We are pleased to feature an interview with Prof. Aurora Ruiz-Herrera, another speaker at the 18th NYRA Meeting. Prof. Ruiz-Herrera is a Full Professor at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and leads the Evolutionary Genomics Group. Her work explores how mammalian genomes are organized and how genome architecture evolves, providing important insights into chromosome biology, germ cell development, and reproduction.
1. When and why did you decide to work in the field of reproductive biology?
My path was not a single moment but a gradual realization. Early in my scientific training, I was captivated by the beauty of the diversity of life and how life perpetuates itself. In this context, meiosis acts as the quiet architect behind genetic diversity. I remember the first time I saw chromosomes under the microscope as a graduate student: the elegance, the choreography… So, I chose reproductive biology because it sits at the intersection of life’s most profound questions: How do species evolve? Why does fertility fail? What shapes the genetic identity of future generations? I felt drawn to this field because it blends pure scientific wonder with real-world impact. Working on these questions gives me a sense of contributing to understanding the continuity of life itself.
- Could you share a moment of challenge in your career, and the lessons you learned from it?
This job is full of challenging moments, and the key is to face them with purpose and motivation. One of the most defining challenges came when I began building my own research group. Suddenly, I was no longer just responsible for just experiments, I was responsible for people, for vision, for finding resources that weren’t guaranteed. What I learned is that science is not a straight path, it’s a landscape that demands resilience. Perseverance is not stubbornness; it is a form of courage. Setbacks are not signals to stop, but invitations to rethink, recalibrate, and grow. And most importantly, I realized that a scientific career cannot be walked alone. And as time passes, the more evident this becomes. The support of mentors, collaborators, and students reminds me that challenges are shared, and that genuine progress happens when we face them together. So, be kind to others and to yourself. Kindness is not only a value but a strength that sustains us through the most demanding parts of this journey.
- What has been the greatest success in your career so far?
Success can be measured in papers and discoveries, but the most meaningful achievements have been those that changed the way we understand biology and the people who contributed to that knowledge. One of my proudest moments has been advancing our understanding of how the 3D structure of the genome influences meiosis and fertility. Seeing our work opens new questions and inspires new approaches. But the successes that stay with me are the human ones: watching students grow into independent scientists, celebrating their first discoveries, their defended theses, their confidence flourishing. Science is a collective endeavor, and any success I have achieved is inseparable from the people who have shared the journey.
- What advice would you give to young researchers?
First, stay curious and passionate about what you do. Don’t lose that spark that made you ask “why?” in the first place. Second, understand that science is built on persistence. There will be days when nothing works, when your ideas seem too ambitious or too uncertain. Push through those moments. Third, surround yourself with people who inspire you, mentors who lift you, colleagues who challenge you, teams who believe in collective progress. Finally, remember to enjoy the path and breath. Research is demanding, but it is also a privilege: to explore the unknown, to create knowledge, to contribute to something larger than yourself. It is very important to celebrate small victories and let yourself be amazed.