Albert is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Dr. Facundo Fernández’s research group. He focuses on the development and application of mass spectrometry (MS)-based targeted and untargeted analytical approaches, as well as their data processing, to identify new potential biomarkers for preventive detection of chronic and carcinogenic diseases in humans.
Previously, he joined the Spanish Scientific Research Council (CSIC) with a grant awarded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, where his research focused on developing HRMS-based suspect screening methodologies able to detect and quantify polymers and plastic additives from micro- and nanoplastics (MNPLs) at ultra-trace mass concentration levels for environmental monitoring and human daily oral intake studies through diet. This work was conducted under the supervision of Dr. Marinella Farré. In parallel, he pursued a Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry at the University of Barcelona, completing his studies in 2024 with a final grade Excellent with the honour Cum laude.
He also participated in two multidisciplinary oceanographic expeditions in the Atlantic Ocean and Antarctica, led by Dr. Jordi Dachs, to unveil the origin sources of plastic pollution and characterising the global long-range atmospheric transport (LRAT) processes of MNPLs involved in the dynamic coupling between the lower marine atmosphere and the marine water body. From these expeditions, he had the good fortune to undertake a four-month scientific collaboration at the International Research Laboratory TAKUVIK at Université Laval (Canada) under the supervision of Dr. Julien Gigault, where he received training in pyrolysis gas chromatography-MS (Py-GC-MS), which was subsequently implemented at CSIC facilities.
These experiences not only strengthened his expertise and technical proficiency, but also made him see the importance of interdisciplinarity in a scientific career. In addition, he has participated in two European and three national research projects, as well as three international and four national scientific conferences. He also serves as an active reviewer for the Journal of Environmental Science & Technology, which awarded him with one-year free full membership. Currently, he is also an ordinary member of the Spanish Society for Mass Spectrometry.
In his free time, Albert enjoys travelling, reading books on economics, history, and science fiction, playing football and supporting FC Barcelona, as well as running to unwind after a long day.