I am a Postgraduate Associate in the Handelsman Lab and the Center for Teaching and Learning at Yale. The Handelsman Lab focuses on studying microbial commuties in the gut and in soil, both of which are complex ecosystems teeming with microbial interactions. My research focuses on studying antagonistic interactions, particularly those resulting from the production of antibiotics. This led to my involvement in the Small World Initiative, an undergraduate research program started in our lab which currently spans 60 universities in 5 countries, primarily in the US. The program is designed to promote the discovery of new antibiotics from soil microbes to help combat the antibiotic crisis. I am fascinated by microbial ecology and natural product discovery, and how microbiology can be applied to human heatlh. I am interested in pursuing a career in medicine, and coupling my love for patient care (particularly in pediatrics) with my research focus (infectious disease).
My interest in biology and medicine started when I was a child growing up in Santiago, Dominican Republic - located in a mountainous and fertile region (which closely resembles Puerto Rico!) in the island of Hispaniola. I was (and still am) fascinated by nature, observing plants and insects living in the soil, and enjoyed looking after my little sisters and great-grandmother. I immigrated to the US at the age of 10 and started learning English while living in the South Bronx. I majored in biology at Dickinson College, located in rural Pennsylvania, and spent a year at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England. Besides biology, I was involved in Italian studies, running in the track team, and working as a leader in my residential hall and college community.
Since my graduation in 2013 I've been working in the Handelsman Lab, helping with the teaching and development of Small World Initiative, as well as working on my personal research. In addition, I am committed to science education and working with Hispanics in the US, particularly in the Northeast. Becoming a member of CienciaPR is a step closer to the involvement and dedication want to have in my community. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about my job or my journey, or if I can help or support you in any way :)