Estrella Villanueva Pivel

Project: evaluation of the neuroprotective effects of cannabinoids

Skills acquired:

• Grew cell culture from dissection of mouse brains, neurospheres, and established cell lines.
• Conducted immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy imaging and analysis.
• Mastered biochemical techniques including qPCR, Western Blot, and Luciferase assays.
• Shared and discussed results in lab meetings and seminars

Scholar at the Research Division of Medical Inflammation of Medical Inflammation Research, led by Rikard Holmdahl.

Project: characterization of a new monoclonal antibody as a calibrator in a diagnostic kit for rheumatoid arthritis

• Mastered biochemical production and purification of monoclonal antibodies
• Acquired experience in experiment design, particularly in multiplex assays.
• Enhanced data analysis skills using R and Python
• Improved science communication abilities through report writing, active participation in lab meetings, and presenting research findings at a Cambridge Symposium.

• Taught chemistry, physics, and mathematics to university and high school students (with focus on International Baccalaureate curriculum).
• Provided academic support to middle school students across various subjects.
• Devised engaging teaching strategies tailored to capture attention of students with ADHD.

Volunteer for harm reduction in substance use

• Providing direct counseling and assessment for drug users in vulnerable situations
• Conducting substance analysis using thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy
• Attending and leading internal workshops
• Engaged in sociological research and analysis of pharmaceutical literature