Meet our colleague: Virginia Sancho
We’re excited to introduce Virginia Sancho, Technical Services Specialist at 3PBIOVIAN and currently pursuing an industrial PhD in collaboration with the University of Barcelona.
With a strong background in Biotechnology, Virginia also holds two master’s degrees:
- Pharmacology (UAB)
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics (UB/UOC)
Her research
Virginia’s doctoral research focuses on the standardization of data analysis workflows and the development of computational tools (R/Python) for process modeling within the Quality by Design (QbD) framework. By applying these tools to real industrial data from recombinant protein production, her research facilitates a more systematic identification and understanding of:
- Critical Process Parameters (CPPs)
- Key Performance Parameters (KPPs)
These are essential to improving both product quality and process efficiency.
International collaboration
A key part of her PhD is her research stay at the University of California, Berkeley, in the lab of Dr. Ali Mesbah. There, she is:
- Developing mechanistic models to describe biological systems (such as E. coli growth, protein expression, and oxygen dynamics).
- Integrating these models into Model Predictive Control (MPC) strategies.
This pioneering work opens the door to predictive control in real-world bioprocesses.
Driving innovation in biomanufacturing
Virginia’s research represents a step forward in the digitalization of biopharmaceutical process control, merging:
- Data science
- Mathematical modeling
- Advanced control systems
The aim: to enhance robustness, quality, and efficiency in industrial biotechnology.
At 3PBIOVIAN, we are proud to support projects like Virginia’s that combine innovation, science, and real-world application, helping shape the future of biomanufacturing.
The Government of Navarra has funded the hiring of the PhD student under the 2022 “Industrial Doctorates” grant program
