Juan Carmona Martínez was born in Barcelona in 1978. In June 2001, he graduated from the Sarria Chemical Institute (IQS) of Barcelona, specializing in Chemical Engineering. He worked for 5 months for SVS (Validation Systems Society) in the qualification and validation of production equipment, processes, and computerized systems for different pharmaceutical, chemical and veterinary industries, such as Boehringer Ingelheim and Uriach Corporation. During this period, he also collaborated in the implementation of a quality system in the Testing Laboratory of SVS, in order to be accredited by the EA (European Cooperation for Accreditation). In July 2001, he was awarded a Balsells Fellowship to pursue a Master’s Degree in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of California, Irvine. His research is in the Fluids and Thermal area, with special interest in heat transfer. He likes playing basketball and cinema.
Marc Carreras Sospedra was born in Barcelona in 1977. In February 2001, he graduated from the University of Barcelona, obtaining the degree of Chemical Engineer. In 1999, he worked for TRATESA, in the solid waste landfill of Coll Cardus (Vacarisses), conducting the characterization of industrial solid wastes entering the landfill. In 2000 he worked for Guarro Casas, SA (Gelida), updating a solvent recovery plant. In 2001, he worked for the EMSHTR’s Lab (Metropolitan Company of Hydraulic Utilities and Waste Treatments). In July 2001, he was awarded a Balsells Fellowship to pursue a Concentration Study in Environmental Engineering at the University of California, Irvine. He likes playing soccer and guitar. He is also said to be quite a good cook.
Jasmina Casals Terré was born in Berga, Catalonia (Spain) in 1977. In 2000, she graduated from ETSEIT, Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC), obtaining the degree of Industrial Engineer with a specialization in Mechanics and in June 2001, she received a second degree in Automatic and Electronic Industrial Engineering. From 1998, she worked as a scholarship student in the Automation Department (ESAII) as part of the research team conducting simulations of discreet events in the fields of logistics and optimization. During Summer 1999 she also worked in Consultant Engineering (SENER INGENIERÍA Y SISTEMAS). In 2000, she joined the faculty of UPC in The Engineering School of Terrassa (ETSEIT) teaching Manufacturing Process and Mechanics. In July 2001, she was awarded a Balsells Fellowship to pursue a Master of Science degree in MEMS in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering department at UCI. She enjoys music, reading, cycling and traveling.
Cristian Casanova Moya was born in Vinaros in 1976. In June 1999 he graduated from INSA (Institut National des Sciences Appliquees in Toulouse, France) obtaining the degree of Civil Engineer. From 1998 to 1999 he attended the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) as an Erasmus student. In 1998 he worked as a consultant engineer designing air conditioning and heating systems for SOGEA in Toulon (France), and Grupo JG in Barcelona. In 1999, he joined Ferrovial Agroman S.A. where he was a construction project manager during 2 years. Simultaneously, he attended graduate school in Business Administration at Fundacio Politecnica de Catalunya. In July 2001, he was awarded a Balsells Fellowship to pursue a Master of Science degree in structures in the Civil and Environmental Engineering department at UC Irvine. He likes astronomy, playing soccer, running and playing guitar.
Oscar Gargallo was born in Barcelona in 1978. In 2001, he graduated from the ETSEQ (Superior Technical School of Chemical Engineering) of the Rovira i Virgili University, in Tarragona, Catalonia, obtaining a degree of Chemical Engineer. In 1999, he worked for 4 months as an assistant researcher at Rovira i Virgili University developing glucose biosensors mediated by osmium based compounds. He also worked for a few months in a Pharmaceutical company as maintenance engineer. In 2001, he was awarded a Balsells Fellowship to pursue a Master’s Degree in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering at the University of California, Irvine. His research interests are mainly in Bioreactor Engineering and Biochemical Processes. He likes to compete in Track and Field events and to play soccer with his friends.
Natalia Galiana Ballester was born in Alicante, Spain, in 1978 and resides since then in Xixona (a small town near Alicante) and Ibiza (one of the Balearic Islands). In 1996 she was awarded with the Extraordinary Prize of High School Achievement from the Government of Valencia. In July 2001, she graduated from the Institut Quimic de Sarria (IQS) where she obtained the degree of Chemical Engineer of the University Ramon Llull (URL). During the summer of 2000, she worked as a research assistant at the Polymer Institute of Detroit at the University of Detroit Mercy (UDM). During her stay, she collaborated on the synthesis and characterization of new polyurethane coatings for Eastman Chemical Division and worked on testing and analyzing mechanical properties of plastics for manufacturers in order to optimize its formulation. In July 2001, she was awarded a Balsells Fellowship to pursue graduate studies in Material Science and Engineering at the University of California Irvine (UCI). Her research interests are focused on the synthesis of nanocrystalline materials and composites by electrodeposition.
Laia Pages Giralt was born in Barcelona in 1976. She spent two quarters as a high school student in Adelaide, Australia. In 1999, she graduated from INSA (Institut National des Sciences Appliquees in Toulouse, France) with a major in Civil Engineering. During her studies, she worked at Klimasystemtechnik in Berlin as a consultant engineer. Subsequently, she worked for two years at Viladecans, Barcelona, designing air filtration systems. In July 2001, she awarded a Balsells Fellowship to pursue a Master of Science degree in Transportation Studies in the Civil and Environmental Engineering department at UCI. She enjoys learning other languages, playing basketball, and running.