My Story

I am a marine molecular microbiologist studying phytoplankton interactions through the lenses of functional genomics, ecology, and evolutionary biology. My research integrates field studies and molecular approaches to understand the ecological roles and adaptive potential of microalgae.

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I coordinate the EU Horizon project AquaBioSens, which develops portable molecular, immunological, and whole-cell biosensor systems for on-site detection of harmful algal bloom (HAB) toxins, organic contaminants, and heavy metals. Previously, as WP leader in TechOceanS, I led the development of in situ nucleic-acid sensors for ocean monitoring.

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The technological aspect of my work supports fundamental biological research — enabling real-time, in-field measurements that link genomic potential to ecological function. My background spans marine science (MSc & PhD, University of Southampton, UK), evolutionary genomics (MPI for Evolutionary Biology, University of Exeter), and applied microfluidics in academia and biomedical industry (University of Southampton; Binx Health, UK).

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