I was an Organic Chemist, actually still I am. My very first approach to research was in this field, many many years ago. I did my Master in Medicinal Chemistry, synthesizing heterocycles aiming to find an active compound against solid tumors. Carbon atom (Zeta 6) was present in my everyday life! During my Master studies, my supervisors included in my program, a course in Computational Chemistry. This was mandatory for me (as ONL202 is!), but I felt in love with this field of knowledge at first sight.

My PhD was involving Organic Synthesis and Computational Chemistry (what I like to call Physical Organic Chemistry). Mainly Density Functional Theory (DFT) approaches. I believe I learnt a lot about Quantum Chemistry and Molecular Modeling. The Uncertainty Principle (Heisenberg, 1927) is fascinating, and it applies to physics, chemistry and everyday life.

Anything can be exactly predicted, there is always uncertainty in human knowledge. When we are looking at an object, we are not just witnesses, we influence it. This applies to everything. I was amazed! Amazed enough to make a tattoo on my neck!

EXTRACTED AND TRANSLATED FROM THE INTRO OF “PRINCIPIO DE INCERTIDUMBRE” BY ISMAEL SERRANO

Later on I became interested in Computational Biology, playing around with proteins, designing drugs and working on enzyme engineering. All in the computer! This is me. An Organic and Computational Chemist, starting a journey on teaching and learning. ONL202 course is mandatory for me in my new position at Karlstads Universitet, as it was that course in Computational Chemistry. I truly believe that the Uncertainty Principle is doing its thing once again in my life and it is welcome.