Carlos Aponte graduated with a BSc in industrial microbiology from the University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez, and has conducted protein research with various institutions and research centers, including the National Institutes of Health and NYU Langone Medical Center. Following his passion for art and science, Carlos joined the Department of Scientific Research at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2015 to further enhance his understanding of how both disciplines naturally overlap. He worked with Eric Breitung and Catherine Stephens on performing materials testing for exhibitions. In 2018 he joined LACMA as Chemical Hygiene Officer and continues his work in environmental monitoring. He is also experienced in photography and dedicates his free time to studying historical photographic processes and incorporating them into his work.