Meet Joaquín Tamargo Azpilicueta: FEBS Junior Section members' interview series

This interview series aims to introduce members of the FEBS Junior Section from FEBS Constituent Societies and their national Junior Sections, highlight their work and scientific interests, and inspire young scientists and students to join the initiative.
Meet Joaquín Tamargo Azpilicueta: FEBS Junior Section members' interview series
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Our interviewee is Joaquín Tamargo Azpilicueta, a PhD student from the Institute for Chemical Research (IIQ, cicCartuja), University of Seville-Spanish National Research Council, Spain. Joaquín is a member of the Junior Section of the Spanish Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (SEBBM), a FEBS Constituent Society.

Joaquín Tamargo Azpilicueta
Joaquín Tamargo Azpilicueta. Photo credits: personal archive.

What motivated you to pursue a career in science? Why did you choose this field?

Science has the power to enlighten and surprise us in many different ways. I was lucky to have a very passionate Biology teacher at High School who taught us the wonders of biomolecules. Since then, I started being interested in the relation of protein structure and function, and further during my Bachelor's degree, in the role of proteins’ non-structured regions and post-translational chemical modifications.

Briefly introduce your research topic. What is the purpose of your research?

My work is focused on understanding the molecular effect of post-translational modifications of proteins. These modifications work similarly to car modifications: the engine can be boosted by adding a turbo, the windows can be tinted to hide the back side of it, or even have a wheel clamp that impedes it going any further. Similarly, proteins can be chemically modified rendering them more active, hiding them from other proteins or even blocking their function. My current objective is to find out how these modifications influence the structure and function of proteins.

What excites you most about your work or research?

I feel that, as structural biologists, we are at the intersection of biology, chemistry, physics, and informatics. This makes collaboration with experts in different science areas indispensable. As scientists, we face a different challenge daily and constantly need to learn from a plethora of tools to comprehensively understand our system. I truly enjoy these aspects of my work.

Among all the scientific discoveries of all time, which is your favorite? Why?

Norman Borlaug developed wheat varieties with broad and stable disease and stress resistances and promoted the usage of fertilizers and advanced methods of cultivation. Following this "Green Revolution" during the 1970s, Norman Borlaug was awarded a Peace Nobel Prize for having saved the lives of millions of people. These actions ignited the need of taking biotechnological actions to tackle the famine and represent them as the driving force of scientific progress. His legacy reminds us how biotechnology can address global challenges like food insecurity—a principle we're revisiting today in the face of climate change.

What do you do as a scientist to make your work interesting and accessible to the public?

There is a quote by Rosalind Franklin that is always in my head: "Science and everyday life cannot and should not be separated". Applying it to my research, it may seem hard to talk colloquially about the niche topics that we are working on daily in our labs, but there is always a way of easing the explanation. I am very positive about this. I have organized a bunch of scientific outreach activities like Pint of Science, reaching out to scientists in many different areas (archaeology, chemistry, psychology, biochemistry...), and they always excel in communicating their research to a non-expert audience. It is always worth the effort.

What do you like to do in your spare time? Do you have hobbies?

From the more artsy side, I do enjoy doing photography. Trying to take a different perspective (maybe this can also apply to life) is a challenging but rewarding task. I also find a daily moment to swim a bit to let off some steam and also like playing video games.

How did you learn about the FEBS Junior Section? What motivated you to become a member?

I had the chance to participate in the 2023 FEBS Young Scientists' Forum in Tours (France), where I got to know Alex Röntgen, who introduced the FEBS Junior Section to all of us. It was a great congress, the people were fantastic, and I felt I should take a leap to keep in touch with the group. The aims of fostering early scientists' careers and supporting an ever-growing community of young researchers are the main reasons that have driven me to become a member.

What is the importance of getting involved in FEBS Junior Section activities for students and young scientists?

Students and young scientists can benefit from participating in and organizing activities (talks, tours to companies, outreach activities, etc.) of FEBS JS as well as of their national society. From my point of view, there are two main benefits: (i) developing soft skills derived from the organization of the events; and (ii) connecting to an international network of active, open-minded, young scientists. As a collaborative task, participating in the FEBS Junior Section is not necessarily time-demanding, and it opens new roads for collaborations or funding opportunities.

What advice would you give to aspiring students/scientists?

If you are still on your Bachelor's Degree, I would suggest getting involved with a Department. In my experience, it is a nice way of getting to know the inner workings of a lab. It may also be a good way of finding out whether you love or hate the topic and techniques. For other fellow students and scientists, ensure that you are taking enough quality self-care time, remember to stay hydrated, and give FEBS Junior Section a try and join us! Don't worry if you don't feel experienced in this kind of environment –it's alright, it happened as well to many of us. The members of the Junior Section are very supportive and will ensure that everything is crystal clear from day 1.

Where do you see your career going next?

It is difficult to predict it; there is still a good, long road ahead as a PhD student, and I hope I can get to know different possibilities for my future. I hardly ever plan my next move, but I will possibly remain in academia, which would allow me to keep on with the participation in scientific societies and events and organizing nice outreach activities.


Photo by Guillaume Coupy on Unsplash.

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