Javier Santos Moreno Principal Investigator

I studied Biotechnology (MSc from Univ. of Salamanca, Spain) – including an Erasmus stay at the Univ. Geneva, Switzerland – and Laboratory of Clinical Analyses (MSc from Univ. Pompeu Fabra, Spain). I did my PhD at Collège de France and Institut Pasteur (Paris, France) studying the molecular mechanism of protein secretion in bacteria. I then became passionate about synthetic biology, and devoted my research efforts to build (rather than to observe) biological systems. As a post-doc at the Univ. of Lausanne, Switzerland, I developed CRISPRi-based synthetic gene circuits. During my post-doc at Univ. Pompeu Fabra, I engineered the human skin microbiome for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Since 2024, I lead the Synthetic Cell Programming lab, which focuses on developing tools and strategies for programming cell behaviour, both at the fundamental level and for prospective applications.

Out of the lab, I am a sports lover, a passionate traveler, an avid reader, and an amateur volcano extinguisher.

Kathakali Sarkar Post-Doc

Hey there! I am Kathakali, a synthetic biology enthusiast from India and currently enjoying sunny shores at Barcelona. I basically engineer living cells, teaching them to perform custom functions.

I studied integrated MSc. In Biotechnology from St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata India. I did my PhD in higher order information processing synthetic genetic devices in bacteria, at Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, Kolkata, India. During my post-doc at Imperial College London, United Kingdom, I worked on resource-aware biomolecular control systems in bacteria and developed synthetic secretion tools for Escherichia coli. My current research aims in programming living cells with synthetic biological timers to make those cells capable of performing complex tasks with precise temporal control and to build  novel ready-to-use temporal tools and applications.

When I am not in the lab, you can find me unwinding with some good music or dreaming of  relaxed evenings amongst misty mountains.

Audam Chhun Post-Doc

I am a synthetic microbiologist interested in engineering microbes to understand and harness microbiomes. My research specifically focuses on developing genetic tools for undomesticated bacteria and applying them to study host-microbe interactions, design biosensing strategies, and develop microbial therapeutics.

I studied Biology (BSc) and completed a Master’s in Systems and Synthetic Biology at the University of Paris-Saclay (France) where I worked on engineering gut bacteria during a research stay at Harvard University (USA). Along the way, I also gained industry experience at Synlogic Therapeutics (USA), a company developing engineered gut microbes for microbiome-based therapeutics.

I later obtained a PhD at the University of Warwick (UK), where I investigated marine microbial interactions for the discovery of new natural products. More recently, as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Lausanne (Switzerland), I engineered gut symbionts of the honeybee as living biosensors to probe the gut environment in vivo at unprecedented resolution. I am currently a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow at Universitat Pompeu Fabra, where I engineer skin microbes to produce antimicrobial peptides.

When I am outside the lab, I enjoy baking and eating whatever I bake.

Diego Ruiz Sanchís Post-Doc

Hi, it’s Diego! I studied Biotechnology at the Technical University of Madrid. I first set foot in a lab during an internship at the Centre for Plant Biotechnology and Genomics (UPM, INIA). There, they showed me how, in synthetic biology, microbial cells can be programmed borrowing ideas from engineering disciplines. I then moved to the United Kingdom and did an MRes in Systems and Synthetic Biology at Imperial College London, where I started working with synthetic metabolic pathways. Later, during my PhD at the Imperial College Centre for Synthetic Biology, I used metabolic pathways not only as an engineering target, but as a tool to build and structure synthetic microbial communities. Now, in Javier’s lab, I’m working with time-tracking cellular devices and cellular history.

Outside the lab, you may find me in the bass section of a choir, at the theatre, around a table with food and people, or attempting to do various sports with limited success or discipline.

Michael Moraskie Post-Doc

Hola, I’m Michael! My venture into scientific research began as a Biology major in Dr. Rachel Hoang’s lab at Haverford College, where I studied the microbiome of D. suzukii fruit flies and their resistance to Wolbachia infection. I then worked as a Research Technician II at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Microbiome Sequencing Core under the supervision of Dr. Lisa Mattei, where I prepared thousands of samples for NGS sequencing and was exposed to a wide variety of fascinating microbiome investigations. Following my time as a technician, I joined the laboratory of Dr. Sylvia Daunert at the University of Miami to pursue a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

My doctoral research focused on understanding how bacteria communicate with each other inside the human gut, what those conversations mean for human health, and whether these communication molecules could serve as biomarkers of disease. My work centered on quorum sensing (QS), the chemical signaling system bacteria use to coordinate behavior as a community. To study these communication molecules, I engineered bioluminescent whole-cell biosensors to detect and quantify QS molecules in complex biological samples like stool and gastrointestinal tissue. This work led to the detection of the QS molecule DPO in healthy human stool and revealed that DPO is produced broadly across commensal gut microbiome bacterial species.

Following the completion of my doctoral degree, I joined the Santos-Moreno lab as a postdoctoral researcher to delve deeper into the world of synthetic biology. I am currently focused on developing reprogrammable genetic circuits to enable the deployment of diverse gene expression programs with a single multifunctional genetic system.

Outside of the lab, you’ll find me hanging out with my dog Túko, most likely soaking in the sun at the beach. I also love to cook, play a good video game, and go out dancing.

Cristóbal Parra Cid PhD candidate

I studied Medical Technology (Univ. of Talca, Chile) where I characterized and determined the antimicrobial profile of different ionic liquids and participated in local research projects. Then, I worked in the clinical laboratory of the Regional Hospital of Talca, Chile, and I also worked as a professor at the Catholic University of Maule, Chile, providing me with important clinical and pedagogical tools in several areas.

Subsequently, I studied the Master’s in Molecular Biotechnology (Univ. of Barcelona), where I focused on the application of synthetic biology tools in Cutibacterium acnes and advances in microbiome engineering. This experience, combined with my skills in molecular and microbiological techniques, allowed me to approach scientific challenges in research and the design of advanced biological systems.

Currently, my main focus is to develop molecular tools to control and programme the behavior of non-model skin bacteria, in order to create synthetic strains with diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities.

Outside the lab, I am a sports and nature enthusiast, always looking for new outdoor adventures and travelling a lot. I am a musician, enjoy playing various instruments and love photography. I also appreciate cultural activities and there is nothing better than sharing laughs with friends, enjoying conversations and a good beer.

Helena Carazo González PhD candidate

I studied Biotechnology (BSc from Universitat de Barcelona, Spain), where I focused on cellular and molecular biology, genetic engineering, and microbiology. During my bachelor's thesis at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), I worked on developing in vitro 3D models of lung tissue to study chronic bacterial infections. I then completed a Master’s in Systems and Synthetic Biology at Université Paris-Saclay (France), where I characterized the activity of de novo antimicrobial peptides designed using deep learning methods during my internship at the Learning Planet Institute.

Currently, I am working on engineering synthetic gene circuits to program time in cells. My research aims to develop biological timers that allow precise control of cellular behavior. This work not only expands our fundamental knowledge but also unlocks new possibilities in bioproduction and biosensing.

In my free time, I love hiking and playing volleyball to stay energized. I also love taking time to read and explore new books.

Lucía López Alcaide PhD candidate