Hi! I’m Raquel Martínez Gutiérrez, a final-year undergraduate student in Biotechnology at the Universitat Politècnica de València. Throughout these years, one of the most enriching experiences so far has been my Erasmus exchange in Ghent, Belgium. Living and studying abroad allowed me to grow not only as a scientist but also as a person, expanding my view of the world and research.

Right now, I’m working on my Bachelor’s thesis at the Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe (CIPF), where I’m working on a project focused on the interactions between gut microbiota and host. This experience is particularly valuable because it’s giving me the chance to work both at the lab bench and with bioinformatics tools—two complementary areas that I’m just beginning to explore and that are helping me better define the direction I’d like to take in my academic path.

Beyond the lab, I find joy in simple things—spending time with friends, staying active through sports, listening to music, and getting lost in a good book.