Experience

Sentinel Environmental

• United States
• Biotechnology Research
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Research Scientist

  • Oct 2020 - Present



Self-employed

• Foreign Language Teacher

  • Jul 2016 - Aug 2020



University of Aberdeen

• United Kingdom
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Postdoctoral Research Fellow

  • May 2014 - Apr 2016

  Areas: anaerobic bacteria, gut microbiota, microbial ecology, molecular microbiology, protein biochemistry. Project: Understanding the degradation of resistant starch by Ruminococcus bromii, and its implications within the gut environment. R. bromii is an anaerobic, Gram-positive bacteria, keystone species in the degradation of resistant starch in the human gut. Areas: anaerobic bacteria, gut microbiota, microbial ecology, molecular microbiology, protein biochemistry. Project: Understanding the degradation of resistant starch by Ruminococcus bromii, and its implications within the gut environment. R. bromii is an anaerobic, Gram-positive bacteria, keystone species in the degradation of resistant starch in the human gut.



The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston)

• United States
• Hospitals and Health Care
• 700 & Above Employee

• Post doctoral fellow

  • Apr 2011 - Oct 2013

  Areas: Molecular microbiology, genetics, protein biochemistry, infectious diseases. Research Project: Investigation of the bacterial secretion system responsible for conjugation and protein export known as Type IV secretion (T4S) system. Special focus in T4S systems of the Gram positive nosocomial infectious agent Enterococcus faecalis, plasmid pCF10. I characterized a peptidoglycan hydrolase that is absolutely required for conjugation of the plasmid pCF10. Areas: Molecular microbiology, genetics, protein biochemistry, infectious diseases. Research Project: Investigation of the bacterial secretion system responsible for conjugation and protein export known as Type IV secretion (T4S) system. Special focus in T4S systems of the Gram positive nosocomial infectious agent Enterococcus faecalis, plasmid pCF10. I characterized a peptidoglycan hydrolase that is absolutely required for conjugation of the plasmid pCF10.



Robert Koch Institute

• Germany
• Research
• 400 - 500 Employee

• Ph.D. Student

  • Jul 2007 - Jan 2011

  Areas: Molecular microbiology, genetics, epidemiology, infectious diseases.Research Project: Intra and Inter-species transfer of pathogenicity-associated genomic elements among the nosocomial pathogen Enterococcus sp. My research contributed to the understanding of the adaptation and establishment of enterococci in the hospital environment as an increasingly important pathogen. This project was part of the EU project: Approaches to Control Multiresistant Enterococci (ACE).

• Internship

  • Sep 2006 - Jun 2007

  Areas: Molecular microbiology, genetics, epidemiology, infectious diseases.Research project: Screening of t-RNA -encoding regions in an emerging Salmonella serotype (monophasic) for identification of new potential pathogenicity islands. I identified and started the characterization of a genomic island that was used later on as an epidemiological marker of the Salmonella emerging strain.



Company start-up on edible mushrooms spawn production

• Colombia

• Entrepreneur

  • Jan 2005 - Aug 2006

  Areas: Entrepeneurship, business plan, process engineering, quality assurance. I leaded the creation of the business plan and the initial steps of its execution. Established and optimized the production process of wheat- based spawn for production of Shiitake and Oyster mushrooms. Areas: Entrepeneurship, business plan, process engineering, quality assurance. I leaded the creation of the business plan and the initial steps of its execution. Established and optimized the production process of wheat- based spawn for production of Shiitake and Oyster mushrooms.



Sucromiles S.A.

• Colombia

• Microbiologist -rotation student

  • Jan 2003 - Jul 2003

  Areas: Industrial microbiology, Alcoholic fermentation, Anaerobic fermentation, quality assurance. I was in charge of the main tasks of the microbiology laboratory of the ethanol production plant. I was responsible for monitoring and reporting ethanol yields, yeast viability, purity and other physical-chemical parameters during alcoholic fermentation of sugar cane molasses. Areas: Industrial microbiology, Alcoholic fermentation, Anaerobic fermentation, quality assurance. I was in charge of the main tasks of the microbiology laboratory of the ethanol production plant. I was responsible for monitoring and reporting ethanol yields, yeast viability, purity and other physical-chemical parameters during alcoholic fermentation of sugar cane molasses.