Impulsonics Introducing: Dr. Ximena Vasto Anzaldo, Cell Biologist

Innovation thrives at Impulsonics thanks to talented individuals like Dr. Ximena Vasto Anzaldo.

As our expert cell biologist, her work is crucial in our mission to make biotech automation simple and scalable so scientists can focus on the problems that matter.

And to celebrate Ximena recently earning her doctorate, we asked her to tell us a little more about herself and what she does at Impulsonics.

What do you do at Impulsonics?

A typical day for me at Impulsonics looks pretty dynamic. As the lead cell biologist, I’m constantly balancing lab work, planning experiments, and collaborating with our engineering team. Our focus is on using acoustic technologies to manipulate cells and make cell culture automation easier, so there’s always something new to dive into. 

Most mornings, I’ll start by looking over the results from our latest experiments. Then, I plan new experiments to test how different sound waves can affect the behavior or health of various cells. I also spend time working with engineers to refine the technology, making sure it works as seamlessly as possible for cell manipulation. That could mean tweaking protocols to improve results or brainstorming how we can use our platform for new applications—whether that’s improving cell seeding or making organoid cultures more efficient. 

All in all, my day’s a mix of testing, problem-solving, and thinking about how we can push the boundaries of what’s possible with sound in cell biology.

What’s your background? 

I am a cell biologist with a focus on interdisciplinary science. My true passion is introducing novel engineering technologies into biology research. I have been involved in several projects throughout my career ranging from applying novel high-resolution label-free imaging techniques for metabolism studies in 3D matrices to developing 3D spheroid models for the evaluation of immune-cancer cell interactions.  Now I am looking forward to introducing acoustic wave technologies into cell culture automation.  

What inspired you to join Impulsonics?

I joined Impulsonics because I was really excited about the opportunity to be part of something groundbreaking. The idea of developing a technology that lets biologists manipulate cells in ways that weren’t possible before felt like a huge leap forward. Plus, the potential to make routine cell culture processes more automated and efficient is something that could truly transform the field. It’s rare to be able to work on something that has the potential to change how labs operate, and that really motivated me to get on board. 

What part of your job excites you most?

The most exciting part of my job is that we’re at the forefront of a new technology that could truly revolutionize the way we do cell culture. Every day, I get to learn something new, whether it’s discovering how acoustic sound waves interact with cells in interesting ways or finding fresh applications for our technology. What’s amazing is that we’re not just following trends—we’re helping create them!. The challenge of testing new ideas, pushing boundaries, and knowing that what we're doing could change how labs operate is what really drives me. 

What do you like to do outside of work?

Outside of work, I’m all about finding balance and exploring new experiences. I love traveling—whether it’s discovering new cultures or just escaping to nature for a bit. I’m also really into dancing; it’s a fun way to stay active and unwind. When I’m not moving around, I enjoy getting lost in a good book or doing some yoga to clear my mind. I’m also a big fan of fine dining; there’s something about trying new flavors and experiences that always excites me. Lately, I’ve started painting 3D-printed models of various animals or cartoon characters, which has been a cool creative outlet. It’s fascinating to see how something digital can come to life with a little paint and imagination. 

If Impulsonics had a coat of arms what would you put on it and why?

If Impulsonics had a coat of arms, I would add a unicorn to represent the uniqueness of our technology and a lion beside it to represent the strength and robustness of acoustic manipulation. I would also include a crown on the top of the coat to represent that we are at the leading edge of acoustic manipulation technology, 4 horses inside of the shield to represent the driving force of the company (Luke, Amanda, Adam and me), 1 cell with concentric circles around it to represent our biology advisor James, 2 ants to represent our Engineering advisors Bruce and Ant and 1 rose for our board director Steve.  

7.       Can you describe your role using only emojis?

Thank you, Ximena! Read more about the good work Ximena and our other team members at Impulsonics are doing as we continue our mission to make cell passaging and lab automation simpler and more scalable.