I am a Scientist (?)

Starting in Geology

Born and raised in Bogotá (Colombia), I obtained my Geology degree at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia in 2016, when I was awarded “Best Bachelor’s dissertation in Geology” for my research on Benthic Foraminifera from the Guajira Peninsula. This motivated me to pursue a career in Science, leading me to Zaragoza (Spain) where I received a Master’s in Geology: Techniques and applications from the Universidad de Zaragoza (Spain) in 2018. In Zaragoza, I received a Palaeontology research grant from the IUCA Institute to investigate paleoenvironmental perturbations before the Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary using Benthic Foraminifera from El Kef (Africa).

Being a geologist… and Micropaleontologist!

For four (4) years, I gathered professional experience as a geologist and micropaleontologist in the Colombian Oil & Gas industry exploration area. I used benthic foraminifera to reconstruct the paleoenvironmental history of Colombian Caribbean Cenozoic deposits to improve correlation schemes.

As part of a reduced scientific field in Colombia and to expand my knowledge and experience, I moved to Germany to pursue a doctoral degree. During 2021-2024, I worked as a PhD. research associate at MARUM Institute (University of Bremen), investigating North Atlantic paleoceanographic changes during the last deglaciation. In my doctoral research, I used benthic foraminifera taxonomical/geochemical proxies to understand relevant paleoceanographic changes that shaped Earth’s climate in the last 30.000 years.

Education

  • PhD. in Paleocenography

    Universtität Bremen (Germany)

    (2021 - 2024)

    Thesis

  • MSc. in Geology: techniques & applications

    University of Zaragoza (Spain)

    (2017 - 2018)

  • BSc. in Geology

    National University of Colombia (Bogotá)

    (2011 - 2015)

    Dissertation

Professional experience

  • Doctoral Research Associate

    MARUM - Center of Marine Environmental Sciences, Universtität Bremen

    40 months (Jan. 2021 - Ap. 2024)

  • Micropaleontology-Biostratigraphy Consultant

    Colombian Petroleum Institute (ICP), Piedecuesta Colombia

    25 months (Sept. 2018 - Dec. 2020)

  • Researcher in Micropaleontology

    University of Zaragoza (Spain)

    3 months (May - Jul. 2018)

  • Geologist-Micropaleontology

    RA Geologia (Bogotá, Colombia)

    20 months (Feb. 2016 - Sept. 2017)

Outreach and Volunteering

  • PO2 - Past Ocean Oxygenation PAGES Working Group

    Social Media and Outreach Officer

    Since February 2024

    PO2 Instagram

  • GeoLatinas - Latinas in Earth and Planetary Sciences

    Vice-chair since 2023. Co-leader Branding and Visibility, Membership, and Volunteer at GeoTraductores.

    Since November 2019

    GeoLatinas.org

  • Code to Communicate - CoCo

    Science Communication Consultant, digital content creator and Instagram admin

    October 2021 - July 2021

    CoCo Instagram

  • The Micropaleontological Society

    Social Media admin and content creator (e.g. #WomenInMicropalaeontology 2023)

    November 2022 - February 2023

    TMSoc Instagram

Awards and Recognitions

  • Poster Presentation Award at TMS-CFFR Foraminifera Spring Meeting - 2024

    Awarded by The Micropaleontological society and the Cushman Foundation of Foraminifera Research (Cologne, Germany).

  • Diversity Engagement and Enhancement in Paleontology (DEEP) Award - 2023

    Awarded by the Paleontological Society (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States)

  • Best Early Career Researcher Oral presentation at FORAMS - 2023

    Awarded by the International Symposium in Foraminifera (Perugia, Italy).

  • Scholarship for the development of extracurricular practices in research activities in Paleontology - 2018

    Awarded by the Institute of Research in Environmental Sciences - University of Zaragoza (Spain)

  • Best bachelor dissertation in Geology Award XXV - 2016

    Awarded by the Faculty of Sciences (National University of Colombia, Bogota) for the dissertation: Foraminifera from the Uitpa Formation, Upper Guajira.