Assistant Professor and Director of the Centre for Flow Cytometry
Utrecht University, The Netherlands
Estefanía is an Assistant Professor and the head of the centre for flow cytometry within the Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences at Utrecht University. She oversees all analyzers and sorters at the facility, while also providing education and contributing to research initiatives.
A molecular biologist with a background in immunology, Estefanía earned her Ph.D. at the interface of biology and technology. Her doctoral work focused on advancing single particle high-sensitivity flow cytometry to characterize Extracellular Vesicles and decipher EV subsets in complex biofluids. Her research has been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and she made over 40 contributions to (inter)national conferences. Estefanía continues to address the challenges related to studying Extracellular Vesicles, and her goal is to exploit their potential for next-generation diagnostics and understand their role in (patho)physiological processes.
What inspired you to apply to the LDP or what are you looking forward to with the LDP?
My participation in CYTO meetings since 2019 has provided me with invaluable opportunities for personal and professional growth. Encouraged by my mentors, Prof. Dr. Marca Wauben, Prof. Dr. Femke Broere and Dr. Ger Arkesteijn, I applied for the LDP to further advance my career and enhance my leadership skills. I am deeply grateful for the support I have received from ISAC and its wonderful members over the years, and I look forward to expanding my contributions to advancing flow cytometry and beyond.
How did you get into Cytometry?
I first learned about flow cytometry during my 4th-year immunology lecture when Dr. Jorge Monserrat Sanz said, “I am an immunologist but first, I am a flow cytometrist.” His words resonated with me. Already passionate about immunology, I was triggered by the possibilities of flow cytometry. Over the past twelve years, my commitment to this field has only deepened, focusing my research on its clinical applications and understanding immunological processes.
I believe my place is at the core of an SRL, where I can share my passion for flow cytometry and continue to improve processes from user support to innovation and research.