Experience

CATIE

• Costa Rica
• Research Services
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Education Director and Dean of the Graduate School

  • Jul 2018 - Present



Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina

• Peru
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Visiting Professor

  • Jan 2002 - Present

  Visiting Professor in the graduate program of the Agronomy Department. I have supervised over 20 graduate students (MS and PhD). I pioneered the course on Mathematical Models in Agriculture in their PhD Program. Visiting Professor in the graduate program of the Agronomy Department. I have supervised over 20 graduate students (MS and PhD). I pioneered the course on Mathematical Models in Agriculture in their PhD Program.



International Potato Center (CIP)

• Peru
• Research Services
• 300 - 400 Employee

• Research Scientist and Leader- Crop Systems Intensification and Climate Change Program

  • Feb 1996 - Feb 2023

  The Program brings, on the first hand, eco-efficient technologies and environmentally friendly management options and the expertise in upstream science with state-of-the-art tools and methods to develop the technology needed to face foreseen challenges. This includes, for instance, 1) the use of next-generation sequencing that has led to the identification of several new viruses and produced the sweet potato ‘viromes' of the first two countries for the African sweetpotato virome database (12 countries) and that will enable the utilization of this data to guide breeding/deployment of resistance, risk assessment and phytosanitary guidelines as well as design of low-cost and more efficient diagnostic tools; 2) portable tools for in situ quality control of planting materials; 3) climate change modeling to ex-ante assess direct – e.g. temperature and water stress- and indirect – e.g. pest and disease risks- impacts on yield and food security; 4) the use of integrative traits to rapidly assess the adaptability of mandate crops to a changing environment; and 5) the use of remote and proximal sensing (including UAV-based remote sensing) for phenotyping, monitoring adaptation to stress situations, yield forecasting, and land use changes. My contribution to CIP, in several capacities and currently as the Leader of this Program, is the creation of research teams bringing together scientists from many different disciplines, background and interests. Fund raising and partnerships with Advanced Research Institutes in the US and Europe as well as Research Institutes in Developing countries have been achieved. It is worth highlighting the advancement in the professional career of the young professionals in the teams I have led. Above 80 % of the young staff have acquired their MS or PhD degrees under my mentorship and supervision Show less



International Development Research Centre (IDRC)

• Canada
• International Trade and Development
• 300 - 400 Employee

• Project Director (Fixed contract through the Latin America Regional Office)

  • Jan 1989 - Jan 1995

  Principal Investigator- Farming Systems Research Project in the Peruvian Altiplano. A landmark farming systems research Project in the Americas. I led the quantitative thinking and contribute to the development of modeling and simulation tools used to assess challenges and opportunities for Andean farmers. International Project Coordinator- Farming Systems Research Project in the Bolivian Altiplano, 1991 – 1995. Enhancing food security and income in resource-poor farming systems in the Bolivian Plateau. This was the first farming systems research project in Bolivia. We change the way research was conducted and brought scientists out of the experimental stations into farmer´s field to bring science to solved farmer´s felt needs. Show less



Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias de Panamá

• Panama

• Chemist

  • Sep 1979 - Dec 1988

  Establish the analytical lab to run soil, water, and plant chemical analyses. Implemented all the analytical procedures. Established links with USA universities to validate the quality of the analytical services through comparative assessments Acquired an institutional scholarship to pursue MS and PhD degree in the US (4.5 years study leave of absence) Coordinated a farming systems research project where participating farmers in four provinces doubled their productivity and income Establish the analytical lab to run soil, water, and plant chemical analyses. Implemented all the analytical procedures. Established links with USA universities to validate the quality of the analytical services through comparative assessments Acquired an institutional scholarship to pursue MS and PhD degree in the US (4.5 years study leave of absence) Coordinated a farming systems research project where participating farmers in four provinces doubled their productivity and income



NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

• United States
• Defense and Space Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Visiting Researcher

  • Jan 1988 - Apr 1988

  Created the first land use and land use change maps in the Andean High-Plateau using experimental (SIR-C) Microwave remote sensing imageries Created the first land use and land use change maps in the Andean High-Plateau using experimental (SIR-C) Microwave remote sensing imageries