Alicia Espiña is new intern in Poul Nissen’s research group, where she is working with Antoni Kowalski on reconstitution and biochemical characterization of neuron-specific isoform of plasma-membrane Ca2+-ATPase (PMCA). PMCA is the membrane protein of key importance in maintaining cellular calcium homeostasis.The project will focus on reconstitution of PMCA in membrane-mimetic systems for structural (e.g. electron microscopy and X-ray scattering) and functional studies (ATPase and calcium transport assays). Alicia comes from the university of Barcelona, where she is doing her final bachelor study.