The first Research Bites (RB) organized by the Victoria (Australia) delegation of the Spanish Researchers in Australia-Pacific association (SRAP-IEAP) was held in La Trobe University (Melbourne) on Friday, 11th December 2015, from 5 – 8 pm. This event was organised by our member Dr. Álvaro Roura, who works at La Trobe University (Melbourne) with a postdoctoral contract.
15 Spanish researchers participated in this event. Seven of them talked about their research and how did they end up working in Australia:
- Marta Portela-Esteban, Biologist, postdoc at La Trobe University. She works in human diseases Drosophila melanogaster, particularly in cancer and Alzheimer.
- Marta Enciso, Chemist-Physicist, research officer at La Trobe University. She works on molecular modelization, and simulating biologic systems
- Iván Martínez Botella, Chemist, Experimental Scientist CSIRO (Clayton). He works on organic synthesis (mainly in polymers) in continuum flux.
- Francisco Gómez Carrasco, Physicist, Postdoc Monash University. He works on Computational Fluid Dynamics.
- David Rodríguez Sánchez, Mechanical engineer, PhD student at RMIT. He works in optics of solar concentrators.
- David Perez Guaita, Chemist, postdoc at Monash Univ. He works in biomedical applications of the vibrational spectroscopy.
- Paula Sánchez Rodríguez, Biologist, currently searching for a grant or contract to start her PhD.
However, the event was interrupted before finished because a fire alarm forced to evacuate the building.
This first Research Bites of SRAP-IEAP in Victoria was not exclusive for researchers, but the Spanish Consul in Melbourne, D. Juan Carlos Gafo Acevedo, with some relatives and friends of the SRAP-IEAP members, also attended. After the Research Bites all participants enjoyed some Spanish tapas (tortilla de patatas, empanada de carne, mejillones a la vinagreta, embutidos y quesos ibéricos) with Rioja wine and beers.
Álvaro Roura was interviewed in radio 3ZZZ on 8th December 2015 to talk about the SRAP-IEAP and publicise the first Research Bites in Victoria. The link to the radio interview can be found here, it starts in minute 38.
Congratulations to all participants to the first Research Bites of the SRAP-IEAP association in Vitoria!