
Alvaro María Olivera Nappa
Principal Investigator and Assistant Professor
UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE
Santiago, Chile
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology; Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; Structural Biology; Protein Engineering; Enzymology and Protein Science; Mathematical & Computational Biology; Bioinformatics; Synthetic Biology; Applied Statistics & Probability
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Engineering Sciences, Chemical Processes, UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE. Chile, 1995
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CHEMICAL ENGINEER, UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE. Chile, 2003
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CHEMICAL ENGINEER, BIOTECHNOLOGY, UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE. Chile, 2005
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Faculty Member and Assistant Professor Full Time
UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE
Physical and Mathematical Sciences
Santiago, Chile
2013 - At present
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Post-Doctoral Researcher Full Time
UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE
Physical and Mathematical Sciences
Santiago, Chile
2007 - 2011
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Post-Doctoral Researcher Full Time
UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE
Physical and Mathematical Sciences
Santiago, Chile
2005 - 2006
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Adjunct Professor Part Time
UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE
Physical and Mathematical Sciences
Santiago, Chile
2008 - 2011
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Visiting Post-Doctoral Scholar Full Time
DELFT UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
Delft, Holanda
2007 - 2007
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Visiting Post-Doctoral Scholar Full Time
UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
Cambridge, Reino Unido
2012 - 2012
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Founder & Honorary R&D Director Other
Lucien Biotechnologies
Santiago, Chile
2006 - At present
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Honorary R&D Director Other
Cosmetofood S.A.
Santiago, Chile
2009 - 2011
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External Advisor Other
Bayas del Sur S.A.
Purranque, Chile
2011 - 2011
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External Advisor Other
BAL Chile S.A.
Puerto Montt, Chile
2013 - At present
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External Expert Other
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Santiago, Chile
2008 - 2009
Postgraduate student guide in the last 5 years
Carlos Gómez, “New evolutive operation-based methodology for in silico protein engineering”, Doctorado en Ingeniería Química, Universidad de Chile. 2018. (Co-Guía).
Javiera Gómez, “Synthetic biology in Escherichia coli BAL1611 to optimize ethanol production from alginate and mannitol from Macrocystis pyrifera”, MSc in Chemical engineering, University of Chile. 2019. (Advisor).
Pablo Troncoso, “The role of the biotechnology industry in the sophistication and diversification of the Chilean productive matrix: difficulties and proposals for development”, MSc in Chemical engineering, University of Chile. 2019. (Co-Advisor).
Juan Pablo Biron, "Evaluation of the proteolytic capacity of Lactobacilli isolated from sourdough on gliadin-derived proline-rich peptides", MSc in Chemical engineering, University of Chile. 2020. (Advisor).
Diego Narváez, "Implementation and development of methodologies for characterization of cellular composition as an input for formulating empirical mathematical models", MSc in Chemical engineering, University of Chile. 2020. (Co-Advisor).
Karen Oróstica, "Implementation of cancer classification models based on mutational and clinical data", PhD in Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Chile. 2021. (Advisor).
David Medina, “Applications of Machine Learning and Data Mining in protein engineering design and implementation of new strategies for the study of mutations”, PhD in Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Chile. 2022. (Advisor).
Benjamín Armijo, “Implementation and validation of a computational system and a purification process for the improvement of the MachinePep system”, MSc in Chemical Engineering, University of Chile. 2022. (Advisor).
Juan Amado, “Protein engineering for the rational design of Anti-HIV peptides and improvement of the peptide production platform for its recombinant production”, PhD in Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Chile. 2022. (Advisor).
Activities in the last 5 years.
Lecturer in extension courses:
Workshop of Multimedia Education in Sciences for high-school science teachers, organized by the Institute for Cell Dynamics and Biotechnology and the Centre for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Santiago, Chile.
Invited speaker:
Motivation Talks on Science and Biotechnology for High-School Students, organized by the Institute for Cell Dynamics and Biotechnology, Santiago, Chile.
“Chemistry of life and patent rights”, Intellectual Property Court – Seminar for attorneys and judges specialized in intellectual property.
Media coverage:
TV news show 24 horas, “CeBiB research on the COVID-19 pandemics in Chile”, Televisión Nacional, Chile.
UdeC Radio note, “Study shows that gamma has been the most transmissible variant in Chile”, Chile.
CNN Chile TV and press note, “Gamma has been the most transmissible variant in Chile, according to a study of the Chilean Public Health Institute and University of Chile”, Chile.
Qué Pasa magazine article, “Study shows that gamma has been the most transmissible variant in Chile”, Chile.
FCFM magazine article, “Why ammonium nitrate would be responsible for the huge Beirut explosion?”, Chile.
Teletrece TV, central news show, live expert interview about the explosion of an ammonium nitrate deposit explosion at Beirut's harbor, Chile.
University of Chile news article, “CeBiB's research: mismatch between PCR diagnostic date, symptomatology and COVID-19 incubation time reports influenced decisions to apply restrictive measures”, Chile.
El Mercurio newspaper article, “Mismatch between new case data reports would have had an impact on the increase in COVID-19 contagion”, Chile.
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United Engineering Foundation Young Scientist Fellowship
United Engineering Foundation
Estados Unidos, 2001
Travel Scholarship and Award to present research results at the XVI Enzyme Engineering Conference, Potsdam, Germany.
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IUBMB-Sigma Aldrich Corporation Scholarship
IUBMB / Sigma-Aldrich Corp.
Chile, 2005
Travel Scholarship and Award to present research results at the 30th Congress of the FEBS and the 9th IUBMB Conference, Budapest, Hungary.
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Platinum First Prize
World's Best Technologies Showcase
Estados Unidos, 2006
First place in the World's Best Technologies showcase and contest, for the development of technologies to modulate flavonoid synthesis in vivo in plants.
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100 Young Chilean Leaders
DIARIO EL MERCURIO
Chile, 2006
Recognized as one of the 100 Young Chilean Leaders for the development of technologies to modulate flavonoid synthesis in vivo in plants, and the awards received in Chile and abroad for this motive.
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Young Scientist Member of the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings
Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings Council
Alemania, 2009
Selected as a Chilean young scientist representative in the 59th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting devoted to chemistry.
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Member of the Frontier Science Program
ACADEMIA CHILENA DE CIENCIAS
Chile, 2011
Recognition to the excellency and potential of young scientists in different scientific disciplines.
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IAP Young Scientist Nominee 2012
Interacademy Panel (IAP)
Italia, 2012
Selected by the Interacademy Panel of Academies of Sciences as a Chilean young scientist representative for the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Tianjin, China.
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Scientific Member of the World Economic Forum
World Economic Forum
China, 2012
Permanent member of the scientific panel of the World Economic Forum.
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First Place of the Avonni Innovation Contest
Innovation Forum
Chile, 2012
Cosmetofruit S.A.'s first place in the food category. Responsible for the development of the polyphenolic nutricosmetic formulations of Cosmetofruit.
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Distinguished Professor in University Research Activities
UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE
Chile, 2021
Honor bestowed by the Vicechancellor's Office of Research and Development, for the most productive academic researchers in the University of Chile.
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Distinguished Professor in University Research Activities
UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE
Chile, 2020
Honor bestowed by the Vicechancellor's Office of Research and Development, for the most productive academic researchers in the University of Chile.
Characterization, cloning, recombinant expression and protein engineering of a cryophilic protease of marine origin and its engineered mutants |
Production of bioethanol from brown algae |
FERRITEAM=> Diseño y Aplicaciones de BioNanoMateriales en Base a Ferritina |
MOSTICAW - MOdeling the Spread and (opTImal) Control of Arboviroses by Wolbachia |
Centre for Biotechnology and Bioengineering (CeBiB) |
Integrative bioinformatic tools to accurately predict the effects of mutations in cancer-related proteins and to guide the design of rational protein engineering strategies |
A systems biology approach for studying and understanding cellular processes involved in the regulation of intestinal iron absorption. |
Producción de ingrediente funcional estandarizado y clínicamente probado para control de glicemia en diabéticos |
Desarrollo de formulaciones prototipo para modular la síntesis de antocianinas y flavonoides en frutas=> mejoramiento de la calidad visual, contenido nutricional, competitividad y valor comercial de la fruta de exportación |
Efecto de la suplementación dietaria con selenio orgánico sobre el proteoma sanguíneo=> identificación de nuevos bioindicadores del status metabólico del selenio. |
Investigación, desarrollo y producción de proteasas y lipasas criofílicas comerciales de fuentes marinas |
Síntesis y sobreproducción de una glucanasa lítica recombinante=> modelamiento matemático, purificación y uso. |

Alvaro Olivera
Principal Investigator and Assistant Professor
Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology and Materials
UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE
Santiago, Chile

David Medina
Assistant Professor
Departamento de Ingeniería en Computación
Universidad de Magallanes
Punta Arenas, Chile

Carlos Conca
CO-FOUNDER ASSOCIATE RESEARCHER
CENTER FOR MATHEMATICAL MODELING
UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE
Santiago, Chile

Sebastián Contreras
Doctoral Researcher
Neural Systems Theory
Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization
Göttingen, Alemania

Barbara Andrews
FULL PROFESSOR
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE
SANTIAGO, Chile

Ziomara Gerdtzen
Profesora Asociada
Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Biotecnología y Materiales
Universidad de Chile
Santiago, Chile

José Salgado
Associate Professor
Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology and Materials
UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE
Santiago, Chile

Maria Salazar
Profesora Asociada
Ingeniería Química Biotecnología y Materiales
UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE, FAC. DE CIENCIAS FÍSICAS Y MATEMATICAS DEPTO. INGENIERÍA QUÍMICA
Santiago, Chile

Nyna Llanovarced
Tesista de doctorado
Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Biotecnología y Materiales
Universidad de Chile
Santiago, Chile

Maria Lienqueo
FULL PROFESSOR
OF CHEMICAL AND BIOTECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING
UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE
Santiago, Chile

Monica Soler
Associate Professor
Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology and Materials
University of Chile
Santiago, Chile

Natalia Jimenez
Profesora Asistente
Departamento de Ingeniería Biológica y Médica, Departamento de Ingeniería Química y Bioprocesos
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Santiago, Chile

CAROLINA VALCK
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
IMMUNOLOGY DISCIPLINARY PROGRAM
UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE
Santiago, Chile

Claudia Saavedra
Full Professor
Departmento de Ciencias de la Vida
UNIVERSIDAD ANDRÉS BELLO
Santiago, Chile

Gonzalo Encina
Investigador
Instituto de Ciencias e Innovación en Medicina
Universidad del Desarrollo
Santiago, Chile

Roberto Uribe-Paredes
Académico
Ingeniería en Computación
Universidad de Magallanes
Punta Arenas, Chile

Ricardo Armisen
Associate Professor
Centro de Genética y Genómica
Universidad del Desarrollo
Santiago, Chile

Simon Guerrero
Investigador
Instituto de Investigación Interdisciplinar en Ciencias Biomédicas SEK
Universidad SEK
Santiago, Chile

Marcelo Kogan
Academico
Quimica Farmacologica y Toxicologica
UNIVERSIDAD DE CHILE, FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS QUÍMICAS Y FARMACÉUTICAS
Santiago, Chile