Magdalena Alba Argomaniz

 

Hello, my name is Magdalena Argomaniz and I was born in Guanajuato, Mexico but raised in Idaho. I graduated from Idaho State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology. During my undergraduate career I had a difficult time finding my path, however after taking an immunology course I fell in love with this topic and wished to learn more. After discovering my interest in Immunology, I sought out research experiences to expand my knowledge as well as prepare me to be a scientific researcher. I began with an internship at Idaho State University with Dr. Kinta Serve, her lab focused on the effects asbestos fibers have on immune cells. Specifically, I observed B cell differentiation in response to asbestos exposure. though I learned valuable skills during my time in Dr. Kinta Serve’s lab, I knew I needed to further develop my intellectual and technical capabilities to be competitive for graduate programs. After graduating I applied to the NIH Post Baccalaureate Research Program at the University of Georgia. Currently, I have a position at the University of Georgia in Dr. Chester Joyner’s lab. The Joyner lab conducts research on the parasite Plasmodium vivax, which is a major cause of malaria. The long-term goal of this project is to utilize the Aotus nancymaae model of Plasmodium vivax infection to discover biomarkers of infection and new vaccine candidates for Plasmodium vivax, an important human malaria parasite. My project contributed to this goal by characterizing the antibody response using a protein microarray composed of over 1,000 Plasmodium antigens. My time in the PREP program has prepared me for the challenges that will lie ahead me when I attend graduate school. PREP has allowed me to reach my goals by providing great learning and research opportunities. This program has provided me with a platform to become a biomedical researcher who will produce innovative and collaborative ideas.