From Mexico to Breakthroughs
in Embryonic Development:
Alejandro Aguilera’s Journey
at Weizmann

Meet Alejandro Aguilera from Mexico, an MSc and PhD alumnus of the Weizmann Institute of Science. He conducted his doctoral research in Prof. Jacob Hanna’s lab in the Department of Molecular Genetics. During his time at Weizmann, Alejandro studied embryonic development and played a significant role in a major scientific breakthrough led by the lab: the creation of an ex utero device capable of growing mouse embryos and artificial embryo models outside the uterus.

“I grew up in Ecatepec, a suburb of Mexico City, and completed my bachelor’s degree at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. I chose to study biology because I was fascinated by the rich diversity of fauna in my country, without knowing I could become a researcher. No one in my family or social circle was a scientist, and very few people I knew went to university, so I entered science almost by chance. My dream was to work with animals in the jungle; I only discovered my interest in embryonic development toward the end of my bachelor’s degree.

“I spent eight years at the Weizmann Institute of Science. I stayed because I loved doing science there. My main challenge was that the country and its cities felt very small compared to where I came from. On the other hand, it gave me the space to work without distractions and fully focus on science. In my free time, I enjoyed going to the gym and practicing Krav Maga.”

Following his PhD, Alejandro accepted an offer to establish his own laboratory at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Janelia Research Campus in the United States.
“I want to dedicate my life to the study of embryonic development.”