Dr. Silvia Adriana Navarro-Research Associate

What is your background?

“I have a degree in biochemistry and a PhD in Biological Science from the National University of Tucuman in Argentina.”

What do you do?

“Currently, I am Research Associate at Newcastle University, and my research interests lie in the intersection of biotechnology, synthetic biology, and computing science. I explore innovative strategies to store, process and retrieve data inside living cells. This data can represent a movie or book to a therapeutic protein. DNA is the first candidate to store data inside the cell. I am working on finding ways to use DNA as a data storage device in a bacterial environment.”

What do you like about your work?

“One of the things I love about my work is the challenge and reward that comes with it. I find it stimulating to challenge my creativity to find new applications for the existent biological materials like DNA. What excites me the most is the possibility of re-engineering biological molecules and organoids to build new devices in the biological environment. This cutting-edge research contributes to basic science and also to people’s daily lives, which I find gratifying.”

What do you like least about your work?

“One of the challenges of my work is the need for a lot of trial and error. Sometimes it can be frustrating trying multiple approaches before getting the desired result. However, this is a common experience in many jobs, and I try to stay positive by focusing on the potential breakthroughs and contributions that my work can make. While there are moments of frustration, the rewards and satisfaction that come from discovering something new and innovative make it all worth it.”

What do you like to do in your free time?

“During my free time, I like to do exercises, I am particularly keen on weightlifting. I am also interested in personal development and mental health topics, I enjoy reading books, listening to podcasts, and do meditation. I also love spending time with my friends and family.”

Ask Silvia any questions via our contact page.