Department: Princeton Neuroscience Institute Faculty Adviser: Fenna Krienen Year of Study: G1 Undergraduate School: National Autonomous University of Mexico Undergraduate Major: Genomics
Hi! I m Victor, originally from Mexico City. As an undergraduate, where I first became involved in research on human genetic variation. Then I moved to Sweden, France and Germany to pursue a Master's in Ecology and Evolution. Over time, my interests shifted toward neuroscience, which led me to explore a variety of labs from zebrafish olfaction to cuttlefish brain evolution and, more recently vocal communication of vampire bats. Outside the lab. I love running, practicing Taekwondo, traveling, watching films and I'm always down to explore new cuisines. My own path into research has involved changing interests, moving across countries and fields, and figuring things out along the way, so I m always happy to talk about navigating an academic path that doesn t necessarily follow a straight line.
I'm slightly obsessed with Swedish pastries (especially cinnamon buns).
I study how evolution has shaped the brain by comparing brain cells across species. Using single-cell transcriptomics and evolutionary genomics, I examine which genes are active in individual neurons and identify features that are shared or different between animals. I'm especially interested in how these differences relate to specialized abilities such as sensing, communication, and behavior. By studying species such as primates and bats, my research aims to understand how changes in the genetic programs of brain cells contribute to the diversity of brains we see today.
Interested in participating in Summer 2027 ReMatch+ program.
