Dr. Josefina Del Mármol

Biography

Josefina del Mármol is an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School in the Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology. Her research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of sensory transduction, particularly how animals, including insects, detect physical and chemical cues in their environment and transform these signals into cellular responses. Her laboratory's work emphasizes the sense of smell in insect vectors of disease, such as mosquitoes that pose significant health risks by transmitting diseases like malaria and dengue. By employing techniques such as cryo-electron microscopy and various biochemical and electrophysiological assays, del Mármol aims to dissect the structure and function of insect olfactory receptors responsible for odor detection. Her work not only seeks to unravel fundamental principles of chemical signal transduction but also to leverage structural insights for developing effective repellents to combat insect-borne diseases. She earned her Licenciatura degree in Biology from the University of Buenos Aires, followed by a PhD in Molecular Neurobiology and Biophysics at Rockefeller University. Del Mármol's previous research included a fellowship at Howard Hughes Medical Institute and a postdoctoral position at UC Berkeley. Since joining Harvard in 2022, she has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the NIH MOSAIC K99/R00 Pathway Independence Award.

Research Interests

Experience

Awards