Magda Faijes Simona

Magda Faijes Simona is an Associate Professor in the Department of Bioengineering at IQS School of Engineering, Universitat Ramon Llull, where she also serves as Head of the Department. Her research is centered on metabolic and protein engineering for the synthesis of complex carbohydrates and glycolipids, with a strong focus on biotechnological applications.

• Doctor in Chemistry, Universitat Ramon Llull, 2003
• Master in Food Chemistry and Engineering, IQS, 1998
• Chemical Engineer, IQS, 1998
• Chemist, URL, 1996
• Post-doc, Wageningen Center for Food Sciences (now Top Institute Food and Nutrition), 2003–2004

Her research interests lie at the intersection of bioengineering and glycobiology. She investigates metabolic pathways in Escherichia coli and Lactobacillus plantarum for the production of carbohydrates and glycolipids. A major focus is protein engineering of glycosidases and glycosyltransferases to enable the enzymatic synthesis of complex carbohydrates, including human milk oligosaccharides. Her work has significant implications for nutrition, immunology, and biopharmaceuticals.

The recent publications highlight a strong trend in enzyme engineering for carbohydrate synthesis, particularly using glycosidases and chitinases. Her team explores transglycosylation, glycosynthase activity, and substrate specificity to design biocatalysts for precise oligosaccharide production. Additional work extends into glycolipid biosynthesis and the development of functional nanoparticles for vaccine delivery, showcasing interdisciplinary innovation.

No specific scientific awards or honors were mentioned in the provided text.

Dr. Faijes Simona is actively involved in research funding and mentorship. She serves as Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-PI on several national and internal research grants, including GLYCOENGIN, paCOSVALOR, and GQBB group funding. These projects focus on glycoenzyme engineering, bioproduction of chitosan oligosaccharides, and microbial fermentation. While specific advisees are not listed, her leadership roles in research groups and grants indicate active supervision of students and junior researchers.

She is a key member of the GQBB – Biological and Biotechnological Chemistry Group at IQS, a recognized research unit funded by AGAUR. The group specializes in protein and enzyme analysis, therapeutic targeting, and biocatalysis in microorganisms. Her collaborative network includes researchers such as Antoni Planas Sauter, Xavier Biarnés, and Miriam Carnicer, and she participates in national initiatives like pre-ETN-GLYCO aimed at training networks in glycochemistry.