I have a PhD in molecular immunology from Rutgers University in New Jersey. During doctoral training I worked on the role of the transcription factor c-Rel in the proliferation and survival of EBV-immortalized human B cells and on transcriptional regulation mechanisms of CD40L expression in CD4+ human T cells. During this time I gained significant experience in flow cytometry, culture of primary cells, viral cultures as well as analysis and manipulation of proteins, and nucleic acids.
After completing my PhD I worked as a post-doctoral research scientist at Humigen-Medical Diagnostic Labs in Hamilton, New Jersey. Specifically, I worked on biomarker and potential drug targets discovery in autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. In collaboration with other scientists, I also worked on the initial phases of development of diagnostic tests for the aforementioned conditions. As a complement to my scientific training I completed a certificate program in Pharmaceutical and Clinical Trials Management from Rutgers University.

I am interested in the cellular responses of lymphocytes to viral infections, stimuli, transformation or even microenvironmental factors and how these responses affect the adaptive immune response either in health or disease. I am also interested in autoimmunity especially in early cellular events and signals associated with lost of tolerance and early phases of disease development.