Dr. Cristian Gallardo Escárate INCAR Deputy Director and Principal investigator in research line " Genome Aquaculture Technology

Biography

Dr. Gallardo-Escárate is a Marine Biologist from Universidad Católica del Norte and Ph.D. in Aquaculture from CICESE, Baja California, Mexico (2005). In 2006, he joined to Universidad de Concepción, leading the Aquaculture Biotechnology and Genomics Laboratory, specializing in genomic studies of marine organisms. Since 2012, Dr. Gallardo-Escárate has been the INCAR Deputy Director. Dr. Gallardo-Escárate has published over 170 scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals and has made more than 250 presentations at scientific meetings around the world. Dr. Gallardo-Escárate has also served and currently serves on evaluation committees for European projects in the field of marine biotechnology.

Dra. Valentina Valenzuela Muñoz Associate Investigator

Biography

Dr. Valentina Valenzuela Muñoz is a Civil Engineer in Biotechnology from San Sebastián University, with a Master's degree in Biochemistry and Bioinformatics from the University of Concepción and a Ph.D. in Sciences with a specialization in the Management of Renewable Aquatic Resources. From 2022 to March 2025, she led the Fondecyt Initiation project “Functional genomics in Atlantic salmon during repeated sea lice infestation: the emerging role of acquired resistance in salmon breeding” (#11220307). Currently, she is the sponsor of Dr. Yeny Leal's postdoctoral project “Unraveling the immune cells landscape in Atlantic salmon infected with Piscirickettsia salmonis genogroups by single-nuclei RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq)" (FONDECYT #3250120). Additionally, she is involved as an Associated Researcher at the INCAR Center in RP1.

Dr. Diego Valenzuela Miranda Other Investigator

Biography

Dr. Diego Valenzuela Miranda is a prominent researcher at the INCAR Center, specializing in genomics and bioinformatics applied to aquaculture. His work focuses on studying the interaction between the environment, aquatic organisms, and their pathogens, with particular attention to salmon and aquaculture-relevant invertebrates.

His research includes studying the molecular responses of aquatic organisms to pathogens and environmental fluctuations, as well as understanding the role of microbiota in regulating these responses. Additionally, Dr. Valenzuela has collaborated on genome sequencing projects of aquaculture-relevant species and has led research projects funded by FONDECYT and FONDEF, among others.

Dr. Antonio Casuso Postdoctoral Investigator

Dra. Yeny Leal Acosta Postdoctoral Investigator

Biography

Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2013, University of Havana, Cuba). Master's degree in Science with a specialization in Contemporary Biotechnology Trends (2017, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba). PhD in Science with a specialization in Renewable Aquatic Resources (2023, University of Concepción).

Cristian Gallardo-Cortés PhD Student

Biography

Veterinarian specializing in aquaculture nutrition, with a master's degree in the field, and currently a PhD student at the University of Vigo. My main lines of research focus on nutrigenomics using functional foods and fish immunology, aiming to develop sustainable practices and environmental stewardship.

Milton Montúfar Romero PhD Student

Biography

In 2007, he began his career in private enterprise as a supervisor, manager, and administrator in companies related to shrimp farming, cultivation, biotechnology, genetics, and processing in Ecuador. Since 2014, he joined the Public Institute of Aquaculture and Fisheries Research (IPIAP) in Ecuador, where he has led and participated in research projects in aquaculture and fisheries, specializing in the cultivation of fish, mollusks, crustaceans, and algae. He has published scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals and has given presentations at national and international conferences.

Constanza Sáez Vera PhD Student

Biography

Veterinarian with a Master's degree in Veterinary Preventive Medicine from the Austral University of Chile. Currently, she is a PhD student in Microbiology at the University of Concepción.

Marcelo Muñoz Troncoso Master Student

Biography

Marine biotechnology and aquaculture engineer. Currently a student pursuing a Master of Science degree with a focus on microbiology.

Álvaro Gallardo-Escárate Research Assistant

Biography

Born in Santiago, in the Macul district, I later moved to Coquimbo to pursue studies in Marine Biology. My academic journey then took me to Valdivia, where I continued my education. While there, an opportunity arose to apply for the position I currently hold, marking the next chapter in my career.

Rosa Obando Support Staff - Hatchery

Biography

I work in the LBGA laboratory, as a support technician in the hatchery performing system maintenance.

Lucía Soto Support Staff - Hatchery

Biography

I work in the LBGA laboratory as a support technician in the Hatchery, performing system maintenance.

Camila Barriga Support Staff

Biography

I studied Plant Biotechnology Engineering at the University of Concepción and graduated in 2023. Since then, I have worked in the areas of production, science, and research. I currently work at the INCAR Center as a Research Assistant in the Aquaculture Biotechnology and Genomics Laboratory (LBGA).

Claudia Fuentealba Secretariat RP1