My interest in microbiology started during my bachelor’s thesis when I worked at the Institut Pasteur in Paris studying Staphylococcus aureus. Fascinated by the impact of bacteria on human health, I pursued my Master studies in Molecular Medicine at the Charité in Berlin. Here I was introduced to the importance of the gut microbiome on many essential aspects of our body, ranging from maintaining neurological and immunological functions, to even helping combat cancer.

Excited to learn more about it, I immediately accepted a PhD position within the Hall lab in Oct 2019, where I am examining how specific microbes may improve immune responses to vaccination. My PhD is also in collaboration with Prof Simon Carding, as his group is interested in how molecules produced by microbes, such as membrane vesicles, influence immune cell populations including dendritic cells. Depending on the outcome, we might be able to improve vaccine responses in children by supplementing with novel live biotherapeutics and/or boost the immune response against certain vaccines without the need of additional adjuvants.