Maria is originally from Cali, Colombia, the salsa capital of the world (the dance, not the sauce), but has called the U.S her home since 2012. Her curiosity and passion for the ways in which different areas of knowledge intertwine, and how we can use science to better the world around us led her to Williams College, nestled in the Berkshire mountains in Massachusetts (an area filled with cows, alpacas, and expensive art). There, she explored many different fields, but realized the elegance, versatility, and importance of organic chemistry while working with professor Amanda Turek on synthesis and catalysis.

 

Her love of organic chemistry, combined with a passion for the biological sciences led her to also conduct research at Columbia University in New York with professor Brent Stockwell and Dr. Arie Zask, synthesizing small-molecule ferroptosis inhibitors.

 

In 2023, Maria started her PhD at UChicago, where, co-advised between the Snyder and Esser-Kahn labs, she hopes to continue growing as both a chemist and hopefully a biologist. 

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Outside of lab, you can find María hanging out with her dog (Mr. Copper), dancing salsa, making and looking at art, attending the orchestra and ballet, cooking, making Spotify playlists that she will quickly forget about, buying books she will likely never finish, and exploring the city and other new places.