Ciencia Puerto Rico

Used to be an undergraduate research student at the Microbial Ecology Laboratory of Dr. Maria Gloria Dominguez-Bello, at the University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras, working in various projects that explored the effect of modern practices ( such as C-section and high-fat diets) on the composition and diversity of the human microbiota.

Currently, I'm enrolled in the PhD program in Immunology and Inflammation at the Sackler Institute of New York University School of Medicine under the mentorship of Dr. Ana Rodriguez. My project involves understanding the immune response to Plasmodium parasites, the causative agent of malaria. Specifically we're trying to understand the inflammatory response during malaria and how it can lead to autoimmune pathologies and anemia.

My current interest is in research related to host defense mechanisms and pathogenesis of microbes. In the future, I would like to work in more applied research focused on field work, outbreak control and/or in research related to current and emerging pathogens.