In his project, Alejandro aims to understand how host-microbe interactions occur within lucinid clams and their symbiont. His first work package, which builds upon an idea from his master's thesis, seeks to investigate the cellular-level differential expression of key molecular markers, specifically Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs) that might be mediating the configuration between symbiont-hosting vs symbiont-free cells.

The second work package is focused on characterizing the previously unexplored (due to technical challenges) genome of the host and investigating genome co-evolution within this symbiosis, specifically to identify the genomic adaptations and evolutionary signatures imprinted on both the host and symbiont genomes.

Originally from Colombia, Alejandro earned his BSc in Biology from the University of Atlántico in Barranquilla, where he also published his first peer-reviewed article and worked as a research assistant. In 2021, he moved to Vienna to pursue his scientific career. With the support of a COLFUTURO scholarship, he joined the University of Vienna’s master's programme in Molecular Microbiology, Microbial Ecology and Immunobiology (MMEI) and soon began working in ancient DNA research with Ron Pinhasi's group. In late 2022, he joined CeMESS and the Petersen Group to carry out his master’s thesis – laying the groundwork for the project now funded by the ÖAW DOC Fellowship.

About the DOC Fellowships

The DOC Fellowship Programme of the Austrian Academy of Sciences supports highly qualified doctoral candidates across all disciplines. Fellows receive funding for two to three years to pursue innovative and independent research at Austrian research institutions.