Andrea Rico

Montaña

I am a researcher interested on photosynthetic bioenergetics, synthetic and structural biology. I currently work at Carnegie Science as a research associate and lab manager in the Burlacot Lab, where I support diverse projects on photosynthetic acclimation in Chlamydomonas, manage day-to-day lab operations, and train new researchers. I hold an MSci in Molecular & Cellular Biology with Biotechnology from the University of Glasgow, complemented by a placement year at the University of Cambridge, where I contributed to the development of synthetic biology tools for optimising the expression of high-value compounds in microalgae. My experience also includes a Cryo-EM internship at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (Cambridge), where I developed computational tools for structural modelling, as well as microbiology research on bacteriocins, focusing on their antimicrobial properties and potential applications in food safety. I am passionate about sustainability and translational research, driven by the opportunity to transform fundamental discoveries into real-world applications that advance biotechnology and environmental solutions. Beyond the lab, I enjoy travelling, exploring new cultures, sports, and nature.