My Story
“Things had happened before in any other way and, nevertheless, they happened like this.” These are not my words but Spanish writer Miguel Delibes’ in the opening of his novel “El camino” (The path). I will tell you the story of how I became “Career Development Consultant”. It has not been an easy road, but it has been very worthwhile to walk through it.
How I discovered research management
How I discovered research managementI graduated in biology in 2008 and in 2009 I studied a master degree in conservation biology, all focused on dedicating my life to what was and remains one of my greatest passions: research. Yes, I am one of those crazy people who believes that the future of the universe is in research.
After 3 months working on the beginning of my doctoral thesis in “bugs issues” (I am zoologist) at the National Museum of Natural Sciences in Madrid, I ratified my interest in research, but not from the trinomial field-lab-congress and back to start. I saw myself living on a Groundhog Day until retirement and it became clear to me that it has to be other ways to contribute to the knowledge – based economy.
And I was right. In 2010 I signed a contract at the University of Córdoba as Research Project Manager. I had no idea what that was, but I thought to myself, “Reyes, it is time for you to leave home and try new things.” And so I did, in a fortnight and with 23 years old I moved to the south of Spain to start my path “managing research”.
Making my life experience work
Making my life experience workAt every step I took I understood that my own path could serve as an example for others. I am dedicated to listening to researchers and entrepreneurs with their particular casuistry. And the main problem where everyone gets stuck is the lack of planning. That was the differentiating point: those who prepared themselves by following a worked out and clear strategy found it easier to achieve their objectives throughout their research career.
Although this consideration seems to be a truism, in all the years that I have been working in the R&D&I sector, it is the most difficult issue to understand. A strategy is not touched, it is not perceived, it is not of any special color and that is why it costs “to make it real”. And if we are already talking about a research career development strategy, things get more complicated. The vital and personal dimensions are mixed with professional ambitions, and reaching a balance sometimes seems impossible. I decided that this is where I can add more value to my clients: teaching them how to generate their own research career strategy and using the most appropriate tools in each case.
HILIGHTED PROJECTS AND EXPERIENCE
⋆ Technology Transfer and European Programmes Advisor for the Enterprise Europe Network
⋆ European Commission Expert Assessor in Human Resources (HRS4R)
⋆ Kick-off of the Promotion Office of European and International Projects at the “Universidad Autónoma de Madrid”
⋆ Stays in Brussels in the SOST-CDTI Office
⋆ Local Contact Point of the EURAXESS Network
⋆ Obtaining the international Seal of Excellence of in Human Resources (HRS4R) for the “Universidad Autónoma de Madrid”
⋆ Mentor in the International Program “REBECA” (Researchers Beyond Academy)
⋆ Postgraduate Expert in Promotion and Management of International R+D+i Activities at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
⋆ Postgraduate course in Coaching, NLP and Team Management from the Escuela de Negocios Europea de Barcelona
⋆ Coordinator of the “International Relations” subgroup of the CRUE (Spanish Network of Universities) and member of its Permanent Commission
⋆ “EU-MEX Innovative Cooperation Days” in Mexico City
⋆ Study visit on career development in the Netherlands
⋆ Bi-annual conferences of the EURAXESS Network in Crete, The Hague and Prague
⋆ International Business Mentor Fundación Madri+d
⋆ Expert in international cooperation for the IGLO network in Brussels
⋆ Speaker in the European TOP III project in Oslo
⋆ Speaker at the Research Management University Network Conference in Valladolid
⋆ Speaker in national meetings of the EURAXESS Network (2015 and 2016)
⋆ Professor at the Autonomous University of Madrid in the field of European Projects
⋆ Interview in Onda Cero and Spanish National Radio (RNE) about the Human Resources Strategy of EURAXESS. Listen here (Spanish)
THEY SAY ABOUT ME…
Valerio Rocco |
“Reyes is a great professional and to work…” Read more |
Xavier Eerkhout |
“Reyes is one of the most enthusiastic professionals with…” Read more |
Roberto Otero |
“I met Reyes Sansegundo in a Skype interview when…” Read more |
Pilar Ariza |
“Although I have known Reyes for a relatively…” Read more |
Eva García |
“Reyes brought us energy, commitment and new and good ideas…” Read more |
David Pascual |
“I’ve worked with Reyes on several proposals since I’ve…” Read more |
Andrés Martínez
Head of the CDTI-SOST Office in Brussels - ``Reyes is one of the best-trained national and international R&I and project management experts I know. We met on my arrival at the Spanish Science and Technology...``
Read more
Jesús Rojo González
Technology Transfer and European Programmes, EEN MADRIMASD Project Coordinator NCP Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions - ``I have known Reyes for more than 5 years and from the first...``
Read more
Julia Fernández de Casas
Innovation Project Manager at Ferrovial - ``I met Reyes in the Specialization program for Managers in the European R&D&I programs in Brussels. I was...``
Read more
José María Martínez
Professor at UAM - ``Reyes was the soul of the European and International Projects Office of the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; ``the pillar of this support structure`` as his boss, Roberto Otero, says...``
Read more
Beatriz Gil
PhD. Professor of the Faculty of Psychology of the UAM. Marie Skłodowska-Curie Global Fellowship at the University of Cambridge (KU) and the Harvard Medical School (USA) - ``I met Reyes when the UAM...``
Read more
Ramón Durán
Professor at the University of Valladolid - ``Reyes has helped us present a proposal for the MSCA-ITN program. The proposal was very well received thanks to their work both in writing...``
Read more
Alberto Coz |
“Through the European and International Projects Office (OPEI) of…” Read more |
Carmen Romeralo |
“The European project office at my university recommended…” Read more |
Rafael Robina |
“After several months of work with a group of professors…” Read more |
Claudia Messina |
“I met Reyes at the UAM when…” Read more |
Carmen González |
“Reyes is helping me prepare my…” Read more |
María Vázquez |
“I would like to thank you, not only…” Read more |
Irene López |
“I was lucky enough to coincide…” Read more |
Leonor de la Cueva |
Esther Menéndez |
“I had been awarded a “Europa Investigación”…” Read more |
Manuel Jordán |
“Reyes helped us a lot in…” Read more |
María Moncada |
“I met Reyes in Brussels at the…” Read more |
Juan Carlos Maya |
“Reyes’ extensive knowledge of European proposals…” Read more |
Carla Segovia |
“For me, working with Reyes during these…” Read more |
Adrián Sánchez |
“During the process of preparing the MSCA-PF proposal…” Read more |
Rafael Robina |
“Tras varios meses de trabajo con un grupo de profesores…” Ver más |
Claudia Messina |
“Conocí a Reyes en la UAM cuando ella…” Ver testimonio |
Carmen González |
“Reyes me está ayudando a preparar mi candidatura…” Ver más |
María Vázquez |
“I would like to thank you, not only…” See more |
THEY SAY ABOUT ME…
Andrés Martínez |
“Reyes is one of the best-trained national and international R&I and project management experts I know. We met on my arrival at the Spanish Science and Technology…” Read more |
Jesús Rojo |
“I have known Reyes for more than 5 years and from the first…” Read more |
Julia Fernández de Casas |
“I met Reyes in the Specialization program for Managers in the European R&D&I programs in Brussels. I was immediately…” Read more |
José María Martínez |
“Reyes was the soul of the European and International Projects Office of the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; “the pillar of this support structure” as his boss, Roberto Otero, says…” Read more |
Beatriz Gil |
“I met Reyes when the UAM internationalization office was lunched and I started to be interested in the topics of research internationalization. She always…” Read more |
Ramón Durán |
“Reyes has helped us present a proposal for the MSCA-ITN program. The proposal was very well received thanks to their work both in writing…” Read more |
Valerio Rocco |
“Reyes is a great professional and to work…” Read more |
Xavier Eerkhout |
“Reyes is one of the most enthusiastic professionals with…” Read more |
Roberto Otero |
“I met Reyes Sansegundo in a Skype interview when…” Read more |
Pilar Ariza |
“Although I have known Reyes for a relatively…” Read more |
Eva García |
“Reyes brought us energy, commitment and new and good ideas…” Read more |
David Pascual |
“I’ve worked with Reyes on several proposals since I’ve…” Read more |
Alberto Coz |
“Through the European and International Projects Office (OPEI) of…” Read more |
Carmen Romeralo |
“The European project office at my university recommended…” Read more |
Rafael Robina |
“After several months of work with a group of professors…” Read more |
Claudia Messina |
“I met Reyes at the UAM when…” Read more |
Carmen González |
“Reyes is helping me prepare my…” Read more |
María Vázquez |
“I would like to thank you, not only…” Read more |
Irene López |
“I was lucky enough to coincide…” Read more |
Leonor de la Cueva |
Esther Menéndez |
“I had been awarded a “Europa Investigación”…” Read more |
Manuel Jordán |
“Reyes helped us a lot in…” Read more |
María Moncada |
“I met Reyes in Brussels at the…” Read more |
Juan Carlos Maya |
“Reyes’ extensive knowledge of European proposals…” Read more |
Carla Segovia |
“For me, working with Reyes during these…” Read more |
Adrián Sánchez |
“During the process of preparing the MSCA-PF proposal…” Read more |
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW ME BETTER …
For more than 20 years I have combined my “academic” studies with “musical” ones. Since 2008 I am in possession of the Professional Music Title, in the specialty of cello, and despite having finished my classes, I never stop playing. I have been part of many orchestras that have given me the opportunity to play at the International Guitar Festival of Córdoba, Cosmopoética Festival, as well as at the National Auditorium of Madrid and the Royal Theatre, achievements that for an amateur cellist are a dream come true.
Another passion (and almost a need) is sports. Since 2014 I devote a great part of my leisure time. For me it is essential to exercise the body to have a healthy mind, as the ancients wise men said.
In addition, I love to travel, to read, to go to concerts (heavy, rock, techno, classical … Good music played live is always a pleasure!) and above all to share experiences and learn from the people who crosses my path.
As Delibes said, this is how things happened, although at the beginning of time it did not seem that a boot biologist would end up helping researchers and entrepreneurs from all branches of knowledge to position themselves with a winning career development strategy in Europe.