Passion for research:
a degree program in the background
"I am fortunate to be in a profession where you never stop learning and surprising yourself, and at the same time have the opportunity to pass on that knowledge to new generations. The hope of contributing to the improvement of people's health financial aid to overcome difficult times". Arantxa González, Cima researcher and professor at the Schools of Medicine and Science, dedicated to the field of cardiovascular diseases, describes her career as a researcher.
Arantxa González is one of the ninety researchers at the University of Navarra, Clínica y Cima that appear in the annual ranking of Spanish women researchers prepared by the CSIC (Centro Superior de Investigaciones Científicas).
Ninety women who decided to become scientists and contribute their knowledge to serve society. A profession that they define as a degree program in which the commitment and passion of each one of them is combined with shared experience and work .
The research developed by each of these women is carried out in different fields from personalized medicine, engineering, experimental sciences, social sciences, Humanities or Economics. Thus, in the cells of an excel table are recorded research projects against breast cancer, heart failure, diabetes or to prevent obesity; programs of study on Education and verbal development delays and school learning problems; research for the organization of systems and circular Economics ; on palliative care, communication companies or Public discourse; or the study of Philosophy and the meaning of work.
The ranking includes the 10,000 profiles in Google Scholar with the best metric indicators (h-index and citations), with ORCID username , assigned to Spanish women researching in Spain or abroad and foreign women researchers with membership in Spanish institutions. The data were collected between January 30 and February 1, 2025. The profiles of women that include their ORCID and those that could be identified by automatic tools have been selected.
Currently, more than 7,000 people are dedicated to research at the different centers of the University of Navarra. More than 70%, 4,924, are scientists.
enquiry here the ninety researchers from the University, Cima and Clínica.
Ana Patiño
Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Cima and School of Medicine
"In research , the group is everything. I am part of a group, the Advanced Therapies for Pediatric Solid Tumors research group at the Clínica Universidad de Navarra and the Cima of the University of Navarra, which has brought therapies developed in the laboratory to the treatment of pediatric tumor patients in clinical trials. That is the best reward a researcher can have: to see that his science reaches the patient. In this world no one is in it for financial gain, you get there by vocation and you stay there because of mission statement and passion, and a sense of responsibility to the patient and to science. Luckily I am in an environment that has allowed me to develop my professional degree program , maintaining my passion (with ups and downs!!), having a clear mission statement and with a very good company".
Arantxa Gonzalez
Cima University of Navarra and Schools of Medicine and Science
"I consider myself privileged to be able to dedicate myself to translationalresearch in cardiovascular disease and university teaching . My research allows me to interact with a group multidisciplinary with complementary visions that are highly enriching. I am fortunate to work in a profession in which you never stop learning and surprising yourself, and at the same time you have the opportunity to transmit this knowledge to new generations. The hope of contributing to the improvement of people's health and financial aid to overcome difficult times.
Maira Bes
School of Medicine
"I have always been "curious" by nature and I have always liked to search for the truth, an intrinsic value of research. I am excited to be an "activist" for healthy lifestyles by providing scientific evidence to support which measures are the best to prevent major chronic diseases.
research is passion, and commitment, but it is also many hours of dedication, perseverance and work. Without the unconditional support of my husband, my parents and all the people with whom I have worked and collaborated from the beginning of my doctoral thesis to date, I am sure I would not have been able to get where I have come".
Concepción Naval
School of Education and Psychology
"I learned a long time ago something that has always helped me in my professional and staff life and that could be summarized in this phrase: "dream and you will fall short". research is about dreaming and working together to make those dreams come true, side by side, with everyone. It is about not dwelling on problems or difficulties, but thinking with magnanimity in projects at the service of the common good, trying to make life not a sterile life, but a useful one, which, without looking for it, will leave a mark on society.
But there are no ready-made paths to achieve this. Dreaming is free, but achieving those dreams is not at all. The reality is that we often fall short of our dreams".
Maria Blanco
School of Pharmacy and Nutrition
"As an expert in nanomedicine, I am proud to contribute to the advancement of this field and to be recognized by my colleagues. However, my greatest satisfaction is to train young researchers who today excel in science. Being an example for the younger ones and encouraging their interest in science is my main motivation."
Carmen Jaca
Tecnun - School of Engineering
"My career as a researcher began after 12 years in business. research was very exciting for me, as I have always been a very curious person and this new facet has given me the opportunity to learn a lot. My area of research, circular Economics , is very much connected to teaching. teaching I now teach, which I also enjoy very much".
Pilar Martínez-Costa
School of Communication
"In my career as a researcher in the field of journalism knowledge , I have learned that work is essential to obtain innovative perspectives and ambitious goals in order to generate qualityknowledge and useful contributions to the profession and society. The partnership with colleagues from different areas and the participation in the training of young researchers have always been a positive impulse".
Ana Marta Gonzalez
School of Philosophy and Letters and Institute for Culture and Society (ICS)
"I think that my research trajectory as a philosopher is characterized by an insistent deepening of a series of topics -dignity, internship rationality, nature, culture, emotions, social bonds, identity, work from different perspectives. Ordinarily, one topic has led me to another; this has materialized in publications of different subject -articles, monographs...- but in such a way that the latter are always present, in some way, the former. I think that this common thread is what, looking back, allows us to speak of a trajectory. But when you start, what you perceive is not a trajectory but an immense panorama, which you enter through a very specific topic , which is something like a tiny door; then, step by step, you open the following ones. Once you have taken several steps -and this is also influenced by unpredictable circumstances, often related to teaching, you do come to conceive the idea of a project, perhaps long-range, which, however, you have to "chop up" to make it feasible in the short term.
in the short term".
Charo Sádaba
School of Communication
"Research is always a degree program that requires dedication, patience.... Being in the right place at the right time can make all the difference. In my case, I remember that a professor from my department came into my office to tell me that she had received an email from a British colleague to participate in a European call for proposals "about the Internet", which had been the topic of my doctoral thesis . Together with another colleague we responded affirmatively to the challenge which then unfolded into all subject of opportunities, competitive projects and many academic friendships. It is important to know how to surround yourself with a good team: people who know what you do and what you do for a living and who are generous enough to open doors to make your path easier. Doing this with other people has become an obligation for me and an essential part of how I understand academic life. With the conviction that together we go further".
Canga Christmas
School of Nursing
"Throughout my career as a nurse, professor and researcher, research has been much more than a professional challenge; it has been a path of learning and growth that has allowed me to accompany many people in their process of change towards a healthier life. In this journey, I have never been alone, I have always been supported by teachers, colleagues, disciples, my family and even by the people, families and communities that have entrusted me with their health. Every study, every intervention and every project have been opportunities to improve the quality of life of those I have cared for, promoting healthier environments and contributing to the well-being of the community. Our commitment to care goes beyond mere attendance: it is an act of responsibility and love for people's health, helping them to live fully and die with dignity".
Marian Zulet
School of Pharmacy and Nutrition
"My research career has focused on studying obesity and its associated comorbidities. I have been part of projects that have left great scientific knowledge beyond our borders. The last project that I lead in the research center in Nutrition of the School of Pharmacy and Nutrition, addresses the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The results of this last research have allowed me to direct so far 5 doctoral thesis , all of them women, and to publish in scientific journals of impact".
Elisabeth Viles
Tecnun - School of Engineering
"The professional degree program has helped me to cultivate some qualities that I think are important in anyone's life. Because research is a degree program in the background. Everything comes at the right time, the result of a rigorous procedure with attention to detail. And we must not lose sight of this, especially in these times when everything comes into our lives in a hurry. The taste for work well done and patience never disappoints, even if we are not inventing gunpowder".
Idoia Ochoa
Tecnun - School of Engineering
"My international experiences have helped me to learn how research is done in the United States, and now I can contribute new ideas and ways of doing research here at the University of Navarra. Thanks to my research I have been able to contribute new computational models to store DNA and RNA sequencing data more efficiently, as well as to develop models for the analysis of these data, with the ultimate goal of improving the diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients".