Stella Monestier
UZHBiographical Sketch
My name is Stella, I am 25 and I am from Varese, Italy. I pursued my academic journey at the Politecnico of Milan, where I successfully completed both my bachelor's and master's degrees in biomedical engineering. Throughout my studies, I discovered a profound interest not only in engineering but also in the physiological and molecular aspects of biomedicine. Consequently, I decided to merge these two areas of interest and opted for a specialized master's program in biomedical engineering known as "Cells, Tissues, and Biotechnology.”
This particular course of study provided me with a deeper understanding of the research field and solidified my desire to pursue a career dedicated to it. The confirmation of my passion came through the completion of my master's thesis, which I conducted in collaboration with the laboratories of the Politecnico of Milan and the «Myocardial Diseases and Atherosclerosis Unit» of San Raffaele Hospital in Milan. The focus of my work was on developing a bioreactor capable of applying hydrodynamic stimuli to biological samples for the study of atherosclerosis. This endeavor allowed me to collaborate with engineers, physicians, and biologists, further fueling my enthusiasm for research.
Driven by the dedication I poured into this project, I felt compelled to pursue a PhD experience abroad. As a result, I was accepted as a PhD student at the Institute of Physiology within the Department of Inherited Kidney Disease at the University of Zurich. Under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Med Olivier Devuyst, my research focuses on unraveling the mechanisms behind inherited kidney disorders, specifically uromodulin-associated kidney diseases. Employing a comprehensive approach involving in vitro and in vivo studies, the project aims to provide valuable insights into the role of uromodulin within the context of common chronic kidney disease (CKD) and rare Mendelian disorders such as ADTKD.