Research interests
Our goal is to increase the impact and efficiency of biomedical research by supporting the generation and stewardship of high-quality, reproducible, and reusable quantitative image data in compliance with the NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy. To achieve this goal, we develop and promote the use of reliable, user-friendly, easy-to-use, and, when possible, automated cyberinfrastructure and tools that assist research scientists in handling all stages of the image data life cycle from sample preparation to publication. To ensure adherence to community-developed best practices, we work in close collaboration with both national and international imaging initiatives such as BioImaging North America, Global BioImaging, the Open Microscopy Environment consortium, and QUAREP-LiMi (Quality Assessment and Reproducibility in Light Microscopy).
For more information about available projects in the lab, please take a look at our Lab webpage.
Collaborative projects
Leadership positions
- Chair of the BioImaging North America Quality-Control and Data Management Working Group |
- Member of the QUAREP-LiMi Executive Council |
- Elected Member of the QUAREP-LiMi Steering Committee |
- Elected Co-chair of the QUAREP-LiMi Metadata Working Group (WG7) |
- Member of the ABRF Committee on Core Rigor and Reproducibility (CCoRRe) |
- Member of the NIH CFDE Ontology Working Group |
Recognitions
The following editorials and news articles describe Dr. Strambio De Castillia's work:
- Spencer, S.E.W., 2022. The science of images. @umasschan magazine fall 2022 14–19.
- Marx, V., 2022a. The making of microscope camera standards. Nat. Methods 19, 788–791. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41592-022-01545-9
- Marx, V., 2022b. Imaging standards to ease reproducibility and the everyday. Nat. Methods 19, 784–788. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41592-022-01544-w
- Marx, V., 2021. Caterina Strambio-De-Castillia. Nat. Methods 18, 1413. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41592-021-01342-w
Spencer, S.E.W., 2021. Caterina Strambio De Castillia and her team advance efforts to set microscopy data standards. UMass Chan News.
Larson, L.M., 2019. Caterina Strambio De Castillia named Imaging Scientist by Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. UMass Chan News.
Academic Background
Caterina Strambio De Castillia grew up in Italy and received her Laurea in Biologia (equivalent to B.S./M.S.) from the University of Pavia in 1988. She obtained her Ph.D. (1992-1998) working with Gunter Blobel at The Rockefeller University, investigating how the nuclear pore complex interfaces with the cellular genome in yeast. She continued this work at the same institution in the laboratory of Mike Rout, initially as a postdoctoral fellow (1998-2002) and then as a Research Associate (2002-2006). She then moved to the IRB-Bellinzona and to the University of Geneva, Switzerland, where she was a staff Research Scientist (2006-2012) developing imaging and proteomics methods to study the mechanism by which HIV-1 interacts with the host defense mechanisms to gain access to the cell nucleus. In 2012, Dr. Strambio De Castillia joined the Program in Molecular Medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.
Her work has been supported by the American Cancer Society, the European Union and the Swiss National Science Foundation, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, and the NIH.
Dr. Strambio De Castillia has extensive multidisciplinary training in cellular and molecular biology, advanced microscopy, bio-image informatics, and research data management. Her work highlights the importance of open science and FAIR data principles in advancing basic biology and ensuring the sustainability and reusability of research.
Dr. Strambio De Castillia has a demonstrated ability to bring together individuals with diverse expertise and scientific backgrounds. She is a recognized and passionate teacher with extensive experience tailoring training to individual scientific interests, backgrounds, perspectives, and areas of origin.
Dr. Strambio De Castillia leads several community efforts to empower collaboration at the national and international levels. She also has a recognized leading role in the community, as testified by her many leadership positions and recognitions.