Thea finished her Master in Chemistry at the LMU in Munich, where she developed a interest in DNA and RNA nanotechnology. Studying the influence of non-canonical bases on the structural integrity of DNA and working with DNA-origami structures for sensing she decided to start her PhD in the Valero lab looking at RNA aptamers. Her project focusses on the analysis of aptamer-protein interactions and the development of tailored, multivalent aptameric structures for enhanced targeting.