About The Speaker
Maria Jose Martinez Bravo
Born and raised in Seville, Spain, I studied Pharmacy and earned my PhD researching protein mismatch and its role in the development of Graft-versus-Host disease following allogeneic stem cell transplantation. After defending my thesis, I moved to Sweden for a two-year postdoctoral position at the Karolinska Institute, where I investigated exosomes as novel delivery systems for vaccines and explored their potential as biomarkers for diseases such as sarcoidosis.
My research journey then took me to King’s College London, where I joined as a Research Associate as part of the EMI-TB consortium, working towards the development of better vaccines against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. These experiences deepened my passion for scientific discovery and knowledge-sharing, inspiring me to transition into teaching.
Now, as an Immunology Lecturer at UCL School of Pharmacy, I have the opportunity to share my passion for science and immunology with MSc students, equipping them with both theoretical knowledge and research skills.
Beyond academia, I have been an active member of SRUK, particularly within the Wom=n in Science committee, where I served as Chair for over two years and have been an active member for more than five. My focus has been on developing the “Awakening Vocations” project, which investigates gender bias in science among primary school children and whether exposure to a female role model can shift perceptions. In collaboration with the IgR committee from RAICEX, I also contributed to the White Paper on Gender Policies in Science and Academia, writing the chapter on the United Kingdom.