Maria graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2014 with an MChem in Chemistry with a year abroad. During her Erasmus year at ETH Zürich in Switzerland, she investigated small molecule inhibitors for trypanothione reductase, a key enzyme in the fight against African sleeping sickness. Her final year project focused on the effect of oxygen plasma on polymer microarrays and how cell adhesion was consequently altered. After graduation, she worked for some time as a Science Teaching Assistant and gained some work experience in cleantech and sustainability services. In her spare time, she enjoys listening to French music, salsa dancing and making cupcakes every now and then.