No Borders in Science is a series of interviews with Institute of Solid State Physics (ISSP UL) scientists and employees who are closely connected to the world outside of Latvia – by birth, attained education, or just their daily work. Through their stories we want to highlight the institute as a part of the global scientific network – a centre of excellence where collaboration isn’t limited by geography and the exchange of ideas, experiences, and efforts is placed at the forefront. This time, we speak with Viviana Andrea Claveria Pizarro about how her journey in science flowed from lasers manipulating tiny particles to biophysics and working to fight life-threatening blood diseases.
In your own words, what is your scientific specialty? What are your topics of interest outside of it?
Today my work is divided into two main areas. On one side, I’m developing medical devices that address blood flow disorders and improve diagnostic capabilities, with the aim of creating tools that are effective, accessible, and reliable in clinical use.
On the other side, I focus on fundamental science. My research explores the behavior of biofluids, especially how red blood cells and other microscopic entities move through the bloodstream. Building on this, I’m now studying how bacteria navigate in flow, to learn how nature has optimized mechanisms for reaching precise sites in the body. Together with colleagues, we are “programming” bacteria by carefully editing their DNA, in order to optimize their movement toward cancer sites. All of this is done using microfluidic chips developed at ISSP UL, which allow us to mimic blood-like conditions. It’s a complex challenge, but it opens exciting opportunities to understand and eventually harness these natural navigation strategies for autonomous cancer site detection.
How did your journey in science start? How did it lead to ISSP UL?
I’m a physicist-engineer by training. In the beginning, I was drawn to theory and worked on optics, helping to develop a new method to trap particles in an optical tweezer together with Albert Ferrando from the University of Valencia. During a mandatory internship to finish my physicist-engineering studies in Valencia, I unexpectedly had the chance to take a class on replicating bacteria. It was my first encounter with synthetic biology – completely new to me coming from pure physics – and it sparked my curiosity in biophysics.
When I was looking for a PhD, I first explored opportunities in Chile but eventually expanded my search abroad. I applied for a joint program between Germany and France and was accepted. That’s where I truly entered biophysics: working with red blood cells and using optical tweezers experimentally for the first time; previously, my work had been only theoretical. At the same time, I began working with microfluidics, building systems that mimic capillaries, arteries, and venules, exactly the kind of research I continue today.
Over time, I realized that all the basic knowledge about red blood cells and blood flow behaviour can be applied to improve current medical devices or develop new ones. My engineering side perked up. This led me travel to the USA to work with Dr. David Ku at Georgia Tech in the development of a point-of-care device to assess the thrombolytic state of patients. This was during the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, I also joined the Engineer Core of the RADx program launched by the NIH, gaining invaluable experience in manufacturing processes, device assessment, and a deep dive into human factors, workflows, and organizational challenges.
After that chapter and a period in Chile working with bacteria for the first time, I came to ISSP UL. Even though my work doesn’t fit neatly under “solid state physics,” the institute has an openness to interdisciplinarity that allows me to connect physics, engineering, and medicine, bringing these ideas to life here.
In three words, could you describe work at the ISSP UL and life in Latvia?
Passion. I am deeply passionate about my work, and I feel extremely happy here because I can truly be myself. I have the freedom to propose ideas – scientific or developmental – and pursue them with creativity. My colleagues bring their own strong passion and energy. They are young, highly skilled, and full of drive, which I find both inspiring and motivating.
Excellence. There is an excellent team of professionals here, all willing to work toward the best in every aspect – product development, communication, science, new ideas, and support. This shared pursuit of excellence makes the environment both stimulating and rewarding.
Opportunity. To transform ideas into reality, funding is essential. Here in Latvia, there are many opportunities available, and being part of the European Union opens even more doors.
How do you feel the ISSP UL assists scientists in participating in events and capitalising on other growth and networking opportunities?
The institute was very supportive of my participation at the ISTH 2025 Congress in June this year, where I had the honour of giving a talk. This was my first “mission” abroad as a member of ISSP UL, and it showed me how much the institute helps scientists take part in international events and grow through networking. During the Congress, many colleagues from around the world asked me “Why Latvia?” and I was proud to share what makes ISSP UL unique: its broad set of tools, strong international reputation, culture of excellence, and dynamic scientific community. As an experimentalist, I particularly value the access to advanced equipment and the opportunities to collaborate with other experimentalists in Latvia. People were enthusiastic about visiting us, and some are already engaged with me in joint funding applications.
You have already submitted projects for FLPP and BioPhoT and are gearing up to submit to ERC – could you speak on the research support system the ISSP UL has provided in these initiatives?
It has been an excellent experience. Not every institution is so committed to helping researchers prepare the strongest possible project applications. In many places, you are expected to handle everything on your own. At ISSP UL, however, the process is very well organized – you feel supported, and you know you are not alone. There is a real sense of community, which is perfect for me as a team-oriented researcher. When I first arrived, I had plenty of ideas but needed guidance on where to apply for funding. Together with the Institute, we mapped out the opportunities, whether Latvian or European, and from the very beginning I felt incredibly well supported.
What is your next career goal?
My next career goal is very clear: to strengthen and advance my own research lines. I feel like every scientist aspires to develop their own lab and be recognized for their contributions, and that is what I am working toward. At the moment, my projects sometimes require support from outside the institute. While collaboration is invaluable, it can also be challenging to organize and to travel elsewhere just to complete a single experiment. Looking ahead, I want to build more of that capacity within ISSP UL and make the Institute known for the research I am leading. Our Micro and Nano Device Laboratory already has a strong reputation, and I am determined to further expand and develop this renown.
Beyond that, I want to devote the next ten years and more to doing truly good science. For me, this means pursuing discoveries that are exciting, unique, and transformative – work that answers fundamental questions while, on the applied side, contributing to tools and technologies that help us live in a better world.
