. C. Roque, UCIBIO, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal
• Pr. Rita Delgado, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica – António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal
• Dr. Ana Luisa Simplicio, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica – António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal
• Pr. MD. Fabian Kiessling and Dr. Twan Lammers, Experimental Molecular Imaging, University of Aachen (RWTH), Germany
• Pr. Daniela Valensin, Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, Italy
• Pr. Oscar Palacios and Prof. Mercè Capdevila, Chemistry Department, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
• Pr. Mariona Sudope and Prof. Luis Rodríguez-Santiago, Chemistry Department, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
• Pr. Surajit Sinha, Indian Association for Cultivation of Science, Kolkata, India
• Pr. Silke Leimkühler, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, Department of Molecular Enzymology, University of Potsdam, Germany
• Prof. Cristina Satriano, Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Catania, Italy
• Dr. Patrick Gamez and Dr. Ana Caballero, University of Barcelona, Spain

Responsabilités administratives

• Member of The Mark Diamond Research Fund Council in 2002
• Member of the Scientific Committee of ITQB – UNL representing the Chemistry Division (2009-2013)
• Elected member of the iSm2 Laboratory Council (Conseil du Laboratoire) (2018-2023)
• Member of Management Committee of the COST Actions CM0803 (2010-2013) and CA18202 (2020-2023)
• Member of the organizing committees of ISABC-11(2011, Spain), CuBICS (2018, France), QBIC-V (2019, France), Thematic School METBIO2 (2019, France), JCC-SCF (2020, France)
• Chair of the Thematic School PEPPERSchool - Peptide and Protein Engineering: from Concepts to Biotechnological Applications ( First edition 2018, Carry-le-Rouet, France; Second edition 2021, Virtual )