We are excited to announce that Maria Camila Giraldo will officially join the Lab as a PhD student in Spring 2021. Check out the short interview below to learn more about Camila’s research experience and diverse interests.
What is your training/research background?
Currently my background is primarily on cardiovascular disease and the mechanisms that lead to said conditions. During my undergraduate I was part of the Cardiovascular Matrix Remodeling Laboratory where my projects focused mainly on the mechanism/processes through which cardiovascular calcification arises, the characterization of calcifying extracellular vesicles and what confers the necessary properties to this vesicles to promote mineralization of the vascular tissues. I also got the opportunity to participate in research commercialization projects which shaped my perspective and approach to research.
Why did you choose to join the Quiroz Lab at GT/Emory BME?
I had a pretty clear view of what I was looking for in an advisor during my PhD and the type of environment in which I wanted to train. I wanted to be in a research group where intellectual freedom was valued and where I would feel intellectually challenged and stimulated, moreover where creativity and bringing new and different ideas to the table was encouraged. After multiple very engaging conversations, I realized that Dr. Quiroz’s views aligned with what I was looking for. Even though the focus of the lab is different from any research that I have done, the more I learned about the impact that it can have, the type of skills that I could acquire and the possible applications for this type of research, the more convinced I was that the Quiroz Lab is the perfect fit for me.
When you are not doing research, what do you like to do?
During my leisure time, I enjoy doing exercise, spending quality time with family or friends over a good movie and a home cooked meal, calling my parents or just trying a random cooking recipe, and recently, I have a new found love for doing large puzzles with background music.
 |
Maria Camila Giraldo PhD student (starting Spring 2021) Wallace H. Coulter Dept. of Biomedical Engineering Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University |