Career Path and Advice
Tell us about your research and how your career has progressed?
I am a peptide chemist focused on the synthesis, characterization, and application of peptides for healthcare, including drug delivery, sensing, and targeting. When I began my PhD in 2013, peptides were largely known only to specialists, but today they are widely recognized and used in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics by many people. My career has been dynamic and interdisciplinary. As a master’s student, I gained research experience at the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) in Grenoble and later worked briefly in the aerospace industry before starting my PhD. After completing it, I held a postdoctoral position at Columbia University in New York, then continued my research in Italy, France, and the UK. I have had the opportunity of working with Professors Dek Woolfson (University of Bristol) and Daryl Williams (Imperial College London), whose mentorship greatly influenced my scientific growth. I am now a Lecturer and excited to lead my independent research group at Queen’s University Belfast.
What do you find most rewarding about your work?
What I find most rewarding about my work is the opportunity to collaborate with people to develop innovative solutions that can improve lives and benefit society. Science has always been my first passion, and I deeply enjoy working alongside individuals who share the same enthusiasm and curiosity.
What advice do you have for an aspiring individual hoping to pursue a career in your field?
Be open to change — move, switch laboratories, and explore new approaches to science. Do not be afraid to embark on new scientific adventures. Engaging with individuals from both academic and industrial environments is essential, as everyone has something valuable to contribute to your growth as a scientist. Moreover, these interactions help to establish important connections and foster meaningful collaborations.
About Lucia
Tell us an interesting fact about yourself?
Beyond science, I am a student of belly dance. I have a fantastic Arabic teacher, and I continue to take weekly classes with her — even now, from Belfast. Thankfully, the internet makes it all possible!
What is the best advice you have received or quote that you live by?
The best advice I have ever received is to always believe in myself, no matter what challenges life may present. While it may sound like a simple concept, for me, it was not. I had to work hard on building my self-confidence, as I often felt I was never enough. Even now, as I grow older, I recognize that there is still much I want to improve — both as a scientist and as a woman. The difference is that today, I believe in myself.
Who inspires you?
My sister Maria is a constant source of inspiration. From her, I have learned to be strong, resilient, and to never give up.
