My name is David Durán Wendt, and I am a researcher in environmental microbiology and bacterial genetics—although if I had to describe myself with one word, it would probably be curious. That curiosity has taken me from my native Chile, where I trained as a biochemist, to laboratories in Madrid, Germany, and Mexico, exploring the invisible life that sustains ecosystems: bacteria.

I currently work at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, where I study how soil bacteria interact with plants, with other bacteria… and with us, through their impact on agriculture, climate change, and biotechnology. I’m passionate about bacterial secretion systems, symbiosis, and microbial adaptation to the environment. But beyond genes and cultures, what truly interests me is how knowledge can transform the way we inhabit the planet.

Outside the lab, I enjoy walking, writing, and engaging in science outreach activities. I firmly believe that science should be understandable and useful to society. If research has taught me anything, it’s patience, critical thinking, and humility.