In order to show the positive impact of the ADMIRE Programme on the career development prospects of the Fellows, this series – entitled Where Are They Now? – looks at what the Fellows have been doing since the end of their Fellowship. In this edition Dr Alberto Alvarez talks about his journey to becoming a tenured researcher at the Centro de Física de Materiales.

During my fellowship, I led the Nano-SERS ADMIRE project, which focused on engineering complex plasmonic nanoarchitectures for optoelectronic biosensing and the isolation of exosomes. The project aimed to design nanostructured materials capable of enhancing the sensitivity and selectivity of biosensing platforms, with particular emphasis on their application in biomedical diagnostics. It brought together concepts from nanophotonics, materials science, and biology, establishing a highly interdisciplinary approach that continues to shape and inform my current research.

The fellowship played a key role in helping me define and consolidate my scientific direction. It provided the opportunity to lead a research project from start to finish, from conceptual design to implementation, and to engage deeply with both experimental and theoretical aspects of my work. I was also able to develop meaningful collaborations with researchers and institutions across Europe, expanding both the scope and impact of the research. Importantly, the fellowship gave me the time and support to build a coherent and independent research agenda and to start positioning myself as a principal investigator in my field.

Since the conclusion of the Fellowship, I have been appointed as a Gipuzkoa Fellow (2023-present), and more recently, I have secured a tenured position within the Ramón y Cajal program at the Centro de Física de Materiales (CFM) in Donostia-San Sebastian. At CFM, I am now leading my own research line focused on nanoengineered surfaces and self-assembled nanostructures, particularly their role in modulating biological processes such as protein interactions, and targeted drug delivery among others. This work builds directly on the foundations laid during the ADMIRE project, extending its applications into broader areas of nanobiotechnology and biomedical engineering. The fellowship was a crucial step in my career. It allowed me to demonstrate scientific independence, strengthen my publication record, and gain the momentum needed to secure long-term funding. I remain grateful for the support I received and am now focused on building a strong, multidisciplinary team dedicated to advancing nanoscale research in biology and medicine.