Team
Dedication. Motivation. Passion. Curiosity.
We are a group of motivated students driven by a shared curiosity about the remarkable plasticity of proteins. Our research focuses on understanding how proteins can adopt multiple structural and dynamic states, and how this structural diversity influences their biological function. By combining experimental and theoretical approaches, we aim to uncover how protein polymorphism shapes complex biological processes and contributes to human diseases, particularly neurodegenerative disorders. Through our work, we seek to reveal how molecular flexibility and structural adaptability define the behavior of proteins in their native cellular environments. 🧬
Postdoc
Maria-Agustina Rossi
I am originally from Argentina, where I earned an integrated B.S.-M.S. from the Universidad Nacional de Rosario. I completed my PhD there under Alejandro Vila, focusing on β-lactamases, their clinical evolution, and inhibitor design. I then joined the Lila Gierasch Lab at the University of Massachusetts Amherst to study Hsp70 allosteric complexes. I am currently in the Oroz Lab, leading a project on ELF3 condensate formation and its role in plant thermomorphogenesis. Outside the lab, I enjoy hiking, birdwatching, cooking, and reading fantasy and mystery books.
PhD Student
Rosa Antón García
My name is Rosa Antón and I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology from the University of Valencia. I moved to Madrid to complete a Master’s in Molecular and Cellular Integrative Biology, where I joined the lab and continued with a PhD at CSIC and UAM. My research focuses on protein science, particularly phase separation and its role in biological processes.I have gained international experience through studies in Milan and research stays in Germany and Hong Kong. Outside the lab, I enjoy staying active, especially playing tennis and climbing, as well as traveling and reading.
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PhD Student
Nicolas Enrique van Nuland Azuaga
My name is Nico and I obtained my degree in Chemistry by the University of Granada. Further I followed the master in Integrative Synthetic Biology in Madrid where I joined this lab and continue doing my PhD. My research focuses on understanding the pathophysiology of ALS where TDP-43 disfunction is the main disease hallmark. Additionally Im also really interested in the potential use of chaperones to modulate protein misfolding of client proteins. I love any sports involving a ball! I also love to travel and learning about any other culture around the world.
PhD Student
Angela Franco Fernández
My name is Ángela and I hold a BSc in Biology from the Complutense University of Madrid and a MSc in Biomolecules and Cell Dynamics. During my Erasmus exchange in Vienna, I had my first experience in academic research, an opportunity that shaped the direction of my career and ultimately led me to where I am today. I am currently a first-year PhD student investigating the structural mechanisms involved in long-term memory consolidation. Outside the lab, I enjoy playing the clarinet in an orchestra and also traveling, reading and unwinding.