TRAINING
2013 - 2017 PhD (Biological Chemistry), University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina; with honors. Title: "Identification of genetic markers associated with resistance to tuberculosis and disease severity in Argentina".
2008 - 2013 Bachelor (Genetics; Master equivalent), National University of the Northwest of the Buenos Aires Province, Pergamino, Argentina; with honors. Research thesis: “Identification and functional characterization of the hunchback gene in Rhodnius prolixus, an intermediate germ band insect vector of Chagas disease”.
POSITIONS HELD
2026 - INSERM Research Associate: “Flea biology as determinant of pathogen transmission”. Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Institut Pasteur Lille, France.
2024 – 2025 Postdoctoral researcher: “The adaptive nature of plague transmission by fleas”. Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille, Institut Pasteur Lille, France.
2020 - 2024 Postdoctoral researcher: “Molecular and functional characterization of tick hemocytes under distinct metabolic and microbial conditions”. University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.
2018-2020 Postdoctoral researcher: “Genomic analysis of Triatoma infestans infection with tripanosomatids”. National University of the Northwest of the Buenos Aires Province, Pergamino, Argentina.
DISTINCTIONS / RESPONSIBILITIES
2025 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowship (MSCA-PF) awarded by Horizon Europe (EU) for the project 101206382 — FACTORS.
2025 Contrats de plan État-Région (CPER-RESISTOMIC) as junior researcher
2019 “Outstanding Young Researcher of the Year Award” from the UNNOBA (Pergamino, Argentina) for valuable and outstanding work as a young researcher.
2018 Postdoctoral Fellowship (two years) awarded by the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET, Argentina).
2013 PhD Fellowship (five years) awarded by the CONICET (Argentina).
2012 Bachelor Research Fellowship (one year) awarded by the Commission of Scientific Research, Training for University Students 2012 (CIC, Argentina).
COMPETENCES / EXPERTISE
My research focuses on host–pathogen interactions, with an emphasis on how host genetic components and immune responses determine the outcomes of microbial infections.
I earned my degree in Genetics from the National University of the Northwest of the Province of Buenos Aires (UNNOBA, Argentina), where I investigated developmental genes in the Chagas disease vector Rhodnius prolixus as part of my undergraduate research project. From 2013 to 2018, I was awarded a five-year PhD fellowship to study the association between human genetic polymorphisms and susceptibility to tuberculosis in Prof. Garcia’s lab at the University of Buenos Aires (UBA).
Afterwards, I obtained a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at UNNOBA under Prof. Rivera-Pomar’s supervision to initiate a new research line on interactions between R. prolixus and the parasite Trypanosoma rangeli. This project included an international collaboration with Prof. Guarnieri (Fiocruz, Minas Gerais, Brazil).
From 2020 to 2024, I worked as a postdoctoral researcher in Prof. Dr. Pedra’s lab at the University of Maryland (USA), where I expanded my expertise in vector biology by studying the immune system of the blacklegged tick Ixodes scapularis when infected with the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi or the rickettsial agent Anaplasma phagocytophilum.
In April 2024, I joined the Plague and Yersinia pestis team (PYP) at the Center for Infection and Immunity of Lille (CIIL), bringing new expertise in vector biology and host–pathogen interactions. There, I lead comparative studies of flea strains from high- and low-prevalence plague regions, revealing striking differences in flea physiology and infection with Y. pestis, the causative agent of plague. These results allowed me to secure independent funding to investigate the underlying mechanisms.
Since January 2026, following a competitive selection process, I have been appointed as a Research Associate (CRCN, INSERM) in the PYP at the CIIL. In this role, I will establish a new research line focusing on how flea biology—including gut molecular programs, microbiota components, and immune responses—contributes to the transmission of human pathogens.
