Could you give a few information about yourself and your scientific background, including previous studies and obtained degrees?

Bachelor of Science in chemistry from University of Virginia, USA
Masters in Molecular Biotechnology from Universitat de Barcelona, Spain
8 years of combined experience in diagnostic lab and industry settings in USA including molecular diagnostics, antibody diagnostics, pharmacogenetics, and immunoassays
Molecular Biology certified by the American Society for Clinical Pathology

Could you provide details about your scientific research, and previous projects, listing your key expertise and skills? 

My research in the Structural Glycobiology Laboratory at the Institute of Molecular Biology of Barcelona (IBMB) aimed to discover the structure and therefore function of the glycan polymer synthesizing system in Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, and how this system works in the production of bacterial cell walls.

A brief project in computer-aided molecular dynamics at the U of Barcelona aided in the optimization of a small molecule drug lead by testing affinity in and hydrophobicity.

My expertise in antibody diagnostics, nucleic acid molecular biology, and protein science give me the fundamentals for studying WTAs in conjunction with my colleagues in the AUREUS consortium.

What was the motivation for joining the Aureus project?

Antibiotic resistance is a rising health treat in the world. I was very excited to see the EU a program to address this problem and jumped on the opportunity to contribute research to contribute to scientific knowledge and human health in a multi-institutional research consortium.

What is the motivation and aim of your PhD project?

The aim is to understand how bacterial glycopolymers like WTA are recognized by the immune system. By using a structural lens to view how WTAs bind to PRRs and antibodies, I hope to uncover details that can help improve immune-based therapies. I’m really drawn to the molecular side of disease and the tools used here fit very well with my past work.

Could you write a few sentences about yourself, your hobbies, interests?

My family is Colombian, and we celebrate holidays by Latin dancing together. I enjoy hiking, running, yoga, and scuba as ways to attune and ground while enjoying nature and the environment.