Hi, my name is Dino Rocca and I am PhD student based in the School of Biological Sciences at Queen’s University Belfast. I obtained a BSc in Biotechnology from the University of Galway, where I also completed research placements in both Leiden University Medical Centre (The Netherlands) and at the University of Galway. These experiences really helped shape my interest in complex cellular systems and refined my laboratory skills.
My current PhD project explores the regulation of inflammasome function by the ubiquitin system, using advanced proteomics techniques such as mass spectrometry. By combining proteomic, biochemical and structural approaches, I aim to uncover how ubiquitination events control the activation and function of inflammasomes during immune responses.
Outside the lab, I’m sociable and enjoy spending time with friends, hiking, travelling, and attending as many live concerts as I can.