Luis E. Valentin-Alvarado
He/Him
I am gay and I am a microbiologist.//
I was born and raised in Puerto Rico. I attended the University of Puerto Rico where I undertook undergraduate studies in Microbiology and Chemistry. For me, microbes are the best chemists- for millions of years, have transformed the world that we humans call Earth. Currently, I am a Microbiology Ph.D. student at UC Berkeley. My research focuses on expanding genome editing tools through the exploration of new CRISPR-Cas proteins of uncultivable microbes.
I grew up in an environment where I never had an LGBTQ + role model so I had to learn the route alone. I really want to make science more equitable and inclusive for future generations. When not in lab, I enjoy volleyball, hiking and meditating.