Meet our Team: Carlota Mendez Torrecillas

In this edition of CMAC’s monthly Meet our Team series, we are celebrating Senior Project Scientist, Carlota Mendez Torrecillas.

Carlota grew up in Allariz, a small town in the countryside of Galicia, Spain. She had a fantastic science teacher who always went the extra mile to demonstrate how fun science could be, which sparked her love for chemistry and technology. This inspired Carlota to study Chemical Engineering in Santiago de Compostela, a university town full of students, nightlife, music and cultural events. Following this, Carlota moved to Newcastle to do her Masters in Chemical Engineering, and then moved to Glasgow to pursue her PhD at CMAC. She said:

"During my studies, I gravitated towards the research side of engineering. I have always strived to understand the 'why' behind processes, not just how to operate them. Initially, I valued practicality in my career decisions, making choices based on available options. However, it wasn't until I realised that all of my dream jobs required a PhD that I saw my path forward. Thankfully, since obtaining my doctorate, I've participated in remarkably interesting projects as a postdoc, leading me to my current position."

In her current role as Project Scientist at CMAC, Carlota is the Theme Lead for Formulation/Drug Product at the National Facility, where she addresses formulation challenges. This means that when companies or research groups approach CMAC with technical hurdles, Carlota assesses them to see if the team can find a solution within our facilities. To accomplish this, Carlota designs experiments, coordinates the team, and ensures they deliver results.

Also playing a role in supporting the secondary labs, Carlota ensures CMAC has the capacity to accommodate ongoing projects while reviewing equipment and safety aspects. Another aspect of Carlota’s role is proactively anticipating future needs to facilitate new project endeavours and aiding the day-to-day activities of CMAC’s researchers. In addition to this, she also champions the outstanding contributions of CMAC in this field by supporting publications and assisting former researchers with their work.

Carlota describes her proudest achievement in her professional career as the moment she sent the first fully corrected draft of her thesis to her supervisor. Her ultimate career goal is to develop a new drug and predict the optimal route for turning it into a pill. She enjoys being based at the University of Strathclyde, claiming:

"The environment at the University absolutely thrives on ideas and expertise. What still amazes me to this day is how lively scientific conversations can be, whether over coffee or a casual pint."

In her spare time, Carlota enjoys exploring new places, going outdoors with her family, and visiting her hometown, where she loves to 'ir de cañas' with her friends. Additionally, she dives into beginners' classes to experience new hobbies firsthand, such as tango, sign language, and playing the bagpipes. Carlota also listens to many podcasts and loves taking her daughter swimming.