GABRIEL RÍOS
Profile:
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Work History:
2025 - CURRENT: EXOBIOSPHERE | LUXEMBOURGBusiness Development Manager
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2023 - 2026: Space Applications Services (subcontracted to ESA/ESTEC) | Noordwijk, NetherlandsESA Project Scientist
Coordinated scientific strategy and delivery for 7 ISS human research projects and 3 ground payload projects, serving as campaign lead across up to 13 international teams. Defined data delivery requirements and reviewed compliance for ESA's Ground Based Facility programme (21 facilities), and led structured peer review processes including reviewer selection and consensus reporting for funding decisions. Prepared Statements of Work ensuring alignment between scientific objectives, budgets, and delivery constraints. Served as FCT Increment coordination representative for ISS Biological and Human Research projects, and contributed scenario-based planning for post-ISS occupancy and resource estimation.
2019 - 2023: Space Applications Services (subcontracted to B-USOC) | Brussels, BelgiumISS Payload Operations Engineer
Certified operations engineer responsible for translating scientific requirements into executable operational plans for ISS payloads. Served as operations lead and experiment manager for an ISS mission, and as increment coordinator across three mission cycles. Owned daily operational reporting frameworks across six missions, ensuring traceability and decision-ready information. Developed automated analysis and reporting routines in Python and VBA to support planning and operational optimisation, and managed console staffing and handovers for a team of ten operators.
2018 - 2019: MRC Prion Unit, UCL Institute of Prion Diseases | London, UKTissue Governance & Quality Support
Managed large-scale regulated sample banks comprising over 20,000 items, ensuring full traceability, compliance, and audit readiness across two bespoke databases. Conducted SOP reviews and risk assessments across four laboratories operating under containment levels 2 and 3, and performed routine quality assurance audits of more than 30 freezer storage units.
2014 - 2018: Medinova Ltd / University of Barcelona | London, UK & Barcelona, SpainSenior Research Scientist / Adjunct Lecturer
Designed and implemented a research data environment for an ESA-funded muscle loss project at King's College London, coordinating experimental activities across 12 stakeholders. Managed documentation, samples, and datasets in compliance with the UK Human Tissue Act. In parallel, held an adjunct lecturing and project supervision role at the University of Barcelona, supervising 36 students across four academic years in MSc and BSc laboratory research projects, and managing bespoke databases across six research programmes.
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).