Departament de Física

Sergio Alonso Muñoz

Associate professor
Campus Sud (UPC), Edifici P, Despatx 119
Doctor Marañon, 44-50
08028 Barcelona

Telèfon: +34 4016263
E-Mail: s.alonsoupc.edu
Web del grup de recerca: http://biocomsc.upc.edu/en
Web personal: http://futur.upc.edu/SergioAlonsoMunoz

My research interests are focused in the mathematical modeling of biophysical processes, using for example stochastic partial differential equations. In particular, in the organization of the molecules participating in signaling pathways, which may be particularly relevant for processes of cell polarization and cell locomotion, or in the mechanisms of generation of arrhythmia in cardiac tissue related with the irregular electrical wave propagation in the heart, and in the computational modeling of epidemic dynamics.


Short CV


2019 - present: Associate Professor at the Department of Physics, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya.
2014 - 2019: Ramón y Cajal research associate (Tenure track).Department of Applied Physics, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya.
2011 - 2014: Postdoctoral research contract. Collective research project SFB 910: Control of self-organizing nonlinear systems, funded by the German Science Foundation. Department of Mathematical Modeling and Data Analysis, German National Institut for Metrology (Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt), Berlin
2007 - 2010: Postdoctoral research contract. Collective research project SFB 555: Complex Nonlinear processes, funded by the German Science Foundation. Department of Mathematical Modeling and Data Analysis, German National Institut for Metrology (Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt), Berlin
2005 - 2007: Postdoctoral research contract. Marie Curie Research training network: Unifying principles in non-equilibrium pattern formation, Department of Physical Chemistry, Fritz-Haber Institute of Max-Planck Society, Berlin.
2001 - 2004: PhD in the Advanced Physics program. PhD thesis title: Propagation of waves in excitable media under spatio-temporal forcing. Department Structure and Constituents of Matter, University of Barcelona.
1999 - 2001: Substitute assistant professor. Department Structure and Constituents of Matter, University of Barcelona.
1994 - 1998: Degree on Physics. University of Barcelona.


1- Biophysical modeling of cardiac cells: From ion channels to tissue
Alonso, S.; Alvarez-Lacalle, E.; Bragard, J.; Echebarria, B.
Biophysica 5, 1, article 5 (2025)

2- A semi-empirical risk panel to monitor epidemics: multi-faceted tool to assist healthcare and public health professionals
Perramon, A.; Bravo, M.; Lopez de Rioja, V.; Català, M.; Alonso, S.; Alvarez-Lacalle, E.; Lopez, D.; Soriano-Arandes, A.; Prats, C.
Frontiers in public health 11, 1307425 (2024)

3- Country-report pattern corrections of new cases allow accurate 2-week predictions of COVID-19 evolution with the Gompertz model
Villanueva, M.; Conesa, D.; Català, M.; Perramon, A.; Lopez de Rioja, V.; Lopez, D.; Alonso, S.; Cardona, P.J.; Prats, C.; Alvarez-Lacalle, E.; López, M.; Molinuevo, D.; Montañola, C.
Scientific reports 14, 10775 (2024)

4- Mathematical modeling of SARS-CoV-2 variant substitutions in European countries: transmission dynamics and epidemiological insights
Lopez de Rioja, V.; Perramon, A.; Alonso, S.; Andrés, C.; Antón, A.; Bordoy, A.; Càmara, J.; Cardona, P.J.; Català, M.; Lopez, D.; Martí, S.; Martró, E.; Saludes, V.; Prats, C.; Alvarez-Lacalle, E.
Frontiers in public health 12, (2024)

5- Black and gray box learning of amplitude equations: application to phase field systems
Kemeth, F.; Alonso, S.; Echebarria, B.; Moldenhawer, T.; Beta, C.; Kevrekidis, I.
Physical review. E 107, 025305-1-025305-8 (2023)

6- SARS-CoV-2 transmission in teenagers and young adults in Fútbol Club Barcelona’s Multidisciplinary Sports Training Academy
Hernández, M.; Bassat, Q.; Fumadó, V.; Rodas, G.; Pi, R.; Miranda, M.; Girona, M.; Català, M.; Alonso, S.; Alvarez-Lacalle, E.; Lopez, D.; Mele-Casas, M.; Pons, G.; Fernández de Sevilla, M.; Bonet-Carne, E.; Prats, C.
European journal of pediatrics 182, 2421-2432 (2023)

7- Predictive performance of multi-model ensemble forecasts of COVID-19 across European nations
Sherratt, K.; Gruson, H.; Johnson, H.; Grah, R.; Niehus, R.; Villanueva, I.; Alonso, S.; Alvarez-Lacalle, E.; Lopez, D.; Prats, C.; Català, M.; Funk, S.
eLife 12, Article e81916 (2023)

8- Transmissibility, hospitalization, and intensive care admissions due to omicron compared to delta variants of SARS-CoV-2 in Catalonia: A cohort study and ecological analysis
Català, M.; Coma, E.; Alonso, S.; Andres, C.; Blanco, I.; Antón, A.; Escales, A.; Cardona, P.J.; Fina, F.; Martró, E.; Medina, M.; Moras, N.; Saludes Montoro, V.; Prats, C.; Prieto-Alhambra, D.; Alvarez-Lacalle, E.
Frontiers in public health 10, 1-13 (2022)

9- Low transmission of SARS-CoV-2 derived from children in family clusters: An observational study of family households in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area, Spain
Mele-Casas, M.; Launes, C.; Fernández de Sevilla, M.; Bassat, Q.; Fumadó, V.; Garcia-Miquel, A.; Bonet-Carné, E.; Prats, C.; Ajanovic, S.; Jou, C.; Balanza, N.; Baro, B.; Millat-Martínez, P.; Alonso, S.; Alvarez-Lacalle, E.; Català, M.; Cuadras, D.; Muñoz-Almagro, C.; Gratacós, E.; Jordan, I.
PloS one 17, 11 (2022)

10- Matemáticas y COVID-19: monitorización, predicción, retos y perspectivas
Lopez, D.; Alonso, S.; Català, M.; Alvarez-Lacalle, E.; Prats, C.
Indice. Revista de estadística y sociedad 86, 28-32 (2022)

11- Analysis of the epidemiological dynamic of monkeypox from 15th May to 31st August 2022
Perramon, A.; Alvarez-Lacalle, E.; Català, M.; Lopez de Rioja, V.; Alonso, S.; Prats, C.; Lopez, D.
Enfermedades emergentes 21, 160-167 (2022)

12- Assessing wastewater-based epidemiology for the prediction of SARS-CoV-2 incidence in Catalonia
Joseph-Duran, B.; Serra-Compte, A.; Sàrrias, M.; Gonzalez, S.; Lopez, D.; Prats, C.; Català, M.; Alvarez-Lacalle, E.; Alonso, S.; Arnaldos, M.
Scientific reports 12, 1 (2022)

13- Spontaneous transitions between amoeboid and keratocyte-like modes of migration
Moldenhawer, T.; Moreno, E.; Schindler, D.; Flemming, S.; Holschneider, M.; Huisinga, W.; Alonso, S.; Beta, C.
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology 10, 1-13 (2022)

14- Unravelling the role of the mandatory use of face covering masks for the control of SARS-CoV-2 in schools: a quasi-experimental study nested in a population-based cohort in Catalonia (Spain)
Coma, E.; Català, M.; Méndez-Boo, L.; Alonso, S.; Hermosilla, E.; Alvarez-Lacalle, E.; Pino, D.; Medina, M.; Asso, L.; Gatell, A.; Bassat, Q.; Mas, A.; Soriano-Arandes, A.; Fina, F.; Prats, C.
Archives of disease in childhood 105, 1-13 (2022)

15- La IA, una eina fonamental per a la gestió de la pandèmia
Lopez, D.; Prats, C.; Alonso, S.; Alvarez-Lacalle, E.; Català, M.
Telecos.cat. Enginyers de Telecomunicació , 30-30 (2022)

16- Luces y sombras en la modelización de la COVID-19
Alvarez-Lacalle, E.; Conesa, D.; Villanueva, M.; Alonso, S.; Lopez, D.; Prats, C.
Enfermedades emergentes 21, 140-142 (2022)

17- Mass-conservation increases robustness in stochastic reaction-diffusion models of cell crawling
Moreno, E.; Alonso, S.
Frontiers in physics (Lausanne) 10, 881885 (2022)

18- An ensemble of parameters from a robust Markov-based model reproduces L-type calcium currents from different human cardiac myocytes
Montes, G.; Alvarez-Lacalle, E.; Alonso, S.; Weber, R.
PloS one 17, 0266233:1-0266233:26 (2022)

19- Individual prevention and containment measures in schools in Catalonia, Spain, and community transmission of SARS-CoV-2 after school re-opening
Alonso, S.; Català, M.; Lopez, D.; Alvarez-Lacalle, E.; Jordan, I.; Fumadó, V.; Muñoz-Almagro, C.; Gratacós, E.; Balanza, N.; Baro, B.; Ajanovic, S.; Arias, S.; Fernández de Sevilla, M.; Bonet-Carné, E.; Garcia-Miquel, A.; Medina-Peralta, M.; Coma, E.; Fina, F.; Prats, C.; Bassat, Q.
PloS one 17, 2 (2022)

20- From single to collective motion of social amoebae: a computational study of interacting cells
Moreno, E.; Großmann, R.; Beta, C.; Alonso, S.
Frontiers in physics (Lausanne) 9, 750187 (2022)

21- Robust estimation of diagnostic rate and real incidence of COVID-19 for European policymakers
Català, M.; Pino, D.; Marchena, M.; Palacios, P.; Urdiales, T.; Cardona, P.J.; Alonso, S.; Lopez, D.; Prats, C.; Alvarez-Lacalle, E.
PloS one 16, e0243701 (2021)

22- Age-dependency of the propagation rate of coronavirus disease 2019 inside school bubble groups in Catalonia, Spain
Alonso, S.; Alvarez-Lacalle, E.; Català, M.; Lopez, D.; Jordan, I.; García-García, J.; Soriano-Arandes, A.; Lazcano, U.; Sallés, P.; Masats, M.; Urrutia, J.; Gatell, A.; Capdevila, R.; Soler-Palacín, P.; Bassat, Q.; Prats, C.
Pediatric infectious disease journal 40, 955-961 (2021)

23- Monitoring and analysis of COVID-19 pandemic: the need for an empirical approach
Català, M.; Marchena, M.; Conesa, D.; Palacios, P.; Urdiales, T.; Alonso, S.; Alvarez-Lacalle, E.; Lopez, D.; Cardona, P.J.; Prats, C.
Frontiers in public health 9, 633123/1--9 (2021)

24- Risk diagrams based on primary care electronic medical records and linked real-time PCR data to monitor local covid-19 outbreaks during the summer 2020: a prospective study including 7,671,862 people in Catalonia
Català, M.; Coma, E.; Alonso, S.; Alvarez-Lacalle, E.; Cordomí, S.; Lopez, D.; Fina, F.; Medina-Peralta, M.; Prats, C.; Prieto-Alhambra, D.
Frontiers in public health 9, 693956-1-8 (2021)

25- Diffusivity estimation for activator–inhibitor models: theory and application to intracellular dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton
Flemming, S.; Alonso, S.; Beta, C.
Journal of nonlinear science 31, 59 (2021)

26- Transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection among children in summer schools applying stringent control measures in Barcelona, Spain
Jordan, I.; Fernández de Sevilla, M.; Fumadó, V.; Bassat, Q.; Bonet-Carné, E.; Fortuny, C.; Garcia-Miquel, A.; TOMAS, G.; Arias, S.; Alonso, S.; Alvarez-Lacalle, E.; Cuadras, D.; Català, M.; Lopez, D.; Prats, C.; García-García, J.; Gratacós, E.
Clinical infectious diseases 74, 66-73 (2021)

27- Empirical model for short-time prediction of COVID-19 spreading
Català, M.; Alonso, S.; Alvarez-Lacalle, E.; Lopez, D.; Cardona, P.J.; Prats, C.
PLoS computational biology 16, e1008431-1-e1008431-18 (2020)

28- Modeling cell crawling strategies with a bistable model: from amoeboid to fan-shaped cell motion
Moreno, E.; Flemming, S.; Font, F.; Holschneider, M.; Beta, C.; Alonso, S.
Physica. D, Nonlinear phenomena 412, 132591:1-132591:13 (2020)

29- A reaction-diffusion model to understand granulomas formation inside secondary lobule during tuberculosis infection
Català, M.; Prats, C.; Lopez, D.; Cardona, PJ.; Alonso, S.
PloS one 15, e0239289 (2020)

30- Modelling the dynamics of tuberculosis lesions in a virtual lung: role of the bronchial tree in endogenous reinfection
Català, M.; Bechini, J.; Tenesa, M.; Pérez, R.; Moya, M.; Vilaplana, C.; Valls, J.; Alonso, S.; Lopez, D.; Cardona, P.J.; Prats, C.
PLoS computational biology 16, e1007772 (2020)

31- How cortical waves drive fission of motile cells
Flemming, S.; Font, F.; Alonso, S.; Beta, C.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 117, 6330-6338 (2020)

32- Ectopic beats arise from micro-reentries near infarct regions in simulations of a patient-specific heart model
sachetto, R.; Alonso, S.; Otaviano, F.; Martins , B.; Filipe, J.; Kuehne, T.; Weber, R.
Scientific reports 8, 16392-1-16392-14 (2018)

33- Can systems immunology lead tuberculosis eradication?
Cardona, P.J.; Català, M.; Arch, M.; Arias, L.; Alonso, S.; Cardona, P.; Lopez, D.; Vilaplana, C.; Prats, C.
Current Opinion in Systems Biology 12, 53-60 (2018)

34- Modeling random crawling, membrane deformation and intracellular polarity of motile amoeboid cells
Alonso, S.; Stange, M.; Beta, C.
PloS one 13, e0201977-1-e0201977-8 (2018)

35- Development of a computational model of abscess formation
Pigozzo, A.; Missiakas, D.; Alonso, S.; Weber, R.; Lobosco, M.
Frontiers in microbiology 9, 1-16 (2018)

36- Killing many birds with two stones: hypoxia and fibrosis can generate ectopic beats in a human ventricular model
sachetto, R.; Alonso, S.; Weber, R.
Frontiers in physiology 9, 764-1-764-12 (2018)

37- Discretization-dependent model for weakly connected excitable media
Arroyo, P. A.; Alonso, S.; Weber, R.
Physical review E 97, 032214-1-032214-13 (2018)

38- Control of electrical turbulence by periodic excitation of cardiac tissue
Buran, P.; Bär, M.; Alonso, S.; Niedermayer, T.
Chaos 27, 113110-1-113110-9 (2017)

39- Mechanochemical pattern formation in simple models of active viscoelastic fluids and solids
Alonso, S.; Radszuweit, M.; Engel, H.; Baer, M.
Journal of physics D. Applied physics 50, 434004-1-434004-16 (2017)

40- Nonlinear physics of electrical wave propagation in the heart: a review
Alonso, S.; Baer, M.; Echebarria, B.
Reports on progress in physics 79, 096601-096700 (2016)

41- Reentry and ectopic pacemakers emerge in a three-dimensional model for a slab of cardiac tissue with diffuse microfibrosis near the percolation threshold
Alonso, S.; Weber, R.; Bär, M.
PloS one 11, 11 (2016)

42- Oscillations and uniaxial mechanochemical waves in a model of an active poroelastic medium: application to deformation patterns in protoplasmic droplets of Physarum polycephalum
Alonso, S.; Strachauer, U.; Radszuweit, M.; Bär, M.; Hauser, M.
Physica. D, Nonlinear phenomena 318-319, 58-69 (2016)

43- Simulations of heart function
Weber, R.; Alonso, S.; Cherry, E. M.; Sundnes, J.
Biomed Research International 2015, 626378-626378 (2015)

44- Simulation of ectopic pacemakers in the heart: multiple ectopic beats generated by reentry inside fibrotic regions
Gouvêa, B.; Weber, R.; Lobosco, M.; Alonso, S.
Biomed Research International 2015, 713058-1-713058-19 (2015)

45- Spatio-temporal dynamics induced by competing instabilities in two asymmetrically coupled nonlinear evolution equations
Shueler, D.; Alonso, S.; Torcini, A.; Baer, M.
Chaos 24, 043142-1-043142-8 (2014)

46- Traveling waves and global oscillations triggered by attractive molecular interactions in an excitable system
John, K.; Alonso, S.; Bär, M.
Physical review E: statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics 90, 052913-1-052913-7 (2014)

47- Dynamics of reaction-diffusion patterns controlled by asymmetric nonlocal coupling as a limiting case of differential advection
Siebert, J.; Alonso, S.; Bär, M.; Schöll, E.
Physical review E: statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics 89, 052909-1-052909-9 (2014)

48- Modeling domain formation of MARCKS and protein kinase C at cellular membranes
Alonso, S.; Baer, M.
EPJ Nonlinear Biomedical Physics 2, 1 (2014)

49- Twists of opposite handedness on a scroll wave
Dähmlow, P.; Alonso, S.; Baer, M.; Hauser, M.
Physical review letters 110, 234102-1-234102-5 (2013)

50- Intracellular mechanochemical waves in an active poroelastic model
Radszuweit, M.; Alonso, S.; Engel, H.; Baer, M.
Physical review letters 110, 138102-1-138102-5 (2013)

51- Reentry near the percolation threshold in a heterogeneous discrete model for cardiac tissue
Alonso, S.; Baer, M.
Physical review letters 110, 158101-1-158101-5 (2013)

52- Negative tension of scroll wave filaments and turbulence in three-dimensional excitable media and application in cardiac dynamics
Alonso, S.; Baer, M.; Panfilov, A.
Bulletin of mathematical biology 75, 1351-1376 (2012)

53- Effects of reduced discrete coupling on filament tension in excitable media
Alonso, S.; Baer, M.; Panfilov, A.
Chaos 21, 013118-1-013118-7 (2011)

54- Surfactant-induced gradients in the three-dimensional Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction
Kupitz, D.; Alonso, S.; Baer, M.; Hauser, M.
Physical review E: statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics 84, 056210-1-056210-10 (2011)

55- Complex wave patterns in an effective reaction–diffusion model for chemical reactions in microemulsions
Alonso, S.; John, K.; Baer, M.
Journal of chemical physics 134, 094117-1-094117-7 (2011)

56- Oscillations in the lateral pressure of lipid monolayers induced by nonlinear chemical dynamics of the second messengers MARCKS and protein Kinase C
Alonso, S.; Dietrich, U.; Haendel, C.; Kas, J.; Baer, M.
Biophysical journal 100, 939-947 (2011)

57- Self-organization processes at active interfaces
Alonso, S.; Chen, H.; Baer, M.; Mikhailov, A.
European physical journal. Special topics 191, 131-145 (2011)

58- Phase separation and bistability in a three-dimensional model for protein domain formation at biomembranes
Alonso, S.; Baer, M.
Physical biology 7, 046012-1-046012-12 (2010)

59- Wave propagation in heterogeneous bistable and excitable media
Alonso, S.; Loeber, J.; Baer, M.; Engel, H.
European physical journal. Special topics 187, 31-40 (2010)

60- Effective medium approach for heterogeneous reaction-diffusion media
Alonso, S.; Baer, M.; Kapral, R.
Journal of chemical physics 131, 214102-1-214102-9 (2009)

61- Noise-reversed stability of Turing patterns versus Hopf oscillations near codimension-two conditions
Alonso, S.; Sagués, F.
Physical review E: statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics 80, 035203-1-035203-4 (2009)

62- Effective medium theory for reaction rates and diffusion coefficients of heterogeneous systems
Alonso, S.; Kapral, R.; Baer, M.
Physical review letters 102, 238302-1-238302-4 (2009)

63- Towards active microfluidics: interface turbulence in thin liquid films with floating molecular machines
Alonso, S.; Mikhailov, A.
Physical review E: statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics 79, 061906-1-061906-8 (2009)

64- Effects of external global noise on the catalytic CO oxidation on Pt (110)
Bodega, P.; Alonso, S.; Rotermund, H
Journal of chemical physics 130, 084704-1-084704-7 (2009)

65- Negative filament tension at high excitability in a model of cardiac tissue
Alonso, S.; Panfilov, A.
Physical review letters 100, 218101-1-218101-4 (2008)

66- Negative filament tension in the Luo-Rudy model of cardiac tissue
Alonso, S.; Panfilov, A.
Chaos 17, 015102-1-015102-9 (2007)

67- Differential susceptibility to noise of mixed Turing and Hopf modes in a photosensitive chemical medium
Alonso, S.; Míguez, D.; Sagués, F.
Europhysics letters 81, 30006-1-30006-6 (2007)

68- Periodic forcing of scroll rings and control of Winfree turbulence in excitable media
Alonso, S.; Sagués, F.; Mikhailov, A.
Chaos 16, 023124-1-023124-11 (2006)

69- Negative-tension instability of scroll waves and Winfree turbulence in the Oregonator model
Alonso, S.; Sagués, F.; Mikhailov, A.
Journal of physical chemistry A 110, 12063-12071 (2006)

70- Experimental evidence of localized oscillations in the photosensitive chlorine dioxide-iodine-malonic acid reaction
Míguez, D.; Alonso, S.; Pérez, A.; Sagués, F.
Physical review letters 97, 178301-1-178301-4 (2006)

71- Scroll wave instability controlled by external fluctuations
Alonso, S.; Sagués, F.; Sancho, J M
Physica A: statistical mechanics and its applications 351, 159-166 (2005)

72- Expanding scroll rings and negative tension turbulence in a model of excitable media
Alonso, S.; Kähler, R.; Mikhailov, A.; Sagués, F.
Physical review E: statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics 70, 056201-1-056201-10 (2004)

73- Suppression of scroll wave turbulence by noise
Alonso, S.; Sancho, J M; Sagués, F.
Physical review E: statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics 70, 067201-1-067201-4 (2004)

74- Taming Winfree turbulence of scroll waves in excitable media
Alonso, S.; Sagués, F.; Mikhailov, A.
Science (New York, N.Y.) 299, 1722-1725 (2003)

75- Excitability transitions and wave dynamics under spatiotemporal structured noise
Alonso, S.; Sagués, F.; Sancho, J M
Physical review E: statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics 65, 066107-1-066107-11 (2002)

76- Wave pattern dynamics in fluctuating media
Sagués, F.; Alonso, S.; Sancho, J M
International journal of modern physics C 13, 1243-1252 (2002)

77- Noise-induced Brownian motion of spiral waves
Alonso, S.; Sagués, F.
Physical review E: statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics 63, 046205-1-046205-12 (2001)

78- Regular wave propagation out of noise in chemical active media
Alonso, S.; Sendiña, I.; Perez-Munuzuri, V.; Sancho, J M; Sagués, F.
Physical review letters 87, 078302-1-078302-4 (2001)

79- Brownian motion of spiral waves driven by spatio-temporal structured noise
Sendiña-Nadal, I.; Alonso, S.; Perez-Munuzuri, V.; Gómez-Gesteira, M.; Pérez-Villar, V.; Ramirez de La Piscina, L.; Casademunt, J.; Sancho, J M; Sagués, F.
Physical review letters 84, 2734-2737 (2000)