The PBE lab is based in the Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal (IRYCIS), Madrid. If you are interested in working with us, get in touch.

ÁLVARO SAN MILLÁN

Group Leader

I earned my PhD in 2010 from the Complutense University of Madrid and moved to Oxford to work as a postdoc in Craig MacLean’s lab. In 2016 I came back to Spain to start my own lab in the Ramon y Cajal Hospital with a Miguel Servet Fellowship. I am a veterinarian fascinated by the microbial world in general and by plasmids in particular. I am also a big fan of dogs, TV, football (soccer) and people with a sense of humour.

JERÓNIMO RODRÍGUEZ-BELTRÁN

Postdoc

I am broadly interested in understanding the mechanisms that fuel bacterial evolution and their implications for antimicrobial resistance. In particular, I have been working on determining recombination and mutation rates in different populations of E. coli. Now, as a postdoc in the PBE lab, I am thrilled to explore the evolution of plasmid-mediated antibiotic resistance. When I am not in the lab, l like mountain biking and brewing my own beer (though not necessarily at the same time)

JAVIER DE LA FUENTE HIDALGO

PhD student

I have been interested in biology since I was a kid. I graduated in Microbiology at the Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona (UAB) and after working in a food-microbiology laboratory I decided to study a MSc in Biotechnology in Madrid. During my master studies I worked with Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the CNB and now I am enthusiastic to work in Álvaro’s lab with plasmid-mediated evolution. I consider myself a fan of gastronomy, the sea (especially sharks), music and a history freak.

CARMEN DE LA VEGA

Lab technician

I have just finished my studies on “Anatomical pathology and cytology” at Francisco Vitoria University, Madrid. Although I am not very experienced in microbiology, I have recently discovered the huge potential of this field. I am therefore looking forward to go in depth, as a part of PBE lab. I consider myself a hard working person, as well as exigent and vital. Feline lover in general (and cats in particular), I enjoy cinema and gastronomy, and I never say “no” to a good wine. I am also curious by nature, always willing to discover new places and cultures.

AIDA ALONSO DEL VALLE

PhD student

I am a microbiology enthusiast. I graduated in Biology at the Universidad de Alcalá (Madrid, Spain) and I also have an MSc in Microbiology, Public Health and Infectious Diseases. My path in science started with the study of the pathological effects of amyloid proteinopathy in E. coli, at the CIB (Madrid, Spain). Then, I fell in love with this microorganism and its plasmids. Now, I am very excited to be part of the PBE lab. In my free time, I like cooking, brewing my own beer, watching classic films and listening to rock music. But, most of all, I love spending time with my dogs.

RICARDO LEÓN SAMPEDRO

Postdoc

As a microbiologist, I am interested in the role of mobile genetic elements in genome evolution and ecological adaptation. A few years ago and due to my growing interest in bioinformatics, I specialized with an MSc in computational biology. And now, as a postdoc in Alvaro’s lab, I want to center my activity on the bioinformatic analysis of genomes focusing on plasmid dynamics, their evolution, and horizontal transfer. Further, I also enjoy spending time with friends hiking in nature, exploring the city, and indoors playing board games.

AINARA CHAS

Master’s student

I studied Biochemistry at the University of Navarre, during the degree I found Microbiology really interesting, and in my last year I worked with multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Currently I’m studying an MSc in Microbiology and Parasitology at the Complutense University of Madrid. I’m delighted to be part of the PBE lab and keep learning about bacteria and its evolution. In my free time I love painting, watching TV series and dancing.

CRISTINA HERENCIAS

Postdoc

Since I graduated in Biochemistry at the Complutense de Madrid (UCM), I have been interested in metabolism and how microorganisms orquestrated the metabolic network to complete their growth cycle. Specially, during my PhD I was focused in the study of the metabolism of predatory bacteria, which have been proposed as promising alternatives to antibiotics. I joined the PBE lab to work as a postdoc and study the dynamic interation prey/predator from an evolutionary point of view, as well as to understand the metabolism behind the evolution of plasmid-mediated antibiotic resistance in bacteria. I love doing sports, cooking and exploring new food to try.