Alba Rodríguez Otero, Industrial Postdoctoral Researcher, alumni EDENE Cohort#1

Your doctoral journey

If you had to describe your PhD experience in 2 or 3 words, which would you choose?

Exciting and life changing.

Is there a memorable moment or anecdote you would like to share?

One of the most memorable moments of my PhD was driving across the Pyrenees in winter to Huesca (Spain) to collect 20 kg of rice husk, the raw material for my research. I had managed to get in touch with a rice mill that agreed to give me their rice husk, a waste from rice industry, which was all I needed to kick off my project. The weather was rainy, windy, and lightly snowy, crossing the Pyrenees in that weather was clearly uncomfortable. It felt like a real research expedition, and for the first time, everything was truly in my hands. It was the very first milestone of my project.

Your experience at UPPA

Did you benefit from international mobility or interdisciplinary collaborations?

Yes, I spent over eight months working at the University of Copenhagen and completed a six-week internship at TotalEnergies. I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to develop these collaborations. Working in new environments with new teams challenged me to learn to adapt, be resilient, and find my place in new settings. These experiences not only enriched my research, but they also contributed to my personal growth.

What message would you like to share with a student considering doing a PhD at UPPA?

Take advantage of every opportunity that takes you beyond the typical PhD path, whether it's working abroad or collaborating with industry. These experiences will broaden your perspective and open doors you might not have considered. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone, some of the most valuable lessons come from unexpected places.

Your career perspectives

How did your professional project come to life and how did it evolve throughout your journey?

I believe my professional project took shape through the people I met along the way. Networking opportunities in both academia and industry introduced me to professionals I admired. Their paths inspired me and helped me channel my aspirations into a concrete project.

How did being part of the H2020 MSCA COFUND EDENE programme influence your career path?

There were many things I didn’t know about PhD career paths before I started the EDENE programme. Along the way, I learned a lot from the people around me and from their diverse experiences. I had always imagined a more rigid path, where you had to choose between academia or industry. But now I realize it can be much more flexible and that it’s up to us to shape our own journeys. We’re the ones who define our career paths, not anyone else. The mentoring and networking opportunities offered by EDENE played a key role in helping me see these possibilities and gain the confidence to explore them.

Want to know more?   

The EDENE doctoral programme, funded by the European H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie COFUND initiative and managed by the University of Pau and Pays de l’Adour (UPPA), aims to train international researchers in the fields of energy and the environment. By promoting an interdisciplinary, intersectoral, and international approach, the programme helps strengthen the impact of research on these major challenges. Between 2021 and 2026, 30 high-potential international PhD candidates were recruited, bringing substantial added value to scientific and technological innovation in these strategic areas.

EDENE programme presentation