Early Inspirations and Education in Science

An early interest in science often stems from childhood experiences, with many finding inspiration from family members. The speaker shares that their fascination began at a young age, close to four or five, largely influenced by their father’s work as a physician, which exposed them to laboratory notebooks and the world of experimentation. Growing up in El Salvador, the lack of formal biomedical research infrastructure presented challenges, yet this seemed to fuel a passion for scientific inquiry rather than diminish it. Mentorship played a significant role during this journey, particularly through interactions with influential scientists that made a lasting impact on their career path in science.