Alexandra Cuaycal

I’m a biotech engineer with a curious, creative and entrepreneurial spirit.

Engineering living matter is a fascinating area in biotechnology and an essential key to enable all of humanity to flourish in partnership with Earth. I'm passionate about engineering with biology, therefore, I am really eager to expand my knowledge and experience in biosciences and I'm always looking for opportunities where I can excel my technical and communication skills.

My experience in laboratory techniques comes from practical courses in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Plant Tissue Culture, Biochemistry, etc; as well as research internships carried out in my home university and the University of Florida. I was a research volunteer from November 2014 to February 2016 and in June, 2016, I was awarded a recognition as “Outstanding Student in Research” by the Principal of my university. I was selected as one of the 40 young entrepreneurs to attend the 3 Day Startup Ecuador in November, 2016 and as one of the 100 "Leaders of Tomorrow" at GapSummit 2017 hosted by Global Biotech Revolution C.I.C. in June 2017.

I did my Bachelor's thesis in the Microbiology and Cell Science Department at the University of Florida. I worked with bioinformatics and site directed mutagenesis in order to identify the ATPase active site of LotP, a protein from Liberibacter asiaticus.I have experience with microbiology and molecular biology techniques as well as with protein purification with immobilized metal affinity chromatography. I've also performed biochemical assays in order to test protein activity. Furthermore, I have planned and conducted experiments, analyzed data and prepared reports, working closely with a team of researchers, enhancing my communication and team-work skills.

I was also selected as one of the 100"Leaders of Tomorrow" at GapSummit, 2017, organized by Global BiotechRevolution C.I.C. in Washington D.C. My team, team Kosmopolites, was among the8 finalists (out of 20 teams) that pitched in front of seven internationalinvestors and It was awarded the first prize of $5000 for best business ideaand we are currently moving forward with the idea. Additionally, I am afree-lance writer for Bitesize Bio, where I write short technical articlesabout tips and troubleshooting in science, everything from my lab experience.

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