This month, Natural Selections features Sonia Eladad, Postdoctoral Associate, Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases (Casanova Lab). Country of Origin: France

How long have you been living in New York? I have been living in NYC for seven years now.

Where do you live? I live in Manhattan, on the Upper East Side.

Which is your favorite neighborhood? I love the Upper West Side. It offers a great diversity of things to do: shopping, movies, concerts and, choice of restaurants. Recently, Magnolia Bakery and Jacques Torres opened. I love Jacques Torres hot chocolate (quite expensive though).

What do you think is the most overrated thing in the city? And underrated? When I first arrived in the city, everything was about Sarah Jessica Parker. Overrated for me. Lincoln Center and all the shows it offers are way underrated.

What do you miss most when you are out of town? The “electricity” of the city.

If you could change one thing about NYC, what would that be? More frequent subways during the weekend.

Describe a perfect weekend in NYC. My perfect day would start by taking a class at Steps on Broadway. It reenergizes me! After, we usually head with some friends for brunch at Prune, eventually do some shopping, relax, and get ready for an evening out.

What is the most memorable experience you have had in the NYC? September 11, 2001. It was a beautiful day, then the smoke covered the sky for a long time.

If you could live anywhere else, where would that be? London, England. It’s a city full of contrast, history, and modern life. Also, nice museums.

Do you think of yourself as a New Yorker? Why? I do think of myself as a New Yorker. I have been living here long enough to feel at home.