From Michigan Labs to Spanish Dining Rooms: A Story of Remote Work and Reunion
By Lynn McCain | July 14One of the lessons learned through the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Dr. Gabriel Núñez, is that in many situations we can work effectively from anywhere. Originating from Seville, Spain, Núñez, who has been faculty in the Department of Pathology since 1991, has taken this lesson to heart. He purchased a home in Seville and, since 2023, spends the winters there working remotely. “I volunteer at a research institute there. I have an office, but my primary responsibility is to mentor graduate student scientists and young faculty. Last year, I taught a group of students how to organize a scientific meeting. We collaborated in this effort with three research institutions in Seville, which had never been done before.” Núñez took three graduate students from each institution and guided them as they organized the entire event. “Next year, I will have the graduate students present their research at the meeting, not just organize it.” He is also in daily contact with his research laboratory in Michigan, where he guides the research, prepares manuscripts, assists with grant applications, and attends to other responsibilities from his Seville office. “I am also the senior editor for Gastroenterology. I review all the manuscript submissions and assign them to the associate editors. I am pretty busy when I am there.”
![Front Row, seated (L-R): [Daughter of Mathias Chamaillard]; Nesrin Ozoren, 2002-2005, Turkey; Lech Czerski, 2002-2005, Poland; [Wife of Mathias Chamaillard] Middle Row, seated (L-R): [Wife of Hideki Hara]; [Daughter of Hideki Hara]; Ruth Álvarez, 2002-2004, Spain Back Row, standing (L-R): Mathias Chamaillard, 2003-2005, France; [Son of Hideki Hara]; [Wife of Ramon Merino]; Dr. Nunez (in hat); Hideki Hara, 2013-2019, Japan; Ramon Merino, 1993-1995, Spain; Angela Bernabéu, 2003, Spain](../../../static/apps/cms/news/1655/images/Nunez Lab Reunion in Spain seated sm.jpg)
Despite his busy schedule, he also makes time for fun activities. While on his last visit to Seville, he invited former laboratory members to join him for a reunion. Approximately 12 of them were able to come with their families. “We organized historical visits, went to museums and restaurants, and talked about the old days and what they are doing now in their labs” This was his second lab reunion. Former lab members who now work in France, Spain, Turkey, Poland, and Japan attended. After the first reunion, Núñez sold his home in Seville and purchased a fully restored house that was built in the 1600s. “I now have a large dining room. This year, instead of going to restaurants, I hired a young chef, and we ate at my home. This worked out much nicer for the families.” When will the next reunion be held? “Maybe in three or four years. It is so nice to spend time together.”
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