borja Ochoa

I am Borja O., working as a protein biochemistry specialist at Basque Center for Biophysics since January 2022. Before, I started developing my career at Basque Country University, where I started as a research technician for a number of years. Later, I joined one Pharmaceutical Company, Dominion Pharmakine, in which I was in charge of the animal experimentation and cell production units, but, at that time, an incredible twist of fate moved my feet to CICbioGUNE, since Lucy Malinina, one of the most influential crystallographers in the world, offered a position as laboratory manager in her lab. Under her supervision, I was able to become a scientist, and still keep protein diffraction record with a 1.5 angstroms resolution at home diffractometer After the retirement of Lucy, I was enrolled in Paola Fucini´s group, where I became an expert in the ribosome field, and developed a fermentation facility with a 100 liters reactor. We didn't made beer but, instead, made many cultures with different bugs☺️
Then, 15 years after my arrival to bioGUNE, destiny offered me another chance to move to BIOFISIKA, an UPV/EHU, FBB, and CSIC joint center, as a specialist technician, where I am focused on membrane proteins expression, purification, and characterization, and children care. I am also unofficially in charge of making coffee and be awared of serotonine levels around.

My personal interest resides on the border between psychology and biology, with a special focus on mental disorders. My long-term goal is to unravel the basis of the multisystemic origins of different mental diseases and explore new ways to improve available treatments. 

Moreover, I love cooking cakes for my family and friends. I also enjoy teaching and try to be a good influence on students 💪
And of course, I love to play guitar with Desert Tracks, my band since more than 10 years…

Technologist. Protein biochemistry specialist. Since 2022. Basque Center for Biophysics

Fermentation platform manager. 2014-2022. CIC biOGUNE

Laboratory manager. Macromolecular crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance and electron microscopy laboratories. 2007-2022. CIC biOGUNE

Laboratory technician. 2006. Pharmakine

Laboratory technician. 2003-2005. Basque Country University

Philosophy Doctor (Cum Laude distinction). Medicine Faculty (Basque Country University). 2013

Biology degree (Microbiology, Basque Country University). 2003

Senior Technician in Labour Risk Prevention. Formabask. 2011