My fascination with infectious diseases began during the final weeks of high school. As a student in a biotechnology major, I participated in a project where each of us presented on different infectious diseases. This experience opened my eyes to the incredible diversity of infectious agents, each with unique strategies for infection, replication, and transmission. I was particularly intrigued by how these pathogens could evade the immune system and wanted to learn how humanity could develop tools to combat these threats.

Realizing that a deep understanding of infectious diseases was essential, I pursued a degree in Molecular Biology. My bachelor’s thesis was a literature review focused on the Hepatitis B virus. Specifically, I investigated whether mutations in the virus could lead to vaccine escape and/or diagnostic test escape variants—mutations that could render current vaccines or diagnostic tests ineffective. This research solidified my interest in infectious diseases and provided me with the necessary foundation to explore this field further.

I continued my academic journey by studying Molecular Microbiology at the master’s level, where I could specialize further in infectious diseases. During this time, I conducted research on Burkholderia pseudomallei, a pathogen prevalent in Northern Australia and Southeast Asia that causes a severe disease known as melioidosis. My first experience working in a BSL-3 laboratory, designed for handling highly infectious and dangerous pathogens, was a defining moment. As I prepared to study this dangerous organism, I realized that I had truly become part of the global community of researchers dedicated to understanding and combating infectious diseases.

To truly become a scientist—a goal I had set for myself—I knew I needed to pursue a PhD. A PhD is not just an extension of academic study; it is the training ground where one transitions from theory to practice, from working on others’ projects to leading one’s own.

This critical step led me to apply for a PhD position within the COL_RES program, an international training network under the Marie Curie Horizon 2020 initiative. COL_RES, short for colonization resistance, focuses on understanding how our gut microbiome helps protect us from food-borne pathogens. The concept of colonization resistance—where the gut microbiome prevents pathogenic newcomers from establishing themselves—is still not fully understood. However, it is clear that the microbiome plays a crucial role in protecting us against these infectious threats.

Now, as a part of the COL_RES network, my research is dedicated to uncovering how specific microbes within our gut provide protection against harmful pathogens. We are striving to understand the mechanisms behind this protection and identify which microbial communities are most beneficial under different conditions. Understanding colonization resistance also offers a promising strategy in the fight against the antibiotic resistance crisis.

This global health issue arises when bacteria evolve to resist the effects of antibiotics, making treatments less effective and leading to harder-to-treat infections. By using beneficial microbes as probiotics to outcompete harmful bacteria, we can protect ourselves without relying on antibiotics, which often cause high collateral damage by killing not only the pathogens but also many beneficial bacteria in the gut. This approach could help reduce the overuse of antibiotics and slow the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Looking ahead, my next career step will be to move into clinical research. I am eager to be closer to patients and to see how diagnostic tools and therapeutic interventions can transform lives, potentially even curing life-threatening diseases. This journey—from high school projects to cutting-edge microbiome research—has always been driven by a desire to understand infectious diseases and to develop the tools needed to combat them. As I continue on this path, I am excited to contribute to the collective knowledge and to the fight against these diseases.