Yesterday, IQS hosted the 13th Catalan Biotechnology Workshop (JBC), an event organized by the Association of Biotechnologists of Catalonia (ASBTEC) with the aim of bringing undergraduate students closer to the professional and research world within the field of life sciences. The event, which brought together more than 200 students from various Catalan universities, offered a broad programme of lectures, roundtables, and networking activities with researchers and professionals from the biotechnological and biomedical sectors.
IQS hosts the Catalan Biotechnology Workshop with more than 200 undergraduate students taking part
The opening ceremony began with a welcome address by Dr Borrós, Director of IQS; Dr Leivar, Vice-Dean of the IQS School of Engineering; and Juan Antonio Castro and Jaime Serra, members of the ASBTEC Board and organizers of the event.
In her lecture, Dr Ana Caño-Delgado, representing CSIC/CRAG and a renowned researcher in molecular genetics, explained her studies linking hormonal signalling to plant growth and adaptation to drought. After the first coffee break, Dr Xevi Biarnés, a professor at IQS, shared his experience regarding practical applications of bioinformatics, artificial intelligence, and computational biology in designing proteins and enzymes.
The event continued with a roundtable session dedicated to master’s degrees in which different specialized educational options were presented, followed by lunch and a networking session that facilitated an exchange of experiences between students and professionals.
In the afternoon, Dr Francisco Barriga, from the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), gave a lecture focused on the development of genomic engineering tools for cancer research. His presentation was followed by a roundtable featuring representatives from biotechnology companies who presented career opportunities and job prospects for recent graduates.
The final lecture was presented by Núria Pairot, representing the company HIPRA, who shared her career path within the pharmaceutical and biotechnological industry. The event concluded with the closing session, a Speed Meeting, and a tour of the IQS facilities in which participants had the chance to explore the laboratories and research spaces at the university first-hand.
With these workshops, IQS has reaffirmed its commitment to practical training, connections with the business community, and promoting young scientific talent, representing a meeting point between academia and the professional world within the biotechnology sector.