Leopoldo Naranjo

I have developing several R&D projects related to use of molecular biology and microorganisms as biofactory to produce interesting biotechnological compounds with high added value, bioconversion and biorremediation procesess. The last 7 years, I did work on heavy and extra-heavy crude oil bioconversion, biorremediation of oil-sludge and oil-contaminated soils, use of metagenomic tools applied to detect microorganisms associated to biocorrosion processes in oil facilities, and production of green hydrocarbons using microalgae as cell factory. Besides, I have a large experience in R&D Project management.

President of a prestigious R&D Institute attached to Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of Venezuela.

Director of Energy and Environmental Area of a prestigious R&D Institute attached to Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of Venezuela.

Philosophical Doctor in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, graduated from School of Biological and Environmental Sciences from Universidad de León, Spain (2003), he did postdoctoral training and worked as research collaborator in the Instituto de Biotecnología de León (INBIOTEC, www.inbiotec.com) specializing deeply in fungal genetic and biotechnology (2003-2004). Since 2005, he returns to Venezuela as associated researcher in the Petroleum Biotechnology Unit of the Institute for Advanced Studies (IDEA; www.idea.gob.ve) and he became head of Energy and Environment Management (2008 to march 2011), and President of IDEA between march 2011 and January 2012. He has been member of several international delegations of Science and Technology. He is member of two editorial committees of scientific journals; he became regional representative of the Latin American Association of Mycology (ALM, www.almic.org), vocal and vicegestor of the Committee for Energy Area of the Iberoamerican Program for Science and Technology (CYTED, www.cyted.org), and he became liaison officer from Venezuela of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB, www.icgeb.org). Now he has published more than 15 high impact-papers (e.g. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21624102), 1 US Patent application (No. 20070231870), 1 developing patent in Mexico, has tutored over 15 students, and obtained grants for scientific projects for more than 9 million dollars.

In the following institutional link, you can see part of my academic and scientific in Spanish. http://www.idea.gob.ve/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=105&Itemid=81