About Dr. Rafael Deliz-Aguirre

I’m a scientist driven by the conviction that we can engineer living systems to perform complex tasks. My vision is to discover the equations that govern life to design synthetic protein circuits that can cure disease, perform biocomputing, and perhaps even build living structures (houses, chairs) using cell polarity.

I work at the intersection of biology and physics. Since 2009, I've combined:

• Proteomics to catalog the components of cellular circuits.

• Systems Biology to map their wiring.

• Microscopy to reveal how proteins are organized in space and time.

My research has spanned clinical, experimental, and computational approaches, from cancer biology to astrophysics, answering questions from the molecular to the cosmic scale.

Current Work & Expertise

Originally from Puerto Rico, USA, I’m currently a Fulbright Postdoctoral Fellow. I am combining spatial proteomics with mathematical modeling to understand—and hopefully overcome—why some cancer immunotherapies fail.

Alongside my research, I have contributed to public policy efforts, from sharing expertise in AI and biomedical research at the United Nations to forecasting COVID-19 cases for the Laredo City Council and Telemundo Puerto Rico.

Education

• Ph.D. (Dr. rer. nat.) in Theoretical Biophysics, magna cum laude, Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany

• M.Sc. in Biology, Texas A&M International University, USA

• B.Sc. in Biology, World Affairs minor, Baylor University, USA

Whether in the lab or at the policy table, I'm committed to transform science into real-world impact. I welcome collaborations across disciplines.