Name: Elena Blanco-Suarez
Hometown: Oviedo, Spain
Hobbies: playing guitar, bass guitar and ukulele, going to live music shows, going to the beach, traveling and learning languages
What do you study? A special cell type in the brain, called astrocytes, and their role in helping neurons to develop connections.
Why is it important? The role of astrocytes in developing neuronal connections have been ignored for many years, and new research is showing their importance not only in health but also in disease.
What do you like about being a scientist: I get to think outside the box and being creative. Everyday I face a problem that I need to find a solution for through my experiments. I get to test new things and see the outcomes, sometimes getting unexpected and exciting results.