Can you describe your PhD topic in a sentence?
My work is to find a book of recipes that fungi use to prepare different molecules in a gigantic library called genome.
What sparked your interest in this specific research topic or group?
More than ten years ago, I fell in love with fungi. From the beginning, I was enchanted by their complexity and uniqueness, which is why I applied for this position.
What’s one challenge you faced and how did you tackle it?
The same complexity I love about fungi makes every step of my work challenging. Many topics are underexplored for fungi, so when I run out of references from fungal research, I open my search to other organisms. Sometimes, you must take a deep breath and try a protocol, hoping for the best. In conclusion, my strategy is persistence and a lot of patience.
What makes being a part of the MAGic-MOLFUN network special for you?
It is an incredibly enriching experience to share the PhD journey with the other candidates. It has helped me become less self-centered and reminded me that the downs are also part of the journey.
Any dream job or position you have in mind?
My dream job is a position that allows me to continue studying fungi, and I would love to do it in Colombia.
Which fictional scientist do you relate to the most?
Doc Brown from Back to the Future movies, an enthusiastic and friendly chaos.
