On the 29th of July 2026 I had the pleasure of being interviewed by the Catedra CHIP. The Càtedra CHIP UPC. Below you can find the full text.

The Catedra Chip, Chair in Chips for Advanced Architectures and Photonic Systems, is an initiative launched by the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) within the framework of Spain’s PERTE Chip strategic initiative, funded by Next Generation EU. It brings together university research, research institutions, and industry partners (Barcelona Supercomputing Center, ICFO, Qualcomm, Imasenic, Ideaded, Lenovo, Qurv and Quside) to drive microelectronics research, foster innovation, and train the next generation of talent in semiconductor and integrated circuit design.

The original article can be found here, below an English translation.

Interview

Alberto López is a researcher at the Càtedra CHIP UPC, where he works on the design of integrated circuits for high-speed data transmission applied to image sensors. In parallel, he drives MisCircuitos.com, a personal project that has become a benchmark for students, researchers, and engineers interested in analog integrated circuit design.

With over 5,000 monthly visits, the website compiles explanations, resources, and experiences in a highly specialized field where practical knowledge is often difficult to find. But what makes the project truly unique is its connection to research: many of the concepts that Alberto studies and delves into during his research activities end up transformed into useful content for the entire technical community.

MisCircuitos.com was born long before you joined the Càtedra CHIP UPC. How did the idea of creating this website come about, and what need were you trying to address?

It all started during university, when I was participating in robotics competitions and developing various projects, including my final degree project: a hexacopter drone.

I didn’t want all that time, effort, and accumulated knowledge to end up forgotten in a drawer, so I decided to start documenting and sharing them.

The first article that made a significant impact explained how to build high-grip wheels for sumo competition robots at a very low cost. It was then that I realized the project could bring value to other people, and I decided to keep going.

You often describe MisCircuitos.com as your “second brain.” How has it evolved from personal notes into a resource for engineers around the world?

Yes, it’s my online notepad. There, I organize concepts, formulas, architectures, and ideas that I consult regularly—both from anywhere online and in a local version containing many drafts that are still pending publication.

Initially, they were notes intended only for myself, but over time I started taking a more pedagogical approach so that they could also be useful to others. The content has evolved from robotics, electronics, and programming to specializing entirely in analog microelectronics and semiconductors. Over the years, the site has grown to exceed 5,000 monthly visits.

Alberto López balancing his work as a researcher with the MisCircuitos project. Now you combine this personal project with your research at the Càtedra CHIP UPC. How does your research work influence the content you publish?

Research helps me identify concepts or problems that I want to delve deeper into. When I study a new topic, I usually document it and turn it into notes that—if I feel could be useful to others—eventually become an article.

Of course, there are constraints related to confidentiality and intellectual property. For that reason, I only publish general concepts or fundamentals that do not reveal sensitive information from the projects we work on.

You often say that “explaining something is the only way to make sure I’ve understood it.” What has this process of transforming real-world design problems into technical articles brought to you?

It has helped me consolidate my knowledge much better. Before publishing any article, I make sure I thoroughly understand every concept, formula, or explanation.

I cross-check information with benchmark textbooks and, when necessary, with scientific papers, reviewing the content several times before publishing.

This process forces me to dive deep into the fundamentals of microelectronics and, at the same time, gives me confidence that the content I share is rigorous.

There are many electronics resources on the Internet, but few are so specialized in analog integrated circuit design. What do you think makes MisCircuitos.com such a valued resource?

I try to answer the questions that I would have liked to have had answered when I was starting out. Each article addresses a very specific concept with a practical approach—not attempting to replace the great reference books, but rather supplementing them with more direct and daily-applicable explanations.

Today, MisCircuitos.com receives around 5,000 monthly visits, mostly during weekdays. What does it mean to you to know that this knowledge helps other professionals and students?

At first, I was surprised to see that most visits occur during working hours and drop significantly on weekends and holidays. That made me realize that many people use the website as a reference tool while they work.

Knowing that the content is useful is what motivates me to keep publishing.

The Càtedra CHIP UPC is committed to generating knowledge and developing talent in microelectronics. What role do you think technical outreach plays in strengthening the chip design ecosystem?

Outreach is fundamental to bringing microelectronics closer to the new generations. Although there are more and more science/engineering communicators nowadays, analog integrated circuit design remains a highly specialized field with few accessible resources and a demanding learning curve.

The goal of MisCircuitos.com is to contribute to lowering that barrier. If a student or professional can find an answer in a few minutes that would have otherwise cost them hours or days of research, they can spend that time continuing to learn and innovate.

Ultimately, developing talent doesn’t depend solely on universities or research centers. It also depends on sharing knowledge, making it more accessible, and enabling the next generation of engineers to build upon what others have already learned. Sharing knowledge is also a way to drive innovation.

We thank Alberto López for sharing his experience and vision regarding the importance of technical outreach. Initiatives like MisCircuitos.com demonstrate that research not only generates knowledge, but can also inspire, train, and grow an entire community.