I have a deep passion for understanding how hematological malignancies develop from hematopoietic stem cells. My academic and research background includes studying platelet effects on chemoresistance of leukemic cells, a PhD in cancer biology identifying gene expression profiles in acute B-lymphoblastic leukemia patients, and a position in teaching hematology at Universidad Industrial de Santander. Despite success in having a secure position in a prestigious University in Colombia, limited opportunities for leukemia research prompted a move to the U.S., working at the Icahn School of Medicine in NYC. After two years focusing on modeling hematological malignancies, I shifted to a translational environment in Dr. Michael Deininger's lab, exploring metabolic properties in normal and leukemia stem cells. My ultimate professional goal is to become an independent scientist focused on understanding oncogenic mechanisms in leukemia stem cells and discovering novel treatments for patients.