"It's a difficult bet, but it fills me up"

2018/04/06 Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana - Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Medikuntza
• Berdintasuna
• Biokimika

Itziar Urizar Arenaza has come to study at the level of Biochemistry: first three years studying Biology, two more years in the branch of Biochemistry, obtain the bachelor's degree, then the master's degree and now the thesis. In fact, it focuses on the final line of the thesis and thus recognizes it: “My life is now a thesis.”

However, his satisfaction is evident and his words confirm it: "I have always liked nature, animals... and I think I came to choose Biochemistry. In short, what I like is to investigate, try to answer the questions."

But in the future he does not know if he can continue in it: "Everything is very difficult. In the end there is a lot of competition between us and only a few get ahead. For this it is essential to have a good curriculum, and to get it you have a contract or you have to leave out. Therefore, once the thesis is finished, I may have to go abroad."

Meanwhile, try to do your job as best as possible. "This sometimes makes you have to make sacrifices, but on the other hand, the boom you feel when something goes well or you have overcome an obstacle only you don't give you anything. It's a tough bet, but it fills me up."

According to Urizar, the stays he has made abroad for the thesis have also been very motivating. He has been twice in the same place in Denmark and recalled that his director, "like those here", encouraged him a lot. Finally, I also appreciate working as a team: "It is very useful to know that you are not alone; in difficult times, there are the members, the most suitable solution to look for with you."

Sperm Study

Look for biomarkers that improve sperm selection in assisted reproduction. Specifically, it investigates the involvement of opioid receptors in the reproductive capacity of human sperm. Because of the study, he listens and makes many jokes, but the work does it seriously: "It is true that due to the samples we usually take the hair between friends, but in the laboratory we do everything according to the criteria of the Ethics Committee," he explained.

With his investigative spirit, Urizar has another characteristic: he is a good communicator. For many it is not easy to explain to others what they investigate. Urizar, on the other hand, adapts well and has shown it on several occasions. For example, in the Thesis organized by the Basque Summer University, in the Wolfram Deuna event in Elhuyar and in the section "Preliminary Test" of the television program Teknopolis: "I like to explain to people what I am, and if I do it in a fun or attractive way, it's easier to look at and understand."