About Me
I arrived in the United States 13 years ago following my dream to become a biomedical engineer. Since then, I have completed a BS, MS, and PhD in Biomedical Engineering. During graduate school, I also obtained a Delta Certificate in Teaching and Learning with an emphasis on inclusive pedagogy. I am currently a Cornell Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow. My research experience encompasses a wide variety of topics ranging from tissue engineering to the gut microbiome and global health.
Originally from Colombia, I am also passionate about multicultural and multilingual communication in both formal and informal settings. I am an advocate and active participant in organizations and communities that foster diversity in STEM.
In my free time, I love to travel, bake, swim, read, dance, and above all, eat ice cream.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
2017 - 2019
Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow
Postdoctoral Associate
CORNELL UNIVERSITY
Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering
Fellow since January 2019
Advisor: Dr. Ilana Brito
2016
Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
Thesis title: "Development of Improved Models to Understand the Sequence of Events in Early Calcific Aortic Valve Disease”
Advisor: Dr. Kristyn Masters
2015
Delta Certificate in Teaching and Learning
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
Teaching-as-Research Project: "Training the Trainers at the Physics Learning Center"
Advisors: Dr. Susan Nossal & Dr. Amihan Huesmann
2014
M.S. in Biomedical Engineering
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
2011
B.S. in Biomedical Engineering
Minor in German
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
Graduated with High Honors
Advisor: Dr. Christine Schmidt
HONORS & AWARDS
Fellowships & Scholarships
2019 - 2022
2015 - 2016
2010 - 2011
2008
2006-2011
Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship, Cornell University
American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship - Midwest Affiliate
Unrestricted Endowed Presidential Scholarship, University of Texas at Austin
Braden Communication Scholarhip (awarded to the best communicator in the dept.), UT-Austin BME
Bachilleres por Colombia, ECOPETROL
Teaching & Public Engagement with Science
2019 - 2021
2019
2018
2011
American Association for the Advancement of Science IF/THEN Ambassador
Massive Science Photon Fellow for Science Writing
Postdoc Achievement Award for Excellence in Community Engagement, Cornell University
Two Photon Art Science Communication Small Grant
Patricia Heard Outstanding Student Educator, University of Texas at Austin
Leadership
2019
2018
2017
2015-2016
2010
Building Future Faculty Scholar, North Carolina State University
Chair, Gordon Research Seminar: Signal Transduction by Engineered Extracellular Matrices
International Student Leadership Award, International Student Services at UW-Madison
President, Biomedical Engineering Graduate Student Association, UW-Madison
President, Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honors Society, Texas Alpha Chapter, UT-Austin