Cristina serves as Metagenomi’s Senior Director of Biochemistry where she leads a team that characterizes novel CRISPR gene editing enzymes and engineers them into therapeutic tools. Cristina holds a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Cell Biology from UC San Diego. She earned a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with focus on enzymatic oxidation of Mn (II) by bacteria at Oregon Health & Science University. After completing her studies she went on to do postdoctoral research at UC Berkeley under the supervision of Professor Jillian Banfield, Ph.D. where she used microbial metagenomics to elucidate the mechanisms behind important biogeochemical cycles.