Master in Biomedical Sciences – Molecular mechanisms in Health and Disease
Joined the group in September 2025
Research project: In vitro stem cell based models to study nanoparticle effects on mitochondrial communication in neurodevelopment
I am currently working on how nanoparticles influence early neurodevelopmental processes, with a particular emphasis on organelle communication. Mitochondria are central regulators of stem cell fate, as they control cellular energy metabolism, calcium homeostasis, and signalling pathways that drive neural differentiation. Disruption of mitochondrial function, or their interaction with other organelles such as the endoplasmic reticulum, may constitute an early and critical mechanism underlying neurodevelopmental toxicity. To address this, I am developing advanced in vitro stem cell–based models to systematically assess how nanoparticles affect mitochondrial dynamics, inter-organelle signalling, and the downstream consequences for neural lineage specification. This approach integrates thorough physicochemical nanoparticle characterization with molecular, imaging, and functional analyses, employing both assay- and microscopy-based methodologies.
My favorite quote: “We are shaped not only by what we achieve, but also by what we choose to pursue.”
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