Alba Arévalo Lalanne, pre-doctoral researcher at the Metabolic Systems Engineering Group of the Institute of Integrative Systems Biology (I2SysBio, CSIC-Universitat de València) and student of the PhD Program in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology of the UV, has been a finalist for the "Promega Rising Researchers" awards aimed at distinguishing young researchers. Alba can win the award if she receives enough votes from the public.

Alba Arévalo Lalanne presented her research project that pursues the development of genetic modification tools for bifidobacteria, to explore and decipher their physiology. This group of bacteria is of great interest to the food biotechnology industry. In his presentation, Alba did not hide the enormous difficulties involved in having an effective transformation procedure for some of the bifidobacteria strains and the very recent success, after years of failed attempts, of a reproducible genetic transformation.

Alba says that you should support his candidacy because "receiving votes from the public is a way of feeling recognized for the effort and work invested in the research project over the years. More and more people are aware of the role of the intestinal microbiota and of the importance of probiotics in human health. Each vote means that we have managed to convey the importance of our field of study. href="https://promega.formstack.com/forms/rising_researchers_24_spain?_gl=11rbw510_gcl_aunta3mdc3mze1l " target="_blank">Vote (an academic domain email address is required)

The "Promega Rising Researchers" award is intended to persons who are at least 18 years of age and are researchers or scientists who are enrolled in a doctoral program in life sciences on the date of submission of their application. The finalists are chosen through a selection process in which Promega employees will participate, based on the information presented in the application form. The only criterion to be able to vote will be to provide your own academic email address, that is, an email with an academic domain. Votes will be counted based on the voters' country of residence, and the finalist who receives the most votes for each participating Promega branch will be considered the winner for that Promega branch. The results will be known no later than Friday, December 6, 2024. The winner will pay a visit to Promega's headquarters in Madison, Wisconsin (USA), with expenses covered. During this visit, the beneficiaries will participate in activities such as visits to Promega laboratories, individual conversations with company scientists, laboratory training, workshops and other activities aimed at the academic development of the beneficiaries.