Welcome!

I am a marine and cell biologist whose work focuses on understanding the cellular and evolutionary mechanisms that shape marine microalgae and their roles in ecosystems and global biogeochemical cycles. My research integrates molecular biology, biochemistry, physiology, and advanced cell imaging to identify and characterize novel cellular mechanisms in phytoplankton.

I conducted my PhD at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, where my research examined the molecular evolution and cell biology of diatoms, and later conducted postdoctoral research at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), studying photosymbiosis in marine protists and phytoplankton. My academic work established interdisciplinary approaches that connect mechanistic cell biology with ecological and evolutionary processes across scales.

In industry, I have worked at Synthetic Genomics and later at Viridos, where I contributed to microalgal biotechnology programs through research tool development and integration. My experience spans both fundamental discovery and applied research, with a focus on translating biological insight into robust experimental and technological frameworks.

My work centers on advancing mechanistic understanding of marine microalgae while connecting cellular biology to ecosystem function and emerging biological applications.

Explore this site learn more about my past and current activites.