With two bachelor’s degrees in physics and chemistry completed in Barcelona, he discovered bioinformatics during an internship focused on protein studies. What began as a small project opened the door to data analysis and coding. “I didn’t really enjoy working in the lab,” he recalls, “but when I got introduced to bioinformatics, it just clicked.” Although the choice to pivot was risky to some extent—especially with limited coding experience and only a couple of biology courses—it turned out to be the right one. 

Alberto later completed his PhD in cancer research at the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI), having moved to the Netherlands nine years ago to follow his dream of working abroad. This shift marked a significant milestone both personally and professionally. 

“Bioinformatics is becoming increasingly vital in the fight against cancer,” Alberto explains. “There’s a vast amount of molecular data—what’s missing is the ability to quantify and interpret it effectively. That’s where bioinformatics comes in. There’s so much data to explore, and someone has to make sense of it.”