Biography

I have always been fascinated by nature and biodiversity, which led me to study biology. In 2016, I obtained my degree in Biology from Universidad Rey Juan Carlos in Madrid. Alongside my passion for biology, I have always been captivated by astronomy and the study of the universe. This dual interest naturally drew me to astrobiology, a field that beautifully combines both of my passions. To deepen my understanding of astrobiology, I completed an internship at the Astrobiology Center (CAB) at the National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA). My curiosity about the origins of life led me to study the evolution through molecular biology, which is why I applied for the “Promotion of Research in Master’s Studies-UAM 2016” grant to enroll in a Master’s program in Biotechnology at Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. After completing my first Master’s, I joined Christian Landry’s lab for my second Master’s, where I became fascinated by their innovative approaches to studying evolution at the molecular level. This experience inspired me to pursue a PhD within his group, completing an accelerated track in 2019. Throughout my Master’s and doctoral years, I was fortunate to receive support from prestigious scholarships, including La Caixa Foundation Scholarship and an FQRNT scholarship from the Quebec government. I am proud to say that my doctoral journey has concluded successfully, resulting in valuable contributions to science. Throughout my academic career, I have been honored with several prestigious awards, including the Michèle-Auger Award for inspiring women, and the DeLill Nasser Award. I am passionate about making science accessible to everyone and have actively participated in science communication initiatives. For several years, I have been involved in the outreach subcommittee of the Genetics Society of America. Therefore, my goal is to continue advancing in both research and science communication, bridging the gap between science and society, while inspiring future generations of scientists.

Research interests

I am an inherently curious individual, which has led me to explore a wide range of scientific fields, from astrobiology and ecotoxicology to biomedicine. My doctoral research focused on understanding how organisms adapt to extreme environments and uncovering the molecular mechanisms behind these adaptations, with a particular emphasis on interspecies hybridization. By combining experimental evolution with advanced genomic techniques, we explored the genomic consequences of evolutionary processes.

Inspired by my doctoral work in evolutionary biology, I am excited to further my passion during a new postdoctoral phase, with a focus on human evolution—specifically exploring our species’ hybrid past with Neanderthals and Denisovans. This subject has long intrigued me in my spare time, and I am eager to see where this new adventure will lead.