Interview with Dr. Joaquim Jaumot—Winner of Toxics 2022 Best Paper Award

Self-introduction

I am a Research Scientist at the Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA) in the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). I obtained my degree in chemistry from the University of Barcelona (UB) in 2001 and earned my Ph.D. in chemistry from the same institution in 2006. In addition, I obtained computer science degree from the Open University of Catalonia in 2009. Before my current position, I worked as a non-tenure assistant professor at the UB until 2012 and as a JAE-DOC postdoctoral researcher at CSIC from 2012 to 2015.

My research is centered on developing and applying data analysis methods, which form the foundation of my multidisciplinary research career. I have used my expertise in various fields, such as molecular biology, process and analytical chemistry, and environmental chemistry. However, in recent years, I have focused my research on developing and applying data analysis tools in environmental omics, aiming to increase our understanding of molecular biological processes through the analysis of large and complex datasets generated in transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic studies.

The following is an interview with Dr. Joaquim Jaumot:

1. Could you please briefly introduce the main content of the winning paper?

The awarded paper discusses the impact of microplastics on environmental health, with a particular focus on the toxicological effects caused by their ability to absorb and transport chemicals (e.g. organic compounds, metals, etc.) in a phenomenon known as the Trojan Horse effect. Our study aims to highlight the main factors that influence the sorption capacity of microplastics and the potential scenarios in which they may significantly contribute to the bioaccumulation and transfer of sorbed chemicals.

2. Could you describe the difficulties and breakthrough innovations in this research field?

Understanding the contamination of microplastics and their interactions with other pollutants is crucial for assessing the risks posed to the environment and human health. These studies require a multifaceted approach, including studying the concentration and release of contaminants sorbed in the microplastics and the possible synergistic or antagonistic effects due to the different toxicity of pollutants and plastics. This research also involves using analytical techniques to examine the molecular exposure impacts and collaboration between researchers from other disciplines to design, conduct, and interpret experiments. Finally, by examining the impact of microplastics and sorbed contaminants, this research can gain insights into the underlying causes of changes in organisms and inform strategies for mitigating these effects.

3. How was your experience submitting to Toxics?

Overall, my experience submitting to the Toxics journal was positive. The submission process was straightforward, and the peer review process was efficient, with helpful feedback from the editor and reviewers.

4. How do you think Open Access impacts authors?

Open Access has several benefits for authors, including increased visibility for both the scientific community and the general public. This greater visibility can result in a higher impact on the research and more citations, recognition, and potential funding opportunities. In addition, Open Access publications allow authors to reach a wider audience and contribute to advancing knowledge in their field.

We want to congratulate Dr. Joaquim Jaumot for winning the Toxics 2022 Best Paper Award.