"A highly enriching and motivating experience that bridged science and practical innovation"

Sara Ortega, from KEPLER Ltd. (Burgos, Spain) spent one month on a research exchange at the Jozef Stefan Institute (Ljubljana, Slovenia)

1. What’s your name and where are you from?

My name is Sara Ortega Ruiz and I’m from Almería, a city located in the south-east of Spain. Nevertheless, nowadays I’m living in the north, in Burgos.

2. Which organization do you work for, and where did you do your secondment?

I work as Environmental Technician for KEPLER Ingeniería & Ecogestión, an engineering company specialized in the environmental and renewable energy sector. 

I’ve done my secondment at Jožef Stefan Institute, the leading Slovenian scientific research institute, located at Ljubljana.

About your experience:

3. What motivated you to take part in this exchange?

I was motivated by the idea of being able to exchange knowledge and experiences between a basic and applied research centre and a company like KEPLER, connecting both worlds and contributing to progress in hydrocarbon soil decontamination from different perspectives. 

Participating in a project that links academia with industry allowed me to explore innovative solutions and bring back knowledge directly applicable to ongoing work in my company.

4. How would you describe your secondment experience in one sentence?

It was a highly enriching and motivating experience that bridged science and practical innovation.

5. What project or task did you enjoy the most during your stay? Did you learn anything new or unexpected? What was it?

I enjoyed learning how to synthesize vaterite, using it to encapsulate contaminants, and being able to follow the entire process under the microscope. 

And yes! I didn't know before going that I would have the opportunity to learn how to make biocarriers, and it was fascinating. I had also never worked with the flow cytometer, and it was very interesting to discover how it works and the many things you can measure. 

6. What surprised you most about working in a different country or with a new team?

I was most surprised and grateful for the team’s genuine willingness to teach me everything with patience and enthusiasm. Their kindness, openness, and constant support created a truly welcoming environment that made learning both effective and enjoyable from the beginning.

Life outside work:

7. What did you like the most about the place where you stayed?

I truly appreciated the peaceful environment and the balance between city life and access to nature. It was easy to feel focused and inspired both during and outside of working hours.

Looking ahead:

8. How do you think this experience will help you in your professional career?

This experience will undoubtedly help me in the future, both personally and professionally. First, it will help me find solutions when things aren't going well in the lab. It has undoubtedly helped me reflect deeply on various issues and focus on the ongoing pursuit of optimizing the processes I carry out. In addition, I feel more confident proposing innovative techniques in my company thanks to what I’ve learned. Finally, it will help me adapt quickly to new challenges and work environments, as I have experienced during this secondment.

9. What advice would you give to someone about to do a similar exchange?

Be open, curious and ready to ask questions. Don’t be afraid to propose ideas, even small contributions can spark meaningful discussions. And most importantly, take the time to learn not only from the project, but from the people around you.