My expertise lies in conducting environmental monitoring and biodiversity assessments with a focus on benthic fauna characterization and inventory, utilizing both traditional taxonomy and molecular biology approaches. I have also participated in proposal development, coordinated multidisciplinary teams in the private sector, academic research units, and ensured quality and timely delivery of information to clients.
As a Scientific Director, I have developed skills in the project development chain, including technical and economic proposal development, logistical coordination, personnel hiring, sampling assurance and traceability, participation in result analysis, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality information to clients. Moreover, in my teaching experience, I stay updated on scientific topics of interest and provide cutting-edge information to my students
In addition to my technical skills, I have also encouraged professional development among my team members, fostering scientific production through participation in conferences, scientific publications, contributing to biodiversity knowledge in the country, and exploring new ocean energy sources (OTEC). I firmly believe in the importance of rigorous scientific and technical processes for projects in the country.
I bring expertise in program and project coordination, resource mobilization, and capacity development in Colombia. Specifically, I can contribute in the following ways:
· Designing Research Plans and Project Proposals: I have developed the ability to design research plans and project proposals through my experience in education and dissemination of marine knowledge.
· Identifying Capacity Development Gaps and Needs: My experience in preparing detailed documents and analyzing environmental impact studies has honed my skills in identifying gaps and needs for capacity development in ocean sciences.
· Promoting Regional Participation and Capacity Development: I have fostered regional participation and capacity development through my experience in managing research proposals and my participation in the Ocean teaching Global Academy as an instructor in the marine protected areas course for Latin-American countries
· Presenting Reports and Coordinating Meetings: As a scientific director, head of research and professor, my experience in producing scientific work has refined my ability to meet the rigorous requirements for presenting results in reports and meetings.
· Mobilizing Resources and Establishing Partnerships: My experience in resource management and proposal development, gained as a head of research, has prepared me to effectively mobilize resources and establish new partnerships.
Conducted the design and delivery of both traditional curriculum and innovative elective courses within the marine domain. Specialized offerings included entitled courses such as "Marine and Coastal Spaces" and "Marine Invertebrates," fostering comprehensive learning experiences for students, including field trips in the Rosario Island and Baru.
Conduct a comprehensive review of secondary information on impact-generating activities in offshore projects.
Analyze the environmental components affected by these identified impact-generating activities, focusing on biotic, abiotic, and social elements.
Examine the files of licensed offshore projects to assess the methodologies used for evaluating impacts on marine areas.
Collaborate with professionals from ANLA, Invemar, and other relevant entities in working groups. The purpose of these meetings is to discuss the significance and scope of impacts in offshore areas and gather inputs to develop a proposal for evaluating impacts on biotic, abiotic, and social environments for offshore projects
Prepare detailed reports documenting the execution of activities performed.
Main responsibilities:
A. University Research Management
a. Research Policies: Develop and enforce university research policies, including research lines for 2021, intellectual property, and ethics in research.
b. Design of Internal Calls: Design and implement internal calls for research proposals.
c. Monitoring of External Calls: Monitor external research funds at national and international levels.
d. Feasibility Analysis: Conduct feasibility analyses of research and consulting proposals, including public and private tenders.
e. Resource Management: Manage research resources and budgets effectively.
f. Internationalization of Research: Promote the internationalization of research activities.
g. Research Groups and Seedbeds: Support research groups and seedbeds; develop publication policies and incentives.
B. Project Research Management
a. Operational Processes: Apply operational processes and protocols for managing external and internal research calls and consultancies.
b. Budget Monitoring: Monitor and control budgets for external and internal projects.
c. Research Platforms Management: Manage, control, and monitor research platforms, both internal (Axone) and external (MGA).
d. Framework Permit Monitoring: Monitor and control the framework permit for the collection of organisms for biodiversity purposes (ANLA-Autoridad Nacional de Licencias Ambientales).
Main achievements:
1. Facilitated the implementation of an internal research call, streamlining the process to encourage faculty engagement and innovation.
2. Managed the development of over six comprehensive research proposals for external funding opportunities, fostering collaborations and enhancing the university's competitive positioning.
3. Oversawed the successful execution of two impactful projects sponsored by Minciencias, contributing to the advancement of knowledge and societal progress.
4. Played a key role in the formulation and presentation of more than 10 consulting proposals, collectively amounting to a budget of approximately $1 million, showcasing the university's expertise and capacity for impactful partnerships.
5. Collaborated with university faculties to craft a forward-looking research policy, encompassing strategic research priorities for the decade spanning 2021 to 2031, alongside robust frameworks for intellectual property management and ethical research conduct, thus ensuring the institution's commitment to excellence and integrity in scholarly pursuits."
Main responsibilities: |
a. Conduct technical and scientific reviews of consultancy projects. b. Perform monitoring and biodiversity assessments in the Colombian Caribbean and Pacific regions, with a focus on the characterization and inventory of benthic fauna using both traditional taxonomic methods and molecular biology techniques. c. Coordinate multidisciplinary teams to ensure effective collaboration and project execution. d. Oversee logistics, recruit personnel, and ensure quality assurance and traceability in the collection, analysis, and reporting of samples. e. Lead the laboratory accreditation process with IDEAM, facilitating the generation of quantitative biological, physical, and chemical data for environmental studies.
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Main responsibilities: |
1. Conduct research on deep-sea communities associated with the upper slope of the Colombian Caribbean and eastern Pacific, with a specific focus on mollusks and polychaetes. 2. Prepare comprehensive technical and scientific reports detailing findings and analyses. 3. Engage in active participation within the scientific community by attending and presenting at conferences, seminars, workshops, courses, meetings, and training sessions.
Main achievements: Accomplishments include the documentation of over 300 first occurrences of mollusks and the descritpion of over ten new species, contributing significantly to the scientific community through publication in over 20 peer-reviewed articles. Additionally, participation in more than 10 national and international conferences has further enriched scholarly discourse and knowledge dissemination within the field. |
-Latin American and Caribbean Regional Symposium on Ocean Acidification. Jan 21-24, 2019. The Ocean Foundation, Invemar, Santa Marta.
-BITMAB-2, Second Benthic Invertebrate Taxonomy, Metagenomics and Bioinformatics Workshop. HRI-University of Texas A & M, Corpus Christi, Jan15-19, 2018.
-Meiofauna summer school, A dive in a microscopic world. 27 Jun – 1 Jul 2016, Plouzané (France).
-Intership in the Analitical Lab (Sequencing center)-National Museum of Natural History-NMNMH, Smithsonian Institution. June-July 2010 . Washington DC. Advisor: Lee Weigt, Stephen Cairns.
-Intership in the Museum of Comparative Zoology. Giribet Lab. Sep 2008-May 2009. Advisor: Gonzalo Giribet.
-Detecting Multivariate Changes in Biological Assemblages: experimental design and data analysis. Lecce, 26 May–6 June 2003. University of Lecce, Italy. Tutores: Marti J. Anderson (University of Auckland,NZ), Robert Clarke, Paul Somerfield (Plymouth Marine Laboratory, UK).
Spanish, mother language
English, B2
1. Proficiency with Microsoft and Mac software applications (e.g., word processors, spreadsheets, presentation tools). Ability to navigate and use the internet effectively.
2. Communication and Collaboration Tools: Proficiency in using email
3. Familiarity with video conferencing tools (e.g., Zoom, Microsoft Teams).
4. Ability to find, evaluate, and use information from various digital sources and databases.
5. Knowledge of citation and referencing for digital sources (e.g., Zotero).
6. Basic graphic design skills using tools like Adobe Photoshop
7. Knowledge of basic data analysis and visualization techniques (e.g. R, DataGraph)
8. Software for species distribution data management (e.g., ModestR, Wallace)