GABRIEL RÍOS
Profile:
Juan Gabriel Ríos Kristjánsson, PhD, brings to Exobiosphere a background that combines biomedical science with operational precision, developed across several years of managing complex, multi-stakeholder research programmes in the European space sector. Before joining Exobiosphere, he spent seven years embedded within ESA's research exploration programme; First as a certified ISS payload operations engineer coordinating scientific missions aboard the International Space Station, then as a project scientist managing ground and flight research campaigns across international teams. His background is grounded in the practical side of science: translating objectives into executable plans, keeping distributed teams aligned, and ensuring that programmes are delivered to the standards that institutions and funders expect. At Exobiosphere, he applies that same discipline to business development and operations, supporting funding development, managing contract execution, and ensuring that the company's commitments are delivered with the rigour they require, grounded in formal training in quality management systems and a career-long commitment to compliance and process integrity.
Work History:
2026 - CURRENT: EXOBIOSPHERE | LUXEMBOURGAt Exobiosphere, Gabriel leads the execution of partnership agreements and contracts, and contributes to the development of funding applications targeting European and international agencies. He is establishing the contract management infrastructure, including tracking systems, reporting cadences, and cross-functional coordination processes, that underpins the company's growing portfolio of research and commercial activities.
2023 - 2026: Space Applications Services (subcontracted to ESA/ESTEC) | Noordwijk, NetherlandsESA Project Scientist
As project scientist within ESA's Human and Robotic Exploration programme, Gabriel managed a broad portfolio of ISS human research and ground-based payload projects, coordinating scientific strategy, delivery, and stakeholder alignment across international teams and contracted research facilities. His responsibilities spanned the full programme lifecycle, from peer review and project selection through contractual setup, campaign execution, and close-out, with regular interface to ESA's flight control and programme management structures. He also contributed to ESA's post-ISS strategic planning task force, developing scenario-based resource models for future human research capability.
2019 - 2023: Space Applications Services (subcontracted to B-USOC) | Brussels, BelgiumISS Payload Operations Engineer
As part of the Belgian User Support and Operations Centre, Gabriel worked as a certified operations engineer managing scientific payloads aboard the International Space Station on behalf of ESA. Across multiple mission cycles he took on a range of responsibilities, serving as operations engineer, experiment activity manager, and increment coordinator, translating scientific requirements into executable operational plans and ensuring delivery within the constraints of crewed spaceflight. He also developed automated analysis and reporting tools to support planning and operational optimisation across the team.
2018 - 2019: MRC Prion Unit, UCL Institute of Prion Diseases | London, UKTissue Governance & Quality Support
Embedded within a highly regulated research environment operating across containment levels 2 and 3, Gabriel managed large-scale biological sample banks and the databases underpinning their traceability and compliance. His responsibilities spanned governance oversight, SOP review, risk assessment, and quality assurance auditing across multiple laboratories, ensuring the unit maintained full audit readiness at all times.
2014 - 2018: Medinova Ltd / University of Barcelona | London, UK & Barcelona, SpainSenior Research Scientist / Adjunct Lecturer
Gabriel designed and implemented the research data environment for an ESA-funded muscle physiology study at King's College London, coordinating experimental activities across a broad stakeholder group and managing all documentation, samples, and datasets in compliance with the UK Human Tissue Act.
EDUcation:
University of Liverpool, UKPostgraduate, Business Administration
University of Barcelona, SpainPhD, Biomedicine (Physiology) — International mention
University of Barcelona, SpainMSc, Advanced Chemistry
University of Barcelona, SpainMSc, Integrative Physiology
University of Iceland, IcelandBSc, Biochemistry
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:
1. Ríos-Kristjánsson et al. (2019) A three-criteria performance score for rats exercising on a running treadmill. PLoS ONE, 14(7):e0219167.
2. Stabler et al. (2017) Impact of the Mk VI SkinSuit on skin microbiota of terrestrial volunteers and an ISS-bound astronaut. NPJ Microgravity, 3.
3. Rizo-Roca et al. (2018) Contractile Activity Is Necessary to Trigger Hypobaric Hypoxia-Induced Adaptations in Skeletal Muscle. Frontiers in Physiology, 9:481.
4. Co-author of 11 additional peer-reviewed publications (full list available on request).