I'm a marine biologist and PhD student at CCMAR, working within the Marine Microbial Ecology and Biotechnology Group (MMEB). My research focuses on the fascinating giant single-cell algae Caulerpa.

I completed my Master's degree in Biology at the University of Mainz, Germany (2018), with my Master's thesis investigating cellular energy allocation and metabolic profiling in the Antarctic eelpout at the Alfred-Wegener-Institute (AWI) under the supervision of Prof. H.O. Pörtner.

At CCMAR, my current research delves into the characterization of chloroplast genomes across various Caulerpa species worldwide. This project aims to unlock their phylogenetic relationships, identify unique genes, and uncover novel insights with applications in aquaculture and biotechnology. Additionally, I'm exploring the Caulerpa microbiome and its bacterial communities, investigating their impact on the host.

My skills encompass various laboratory techniques, including DNA extraction (CTAB), PCR, Oxford Nanopore sequencing, and bioinformatic analysis. I'm also enthusiastic about employing advanced imaging techniques like ZEISS Light Sheet microscopy to gain deeper understanding of Caulerpa's internal structures, including plastids, nuclei, and bacterial distribution.