Born in a small village from Cordoba, Aguilar de la Frontera; María completed her undergraduate studies in Biotechnology at Pablo de Olavide University in Seville. During her Bachelor’s thesis, she investigated aging processes in Caenorhabditis elegans, an experience that first introduced her to the power of this model organism for studying fundamental biological mechanisms. She also spent an Erasmus year in Germany, an experience that not only expanded her academic and cultural perspective but also increased her interest in neuroscience. This motivation led her to pursue a Master’s degree in Neuroscience at the University of Seville, where her research focused on a progeria model in C. elegans that revealed unexpected neuroprotection against toxic protein aggregates linked to neurodegeneration.
Currently, María is a PhD student at ICFO in the Neurophotonics and Mechanical Systems Biology group. She is particularly motivated by the opportunities C. elegans offers as a model organism to connect molecular mechanisms with questions in neuroscience.
When not in the lab, María enjoys reading, hanging out with her friends and staying active at the gym. She also loves travel and hiking, exploring new landscapes and cultures.