Mariana De Niz

My name is Mariana De Niz and I’ve dedicated most of my research career to the study of infectious diseases and host-pathogen interactions. Microscopy has been a pivotal tool for my work, and it’s something I enjoy enormously. It’s a discipline that evolves so quickly: there’s so much to learn every day, both in microscopy itself, and in image analysis - and all the possibilities that together, they bring. I was lucky to do my PhD in a lab which was at the forefront of microscopy, and have continued to develop my skills in this area ever since. As a science communicator, I have focused most of my energies to the field of microscopy too, both during my participation in preLights, and FocalPlane. In the latter, together with the enormous support of the Latin American microscopy community, we have been highlighting the work of scientists from each country in the region, in a project that will have its first completion in 2025. I applied to become a FocalPlane correspondent because I admire the mission of FocalPlane in terms of democratising microscopy through its various initiatives (outreach, science communication, blogs, etc). My goal is to contribute 12 pieces during this year, among them covering topics such as a) frugal microscopy and its impact in society, b) the impact of various microscopy-targeted funding schemes in developing countries - specifically in Latin America and Africa, c) the impact of organisations bringing together microscopy communities around the world, d) specific initiatives that aim to bring the vanguard microscopy techniques to everyone, e) image analysis: the future, f) the role of imaging in the context of infectious diseases - a historical and public health perspective.

An interview with Santiago Casado

Posted by Mariana De Niz, on 15 August 2023

MiniBio: Dr. Santiago Casado is a Chemical Physicist currently working as a Deputy division leader at the Facultad de Ciencia e Ingeniería en Alimentos y Biotecnología Research Department at Universidad Técnica de Ambato, in Ecuador. Dr. Casado studied his undergraduate degree in Physics in Universidad de Cantabria, in Santander, Spain. He then studied his PhD

An interview with Eugenia del Pino

Posted by Mariana De Niz, on 1 August 2023

MiniBio: Prof. Eugenia del Pino began her career in Ecuador studying to become a science teacher. Later, she was awarded two prestigious scholarships that allowed her to do her postgraduate studies in the USA. She first did her Master’s Degree at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York already focusing in cell biology. She then did

An interview with Helena De La Torre

Posted by Mariana De Niz, on 18 July 2023

MiniBio: Dr. Helena De la Torre has been a lecturer at Universidad Técnica de Ambato since 2021, specializing in microbiology, molecular biology, immunology, and biotechnology. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL). During her research projects, she explored RNA interference in shrimps and the mucosa of the fish Dormitator