What is your job at ALBA?

Originally, I joined ALBA inside a project called CALIPSOplus. A proof of concept to test the viability of processing and analyzing the beamlines data remotely. The project lasted a year long and the results were positive.

Then I joined ALBA as structural staff of the MIS (Management Information Systems) section, inside the Computing Division. The day-to-day consists mainly in managing incidence from the staff using our applications. In addition, we are in charge of the maintenance, creation and support of the information systems used in the facility.

Any exciting projects you are involved in?

The Cable DataBase application has been a major project. It is one of the most used management information systems within ALBA. There are 20,000 equipment and cables registered in its database, labeled and connected, which reflects the status of the different devices and hardware installed all over the facility. It is mostly used by the Electronics section.

What was your perception of ALBA before working for it?

I knew ALBA for a long time since I live very close to it. But I didn’t quite know what it was done here. Now I have seen and learned the way work is done here, the involvement, and the connections with the other divisions.

Any differences with previous jobs?

There are differences mostly in the technological aspects. Everyone used the same program in my previous work, but here we have many applications and services. So you have to be aware and learn how they all work which, at the same time, makes you have an open mind for solving the incidences.

Do you collaborate with other research institutions?

It depends on the project. For example, now we collaborate in the ICAT project, a metadata catalog to support experimental data management for large-scale facilities. Although we are working with the same product, each facility does its own adjustments, so we meet periodically with the other synchrotrons to try to grow alike.

Which are your hobbies?

I really enjoy playing football (soccer) and playing the trumpet, which I’m still learning. I like painting and drawing. On the other hand, I take English lessons, which I am grateful to ALBA for helping in this aspect.