Early life
I was born and raised in Alicante, on the south-eastern coast of Spain. I grew up next to the sea, with early interests in dinosaurs, astrophysics and cinema; Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Warhammer and Pokémon all greatly influenced me artistically. At the age of 12 my father, a hydraulics engineer by training, introduced me to physics in an attempt to appease my persistent inquisitive attitude. This first contact with science and mathematics instilled a firm passion for the rational understanding of the world, and I became determined to pursue a career in theoretical physics and the mathematical sciences.
Education
I studied Physics at the University of Valencia, although it was clear to me that my interests lay somewhere between physics and pure mathematics. I got my first formal training in mathematics at Imperial College London during an Erasmus visit, and a La Caixa scholarship then funded Part III at the University of Cambridge, where my training in differential geometry and advanced mathematical physics took place. Cambridge's vibrant early music scene also gave me my first harpsichord lessons. I completed my mathematical education with a PhD at the University of Edinburgh under the supervision of José Figueroa-O'Farrill.