Nikki Van der Meer

February 2025 – September 2025

I’m an undergraduate student in Biology at the University of Barcelona, majoring in Molecular, Cellular, and Systems Biology. I have a strong interest in genetics and evolutionary biology, and I’m currently completing my bachelor’s thesis through an internship in the González Lab. The research I am a part of explores the role of transposable elements in the adaptation of Anopheles mosquitoes. I find the influence of mobile genetic elements on genome evolution both fascinating and highly relevant to understanding the ecological success of vector species.