Who we are

I am an assistant professor in the Department of Biology at the National University of Colombia (Bogotá). I have a degree in microbiology from the Universidad de los Andes, a master's degree from the University of Puerto Rico Recinto Universitario de Mayaguez (UPRM) and a PhD from the Georgia Institute of Techonology (GeorgiaTech).

My research focuses on understanding the mechanisms that determine the diversity patterns of microbial communities associated with systems of agricultural and livestock importance, as well as elucidating through genomics and metagenomics the evolutionary adaptations that lead to the strengthening of these associations (e.g., plant endophytes).

Some of my interests are:

• Exploring the value of diversity within populations of a species.

• Elucidate mechanisms of adaptation and co-evolution of microorgasnim to their hosts (plants and animals).

• Establish the principles behind the evolution of novelty of microbial genomes, e.g., the assembly and optimization of new metabolic pathways.

Researchgate website https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Alejandro-Caro-Quintero

• Estudio de la ecología microbiana de especies pecuarias promisorias.
• Uso de herramientas bioinformáticas para la composición taxonómica de las comunidades bacterianas

• La ecología de poblaciones microbianas en modelos animales.
• El microbioma intestinal y su relación con organismos hospedadores.

I am a biology student at the National University of Colombia (Bogota). I work in agricultural microbiology and biotechnology. Some of my interests are the study of plant growth-promoting bacteria and crop microbial endophytes. I have research experience at the Institute of Biotechnology of the National University (IBUN), the Colombian Agricultural Research Corporation (AGROSAVIA), and the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture at Purdue University (US).

I advanced my degree work in the study of the cocoa seed-borne endophytes with plant growth promotion, to develop a sustainable alternative that improves the propagation of this crop.

I pursued a research internship with Dr. Lori Hoagland at Purdue University, studying the endophytic microbiome of quinoa seeds with plant growth activities to decrease cadmium uptake in quinoa grains.

I am a fan of science diplomacy, orchids, and gardening.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/Cristian-Salinas-Castillo/

Biology Student
Faculty of Sciences
National University of Colombia - Bogotá

E-mail: kcguantivar@unal.edu.co / kguantiva@gmail.com

I am a Biology student in my last semester. I work mainly in microbial ecology, with my main research interests in:

• Plant growth promoting microorganisms.

• Soil microbiology

• Bioindicators for water analysis

• Water microbiology

• Extremophiles

• Bioprospecting

I am also enthusiastic about scientific dissemination and cultural exchange.

Linkedin profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-guantiva-reina-biology/

• Fermentation microbial ecology
• Bioremediation
• Molecular biology
• Bioinformatics and Biological data statistical analysis

I am a proud biology student at the National University of Colombia. I am passionate about the study of health. Specifically, I am interested in understanding how diet can change health status. As part of this interest, I have been motivated by the study of the animal microbiome, its interactions and direct effect on health, as well as the effect of food on its functioning. Correspondingly, this has led me to start a project based on the cultivation of gut bacteria to understand their potentials. Thus, my research interests are:

• Microbiology

• Genomics

• Metagenomics

• Nutrition

• Health

• Epigenetics

• Biochemistry

• Microbial ecology and its interaction with plants of agronomic interest.
• Symbiotic relationships between microorganisms and plants (holobiont).
• Plant and microbial genetic resources.
• Molecular techniques and genetic transformation.
• Application of omics sciences (genomics, transcriptomics, metagenomics), bioinformatics and statistical methods in agriculture

Adriana Elisabeth Orbes Villacorte

PhD Student in Biotechnology

Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences

University of Antioquia

E-mail: adriana.orbes@udea.edu.co

I am a Zootechnician, graduated from the University of Nariño and currently a doctoral student in Biotechnology at the University of Antioquia (Medellín).

Some of my research interests are:

• Interrelationships of the intestinal microbiome of domestic animals.

• Isolation and characterization of bacteria with biotechnological potential.

• Production of peptides with antimicrobial characteristics.

Researchgate website: