Science and Innovation

She is a distinguished biomedical scientist focusing on cutting-edge research in oocyte aging at the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG). As one of the selected researchers to participate in the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST) “To the Mothers of Science” program, she combines her career with the challenges of motherhood. With a PhD from the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB) Barcelona, she continues to contribute to advancing scientific knowledge for public health and economic prosperity. Recently, she welcomed her son, Nicolas, born in 2024.

What motivated you to pursue a scientific career? When did you realize it was the right path for you?

My decision to pursue a scientific career was certainly influenced by the fact that my father is a university professor, and I got the impression that he had the perfect work-life balance. Most days after school, my brother and I would meet in his office to do our homework, surrounded by people from all over the world who were always happy to help us. There were English, French, and Spanish natives, and everyone could assist us with our math exercises, as my father worked in the technical informatics department.

Everyone in the department, from the professors to the students and administrative staff, seemed to enjoy their work and environment. My father used to spend a lot of time at the university and would often open his computer on weekends simply because he enjoyed it. Hence, I got the impression that academia was great, and I still think it is.

At school, I was much more passionate about biology, chemistry, and physics than mathematics, which is why I chose to study molecular biology—unlike anyone else in my family.

How did you come to work at an international biomedical research center like the CRG (Centre for Genomic Regulation)?

When I was younger, moving to different countries was very exciting, although I must admit that I have been far less mobile than the ideal scientist with the “perfect CV.” I did my undergraduate studies in Vienna, where I also worked as a part-time technician at the Vienna Biocenter. For my master’s project, I moved to London, and for my PhD project, I went to IRB Barcelona. I chose to pursue my PhD in Barcelona because I liked the lab (the Salvador Aznar lab), the city, and my boyfriend at the time, with whom I coordinated my plans.

For my postdoc, I considered various labs and places, but I didn’t really want to start over somewhere completely new, so I was inclined to look into labs in Vienna and Barcelona. My PhD supervisor suggested labs in the US, but I was sure I didn’t want to leave Europe. I decided to work with Elvan Boke because I really liked her science and her flexibility regarding the project I wanted to pursue. However, what convinced me the most was her approach to life as a scientist. Elvan seemed to be a happy and cheerful person who didn’t let the pressures of being a junior PI (Principal Investigator) overwhelm her. I quote: “If science works out for me (as in good publications and good grants keep coming in), great. If not, I’ll find another interesting thing to do.” I wanted to pursue my postdoc studies with someone who is not only successful but also a happy scientist.

What recent advancements in the study of oocyte aging do you find most promising for improving the quality of life?

If we want to improve oocyte quality in older women, it will be essential to understand how age-related oocyte defects arise, in other words, what their origins are. A recent publication from the Rong Li lab found that oocytes can be rejuvenated when exposed to a young follicular environment. Hence, they claim that the somatic cells that surround and support the oocyte throughout its lifetime play a major role in oocyte health. Old follicle cells are not able to accurately support the oocytes, thereby affecting their quality and ability to develop into a healthy embryo. On the bright side, they were able to transplant old oocytes into young follicles, thereby improving the developmental potential of the old oocytes.

In my project, I focus on the impact of the old systemic environment (in other words, blood-borne factors such as hormones) on oocyte aging. By subjecting old oocytes to a young systemic environment, we try to rescue oocyte quality defects caused by aging. Once we understand which young factors are provided by young follicle cells and the young systemic environment, we might be able to develop therapeutics that improve oocyte health in older women.

How do you think research in oocyte aging can help address the challenges posed by an aging population?

Maternal age at first birth keeps increasing in Western countries. In Spain, the average age of first-time motherhood is 32 years, and many would like to become mothers in their 40s. Since natural fertility sharply declines in our mid-30s, many women have difficulty conceiving due to limited oocyte numbers and oocyte quality defects.

What motivated you to apply for the BIST “To the Mothers of Science” program? How has it impacted your professional and personal life? Have your expectations been met?

I find it great that mothers in science receive special attention through programs designed to help us progress in our careers. I heard very positive things about this program from different mothers, so I decided to apply.

Before joining the program, did you feel that motherhood might limit your career progress?

I certainly thought that motherhood might affect my career progress. Most importantly, motherhood might prevent me from moving to a new country, which certainly limits my opportunities in science. Since becoming a mother, I’m quite sure that I would either like to stay in Barcelona or move back to Vienna, where we could get support from my family. Hence, in order to progress in my career, I would need offers in one of these two cities.

Regardless of the father’s involvement, the effort of child-rearing during the first year (or as long as a mother breastfeeds) mainly falls on the mother. The older the child, the easier it gets to delegate certain responsibilities, either to the father or childcare providers.
Also, motherhood is very energy-consuming, which is why many women prefer a less stressful and competitive job than a career in science.

Have you noticed collaboration and support among the women participating in the program? Are there support networks between you?

Certainly. The BIST “To the Mothers of Science” program really allowed us to get to know each other. Now that the program has ended, it has been a bit difficult to organize meetups, since everyone sort of went back to her own life. However, we know how to contact each other and will certainly reach out if needed.

In your opinion, what additional measures could institutions take to better support researchers who are mothers?

I actually think that the main responsibility for supporting mothers lies with the government. They should provide free childcare to everyone and financial assistance to parents. Our working institutions should not suffer any financial disadvantage for hiring mothers or women of childbearing age.

Apart from financial help, I think my institute, the CRG, provides a lot of support. Indeed, they offer family support grants and seminars directed to women and mothers to encourage them to continue in science, similar to the BIST “To the Mothers of Science” program.

Support from the PI is also very important. A PI must understand that sometimes a mother might arrive late or have to stay home unexpectedly because her child is sick. A mother might not be able to stay in the lab beyond a certain hour or fly across the world to attend conferences. Maybe the research institution could have guidelines on what a PI can expect and not expect from a mother scientist in their lab.

What are your medium or long-term professional goals?

I would certainly like to continue doing research, ideally leading an independent research lab.

What is your vision for the future of women in science? Are you optimistic?

Women in science are receiving more and more support, so yes, I am optimistic. Also, there has been a huge increase in women principal investigators over the past years. A major limitation I still see is the need to travel, which many mothers are no longer willing to do. To start a family, most people prefer to settle in a specific place, which can look bad on your scientific CV. However, I hope that with the advent of tools like Zoom, allowing long-distance communication and collaboration, the pressure to move between countries and continents will decrease.

What recommendations would you give to women looking to start a scientific career?

Most important, believe in yourself. Find good mentors and supervisors (including women living a life you could imagine living) who support you throughout your career and can offer both professional and personal advice.

I also think it’s important not to give up easily. Many young mothers might feel they can no longer keep up with pushing their projects forward and succeeding in science. Often, putting in half the energy is sufficient to progress.

Seek help, such as seminars, coaching sessions, and mothers-in-science grants that provide career support and guidance.

If you want to have children I think it is important to find a partner who is willing to share the childcare responsibilities equally. I am very thankful to the Spanish government that they give equal parental leave to both the mother and the father, which cannot be transferred from one parent to the other. This really motivates fathers to spend a lot of time with their children very early on and allows them to gain confidence to care for them.

And lastly, life as a mother scientist is a lot easier if you have stable. Unfortunately, science doesn’t offer huge salaries, and life can be expensive, especially after having children. Therefore, it might behelpful to think early on about how to manage your financials and about how to invest it well. For me personally, my bank account became a lot happier once I bought my own flat. It took me a while to find a bank that would give me a loan for my modest 50m2 flat, but now I just have to pay my monthly credit fees, which are considerably lower than any flat rental would be.