Irene Andreu: “We investigate low-cost materials for highly protective masks”

In Huesca, I studied at the Internship School (El Parque) and then I went to the Ramón y Cajal Institute (with an extraordinary Baccalaureate award). I did a degree in Physics at the University of Zaragoza and during my degree I already spent a year in Germany, at the University of Paderborn, thanks to the Erasmus program.

How did the research 'bug' start biting you?

I received a scholarship from the CSIC's Board of Expansion of Studies (JAE), for Research Initiation, which allowed me to do a summer of research at the Institute of Materials Science of Aragon and the University of Zaragoza, under the tutelage of those who most Later, they would be my master's and doctoral thesis directors, Eva Natividad Blanco and Miguel Castro Corella. After finishing my degree, I received another scholarship from the CSIC, the JAE Predoc, which covered my studies in the Master of Physics and Physical Technologies and the doctorate in Physical Sciences, both at the University of Zaragoza.

When did you make the leap abroad?

Thanks to the JAE program I had the opportunity to do a four-month research stay during my doctorate at the University of British Columbia, in Vancouver, Canada. I owe a lot to the JAE program. I was lucky to benefit from it before the reforms that have eliminated grants for doing research while you are still in your degree. Without that program, I probably would have stayed in Germany to do my PhD. After receiving it in 2015, I went on a postdoctoral contract to Simon Fraser University (Burnaby, Canada), where I stayed until 2018. I then moved to my current position as director of the Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Consortium at the University of Rhode Island.

Like I said, it's impressive.

I know my story seems very long and with many changes, but in fact it is a fairly simple progression compared to other 'travelling scientists'.

Has Covid-19 altered your plans too? What are you researching now?

In collaboration with Professor Manbir Sodhi, we are investigating alternative materials to create masks with a high level of protection against aerosols, similar to the American N95 or the European FFP2, but with low-cost and ecological materials to make them accessible to the general public. Currently, they do not recommend the use of FFP2 for the population due to their high cost and the priority of giving them to healthcare personnel. We are trying to find an alternative that does not affect the health supply and that has a higher level of protection than the surgical ones that can now be bought in pharmacies in Spain, or the homemade cloth ones that most people in the US wear. USA

It seems like a good solution to try to stop plastic pollution.

By using non-recyclable materials, large volumes of waste are being generated. Using other biodegradable, low ecological costs, we try to alleviate this environmental impact. And we try to make them with simple processes so that countries with economic difficulties can also manufacture them at low cost.

Are you having promising results?

So far we have found paper-based materials, which seem to have better filtration than most fabrics used for homemade masks. We still have to work on reproducibility. Reaching the level of protection of the FFP2 is a long way off. We have learned that the material is as important as whether it fits the face. You can wear the best mask in the world, but if you have gaps around your nose or chin (or if you wear it under your nose, like many people do), it does absolutely nothing. Therefore, we look for different shapes that adapt to the curves of the face.

What projects were you working on before?

My work is highly collaborative. I run an electron microscopy and microanalysis center that is used by researchers throughout the University of Rhode Island, other area universities, and private industry. Most of my research is related to environmental problems: water purification, detection of contaminants, characterization of microplastics... The project that I am currently contracted for focuses on the effect of climate change on the coastal systems of Rhode Island.

How are you experiencing this global health crisis from the United States?

My biggest concern is my family and friends in Spain (and my brother who is in Canada). As long as they're fine, I'm fine. The situation here is complex. Each state acts independently and, despite President Trump's conflicting messages, the pandemic is being treated seriously in the area where I live. But other states are reopening their economies without having controlled the epidemic. This adds to America's social and labor rights problems: a recipe for disaster. Not to mention people in more disadvantaged countries. When you can't trust your government, protection falls to the individual, which is what motivated me to participate in the mask project.

Do you have plans to return to Spain?

No, I don't have plans. The situation would have to change a lot to return. My chances of finding a similar job at a Spanish university are very low. My partner works in research for a pharmaceutical company and that is even more difficult. But I also don't know if we can stay in the US given the social injustices and political uncertainty.

What should Spain do to avoid the infamous 'brain drain'?

An obvious measure is to increase investment in research in universities and public centers to eliminate or reduce temporary contracts. The current job insecurity of young researchers (and some not so young) is a great barrier. And another measure that, from my point of view, is as or more important is to attract and maintain technology companies. It is not possible to employ all graduates of science and engineering programs in the public sector. Many brilliant people go to the private sector, which also does a lot of research, but there are few opportunities for this in Spain. Developing benefits for tech companies that attract them is a crucial step in avoiding brain drain.

With this pandemic, awareness of allocating more funds to research seems to have grown. Do you think it will come true?

Honestly, no, but I hope I'm wrong. Spain is at least 20 years behind in investment in research. For it to bear fruit, you have to invest more for many years and without seeing many benefits. It is difficult to maintain the commitment of politicians to this cause when there are other problems (health, education...) that are obviously important and have a lot of visibility and impact on people's daily lives. For example, Spain had its opportunity to lead in renewable energy. Where are we now?