Hi, I’m Valentina. I’ve just joined the Functional Ecology division for a PhD with Milda Pucetaite, Dimitrios Floudas and Edith Hammer. I’m a biochemist and in my project, I will apply different spectroscopy methods and transcriptomics to analyse fungal interactions in soils and how these influence biogeochemical carbon and nutrient cycles, and how all this might be affected by a changing climate.
Originally, I started with a bachelor’s in biomedicine and then shifted to general biochemistry for my master’s in Cologne, Germany, which I completed with a thesis on microbial interactions in the context of crop infections (PI Bart Thomma). Always interested in microbiology, I am now continuing my PhD in this area but with a switch to ecology and looking forward to exploring this completely new field. Outside of research, I enjoy spending time outdoors and with friends, going swimming and dancing, and currently exploring my new surroundings here in Sweden with city walks, bike rides and visits to jazz bars. Tips on the (underground) live music scene, excursion tips and similar are very welcome!
