Kristina gained her PhD from the UoL in medicinal chemistry, on clinically relevant protein-protein interactions. Her research helped hone her skills in synthesis, assays and use of advanced analytical techniques (HPLC, LC-MS and NMR). The combination of scientific skills with her personal passion for sustainable solutions in chemistry aligned with those championed at Keracol. She started at Keracol as a Scientist and quickly progressed to Senior Scientist through her collaborative, dynamic and adaptive approach to managing projects, understanding extraction processes, testing and safety considerations of extracts and formulations. More recently she was promoted to Head of Natural Product Research through her research and advances of novel extraction methodologies for skincare actives, as well as development of experiments for their testing and validation. She enjoys the diverse nature of projects at Keracol and when she isn’t in the lab overseeing plant extractions or chemical behavior of dyes, she can be found climbing up walls in the nearest bouldering gym.