Fellows: Annual Book (2021)

2021

Fellows: Annual Book United Nations University Programme for Biotechnology in Latin America and the Caribbean

| About

Fellows: Annual Book

2021

About UNU-BIOLAC The programme’s aim is to prepare and qualify professionals in biotechnology through focused training and capacity development. Activities are organised throughout the LAC region and are carried out in collaboration with an international network of highly qualified academics and researchers who are experts in biotechnology.

Research Fellowships The UNU-BIOLAC fellowship programme focuses on overcoming limitations in the LAC region through the improvement of abilities, skills, and techniques, and the promotion of learning through the experiences of regional experts.

The programme consists of short fellowships aimed at building strong research networks with training outputs that include research reports, policy recommendations, manuals, handbooks, protocols, and other reference materials. It is very important for the programme that the knowledge acquired by fellows will benefit their institutions and country capacities.

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Fellows: Annual Book

Priority Areas UNU-BIOLAC is seeking to empower young scientists to use Big Data as a knowledge-enabling strategy that traverses across the following priority areas: Emerging and neglected human, animal and plant diseases.

Metagenomics and similar approaches for biomedical research Sustainable biotechnological processes Drug discovery and vaccine development It supports training and research at the intersection of science, technology, and society, demonstrating how modern biotechnology can encourage social and economic development.

Collaborations Currently, UNU-BIOLAC closely collaborates with the following institutions: Fundación Instituto de Estudios Avanzados IDEA, Venezuela.

International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Italy.

University of Granada, Spain.

The Pasteur Institute, Uruguay.

Antioquia University, Colombia.

UNESCO, Uruguay.

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2021

| Fellowships

Fellows: Annual Book

Our Fellows To date, UNU-BIOLAC has supported more than 346 researchers/fellows and has worked in partnership with various academic and research centers in the Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC) region through the development of more than 300 workshops, seminars, and conferences that have benefited nearly 10,000 professionals in the field of biotechnology.

On 2021 this was the selected group of fellows that worked closely with us:

2020 - 2021:

Ayelen Lizarraga Martina Pereyra Brenda Bezus

These are their testimonies telling us the experience of being an UNU-BIOLAC Alumni!

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2021

Fellows: Annual Book

2021

Brenda Bezus From Argentina to Mexico Universidad Autonoma de Coahuila, Mexico

This experience has opened my mind a lot about how we do research in different places.

This experience was good for my academic career and my personal growth. In terms of academics, Dr Juan Carlos Contreras, an expert in pectins and their obtention, has taught me a lot, thus improving my research capacities: this learning will definitely enhance my future work.

I am now transferring what I have learnt to my partners in Argentina, so my fellowship in Mexico contributes to the entire research group.

Personally, this experience has opened my mind a lot about how we do research in different places.

My workmates were very kind, and I enjoyed a lot working with them; I hope we meet again someday.

UNU-BIOLAC made it possible for me to achieve one of the aims of my PhD thesis, and I am very grateful for that. I think this programme is very important for researchers/fellows like me, who desire to be in constant professional growth. Through science help to develop better and greener technologies, which is a fundamental challenge nowadays. I thoroughly recommend this experience to any research of fellow who wants to improve their investigation skills and have a good experience at the same time

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Fellows: Annual Book

Ayelen Lizarraga From Argentina to Uruguay Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Uruguay My stay at the Institut Pasteur of Montevideo was a wonderful experience.

I learned new techniques, shared knowledge and experienced a different way of making science. It also opened the door to future collaborations between our labs.

On a personal level, the three months of my stay were a joy. Everyone at the lab was very friendly and welcoming; they made me feel right at home.

The UNU-BIOLAC Fellowship Programme is an excellent opportunity to grow as a professional and an individual, and I highly recommend it.

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2021

Fellows: Annual Book

2021

Martina Pereyra From Argentina to Uruguay Universidad de la República, Uruguay

Thanks to UNU-BIOLAC it was possible to create a very enriching work network with people on my same subject

Hello!

My name is Martina Pereyra. I am from Tucumán, Argentina. I am currently pursuing my PhD in Biological Sciences based on the search for new microbial antagonists for the biological control of postharvest fungal diseases in citrus fruits.

My research arises from the importance of this crop in the province, with Tucuman being the primary producer and exporter centre in Argentina.

In 2020 I applied for the UNU-BIOLAC scholarships to carry out a stay in Montevideo, Uruguay, and thus be able to intensify my research regarding biological control agents, especially yeasts.

The results were promising: various action mechanisms were determined by which the yeasts exert their biocontrol action against phytopathogens such as siderophores production, inhibition of spore germination, presence of antimicrobial activity in the supernatant.

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Fellows: Annual Book

It was possible to determine the production of volatile antifungal compounds by yeasts and their identification in ethyl acetate, isoamyl acetate, phenethyl alcohol and isoamyl alcohol.

In addition, we were able to develop a technique based on real-time PCR to quantify the fungus in the presence and absence of yeast in the lemon wound, a technique pending publication.

These results position us ever closer to achieving a biological formulation based on yeasts to reduce or eliminate the use of highly toxic chemical fungicides for humans and the environment.

Thanks to UNU-BIOLAC, it was possible to create a very enriching work network with people on the same subject of my work. I advanced with my doctoral thesis research and trained even more as a professional.

It is certainly an experience that I highly recommend.

Thank you, UNU-BIOLAC!

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2021

Thank you for sharing your experiences dear fellows. We warmly wish you the best in your continuous search for excellence and contribution to social development.

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