Profile – Tantalum Zone

Education:

2000-2005: Scientific Secondary School (Italy) / 2005-2009: Biotechnology interfaculty School, 2009-2011: Industrial Biotechnology
Qualifications:

MSc in Industrial Biotechnology, BSc in Biotechnology
Work History:

Besides science jobs and while studying I’ve done many different things, such as movie extra (fun to see movies from a different point of view!), tutor for a language learning trip in Ireland, Events’ organizer, Charity Fundraiser…so fun!
Current Job:

I’m a PhD student, with a research project funded by the European Commission (Marie S. Curie Actions)

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For thousands of years we’ve used extracts from plants for their good effects on human health…from the tea you have during the day to for example Artemisia. Have you heard of this plant recently? Scientist YouYou Tu made a very important discovery more than fourty years ago: a compound called qinghaosu, aka artemisinin, contained in this plant is effective against malaria! For this reason YouYou Tu won the Nobel Prize for Medicine this year!

With my research project, following the steps of Japanese scientists Ryo Sato and Tsuneo Omura, I am trying to unravel the function of some compounds in plants, called CytochromeP450, that can be used for valuable applications, such as for example bioremediation (cleaning up the environment).
My Typical Day:

Each day can be different… I start with a good cup of tea, possibly some cake (hehe!), then some experiments in the laboratory and reading papers from other scientists around the world working in the same field as me.
What I'd do with the prize money:

I’d organize a full-day hands-on workshop in the lab, with colourful and fun experiments + a science-based show with other colleagues from other departments (Environment, Chemistry, Maths…which means more fun from different subjects!!)

Maria Magdalena Razalan