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I am interested in understanding the history of life on Earth, not only by studying events today, but understanding those that occurred in the past and to some extent shaped the world we know inhabit. Cambridge has a strong research group in Palaeobiology doing an innovative research in this area.

Previous Education

Universidad Nacional de Colombia BSc Geology 2001

I am interested in the way organisms evolve and the genetic basis behind these processes. My background is mainly ecological having worked with different groups such as crustaceans, protists, birds, oaks and cacti. This has given me a broad view of the way different organisms adapt to their environment. Now I will focus on plant evolution; what I like the most about this subject is the possibility to unveil the complex mechanisms that control the incredible developmental plasticity plants exhibit. In my PhD I’ll be analyzing the evolution of floral morphology in snapdragon from a molecular and ecological perspective. This information will help us to explain how subtle changes in the developmental patterns of the organisms can have enormous consequences for life on the planet.

HE professional with over fifteen years of teaching and research experience in human geography and the humanities. Additionally, nearly a decade of experience in the coordination and management of international educational programs, research agendas, and development projects with significant budget, human resource management, and logistical responsibilities.

Previous Education

Princeton University MA Latin American Literatures and Cultures 2005
Portland State University MA Francophone Literatures and Cultures 1998
Portland State University MA Catalan Literature 1998

I was born and raised in Lima, Peru. I moved to the UK to pursue a career as a research scientist committed to have a positive impact on the quality of life of patients worldwide. With my grandmother having been recently cured from skin carcinoma and a family history of breast cancer, I became actively involved in cancer research. However, I became aware of less treatable, devastating conditions with unknown causes, such as neurodegenerative disorders. These are becoming a major threat to public health due to the phenomenon of the ageing population. My work at Cambridge will therefore focus on the study of the early events that lead to neuronal death in Parkinson’s disease. I hope to identify agents that can delay disease progression since current treatments only address the symptoms, rather than the causes of neurodegeneration. Additionally, I aim to establish links with centres in Latin America to promote research and the role of women in science back home.

Links

https://www.linkedin.com/pub/jessica-santivanez/88/84b/864