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Arnau Pujol, PhD in Physics, began his research career in cosmology. With a Marie-Sklodowska Curie Individual Fellowship, he transitioned to the field of malaria, where he conducts research on malaria surveillance and genomics.
How does it feel to win the award?
It is an honour to receive this award from the MCAA and to see my work recognised by the community. However, I must emphasise that I do not see this award as an individual accomplishment. These achievements would not have been possible without the invaluable support and expertise of our dedicated team at ISGlobal in Spain and at the Manhiça Health Research Centre in Mozambique. Our success is a direct result of their commitment, together with the collaboration of Mozambique’s National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP), and all the tireless work of the field workers, nurses and study participants who battle this disease on the front lines every day.
Arnau Pujol
What journey led you to this award?
I have always combined a fascination with science with an interest in and motivation for social justice. This brought me to conduct a PhD in physics and, at the same time, volunteer in NGOs and participate in cooperation projects. My first experience in Mozambique came through volunteering at Engineering Without Borders from Catalonia, where I started to learn about the reality of the country.
After several years of research in physics (cosmology), I felt the need to transition into a field with a more direct social impact, allowing me to merge my two main passions into my research career. The MSCA Individual Fellowship at ISGlobal provided me with the opportunity for this transition.
At ISGlobal, with a very supportive collaboration with a team from the Manhiça Health Research Centre, I have been able to learn from their expertise and contribute to research on malaria surveillance. I also had the privilege of engaging in projects with close ties to Mozambique’s NMCP, which allowed me to integrate their vision, priorities and expertise into my work. My achievements are not the result of individual effort but rather the product of extensive, long-term contributions and expertise from the team in Manhiça and national institutions like the NMCP.
How will this award propel you in your future endeavours?
The award motivates me to continue my work in this field with enthusiasm. There are still many challenges to address in the fight against malaria, requiring long-term commitment and perseverance. However, I think it is a cause that really justifies this effort, and it is definitely a field that deserves higher priority in terms of funding and support.
What are your future goals?
I aim to expand my research through new projects. Malaria is a disease associated with many inequities in resources, gender, education, and more. I aim to strengthen the connection between my work and the reduction of social inequities. Also, I hope to contribute to improving the dynamics of the scientific community, which often operates within the constraints of a capitalist, patriarchal, white supremacist and colonial system that perpetuates imbalanced opportunities and influences. This is an urgent priority in the field, and something I still have a lot to learn and address.
Manhiça Health Research Centre in Manhiça (Mozambique).
What advice do you have for the MCAA?
I encourage the MCAA to continue building a community of scientists and former scientists from different fields, prioritising the promotion of synergies that can provide a positive impact on society. In these turbulent times, it is important to remember that the scientific community cannot be neutral, and we must emphasise that science should serve the benefit of everyone and not only a selected few.
Is there anything else you wish to share with the community?
Science can really benefit from multidisciplinary approaches, which is something I really enjoyed in my career. If anyone in the community is not working directly on malaria but identifies potential interesting synergies between our fields, I would welcome the opportunity for a conversation and the chance to explore new ideas.
Eliška Koňaříková
Bluesky
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MCAA Newsletter Editor-in-Chief
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Polat Goktas
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