What is your current role? Tell us a bit about your research
I am an early career researcher and inventor interested in how external inputs shape the behaviour of epithelial cells and how this knowledge can be used to improve human health. My PhD research in Cardiff University (the UK) gravitated around the enhancement of bioartificial liver devices, for which I developed a set of tools to artificially recreate the Wnt niche of the hepatic central vein in vitro and evaluated the competency of hepatic organoids as a cellular source for these systems. Thereafter, I worked in the same university as a postdoctoral researcher in the development of a microfluidic system to grow colorectal organoids. I have recently joined as a scientist the Hubrecht Organoid Technology, a non-profit organization based in Utrecht (The Netherlands) where I will continue driving innovation and technology using organoids.
What are you excited about in science communication?
I am interested in two aspects of scientific knowledge transfer. First, I am excited about the use of preprints as channels to speed up the dissemination of discoveries and their potential as tools to promote collaboration, cooperation and enhance the cohesion of the scientific community. Second, I believe that the biological phenomena unravelled in the lab will remain of little value until this information is shared, transferred from person to person, and integrated into humanity’s knowledge. I am therefore also passionate about how can we fill the communication gap between scientists and the public so the wider population can benefit from the latest discoveries.
Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellow program?
The worldwide fight against SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID19 pandemic has been fuelled by preprints rather than traditional peer-reviewed publications. In my view, this further highlights that traditional publication pipelines are obsolete and that the life sciences publishing culture needs remodelling. I decided to participate in the ASAPbio Fellow program to connect with other people enthusiastic about Open Science that want to make a change and are interested in building a more cohesive scientific community.
Ask me about..
Life as an immigrant in the Netherlands, UK and USA. Outside of my research, I am interested in braking gender-based cultural roles and I am passionate about boxing, ballet and running.