Israel Macho Ávila a PhD student under Prof. Pau Ballester and Dr. Gabriel González Ferrer supervision has successfully defended his thesis entitled: “DOSY NMR Experiments at Variable Temperature. A Thorough Analysis of Optimal Conditions for Reliable Results” publicly on Wednesday, 3 December 2025.
The members of the evaluation committee were Prof. Montserrat Gómez Simón (Université de Toulouse, France), Dr. Guzman Gil-Ramírez (University of Lincoln, United Kingdom) and Prof. Montserrat Ferrer García (Universitat de Barcelona, Spain).
Why did you become a scientist?
I’ve being in touch with research for many years now, but my experience has always been more involved in the application of skilled practical work, what is quite different from leading a project. But hey, achieving a PhD implies researching! So, I guess I may have become a little bit of a scientist in the process, right?
Regarding my relationship with science itself, as a child I was always ready to learn the meaning of new concepts and words. My parents encouraged me to look for them in the house encyclopedia, and it turns out that instead of getting sick of it I became a curious person, in many different areas.
Since the major part had to do with life sciences when I was in my pre-university years, I opted for this branch of knowledge. The rest is history… and Chemistry.
What do you want to achieve as a scientist?
In this new stage, I would like to merge my scientific and technical aptitudes in a synergic way. As a PhD candidate I have sharpen some skills in my specialized field, also I have achieved deeper and new knowledge that I can apply on my day-to-day job. Moreover, I have had the opportunity to approach my researcher colleagues in a different and closer way, sharing some difficulties of the thesis process with them. That human part has nothing to do with the usual interaction researcher-technician. So, to sum up, I think I will become a better specialist, but also my communication skills and empathy will improve thanks to this common experience.
What applications can your thesis have in the future?
The new methodology, resulting from the aforementioned study, should help researchers and NMR technicians in achieving reliable results in a simple way, provided the guidelines of our protocol for VT DOSY NMR experiments are followed.
The thing that I like most about my thesis is….
At a personal level what I like the most is that the main part of this work has been carried out with my boss and coworker of 15 years. We’ve passed through a lot in this time. So, the result has the smell of a familiar recipe cooked at home between good friends.
Also, I love that the results of this work have practical application in any NMR lab with no need for further investment or elaborated procedures.
From the lessons learnt (or skills developed) at ICIQ, which one do you value the most?
Over these years I’ve been very fortunate to learn many things from different situations and colleagues. To cite one particularly relevant lesson, I would highlight the importance of distinguishing between important, urgent, and priority.
What ICIQ moment you´ll never forget?
This is an old one, so sorry for going back to before my PhD thesis years, but I really love this memory: The Nights of Thrones.
Ten years ago, a group of dear friends met to have dinner and enjoy every next chapter of the well-kwon TV series ‘Game of Thrones’. There was daily work, but also communal excitement, secret jokes in the corridors and by e-mail between those that had already read or where in the reading of the novels…So funny!
What advice do you have for someone who’s starting their PhD now?
Organize your schedule, work hard, endure the difficulties and maintain your balance: There’s something called ‘buffer time’, but chocolate works as well.
Who has been your biggest influence?
My family, friends and some inspirational readings.
Chemistry/Science is fun because…
Every single day it surprises us with unexpected plot twists. In a way, Chemistry can be considered the ultimate thriller writer.
Tell us something about you that people might not know…
I’m universal recipient, just in case.
La entrada ¡Muchas felicidades, Dr. Israel Macho Ávila! se publicó primero en ICIQ.