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Hire Dr. Valentina M.

Chile

USD 55 /hr

Experienced Microbiologist

Profile Summary

Biochemist and Microbiologist with a PhD in Biotechnology and over 17 years of research experience in environmental microbiology and bioremediation. I have collaborated with leading institutions worldwide (Columbia University, CCUG, University of New South Wales), contributing to cutting-edge research on microbial degradation of persistent pollutants and bacterial metabolism. My work has resulted in numerous publications in high-impact journals, and I served as a peer reviewer and grant proposal writer. I am also an experienced lecturer in microbiology and genomics, with a strong background in molecular biology, genomics, and proteomics. I have also contributed to developing sustainable biotechnological applications such as biomaterials.

Subject Matter Expertise

• ★ Microbiology
• ★ Microbial Biotechnology
• ★ Technical & Scientific Writing
• ☆ Industrial Microbiology
• ☆ Biochemistry
• ☆ Oxidative Stress & Mitochondrial Function
• ☆ Molecular Biology
• ☆ Omics
• ☆ Comparative Genomics
• ☆ Genomics
• ☆ Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)
• ☆ Genome Sequencing
• ☆ Biotechnology & Bioengineering
• ☆ Microbial Fermentation
• ☆ Manuscript & Journal Article Writing
• ☆ Science Communication

Services

• Writing
• Research
• Consulting
• Product Development

Writing Technical Writing, General Proofreading & Editing

Research Fact Checking, Scientific and Technical Research

Consulting Scientific and Technical Consulting

Product Development Concept Development

Work Experience

Research Associate (Research Scientist)

Microbiology and Environmental Biotechnology Lab, UTFSM

August 2023 - Present

VP of Scientific Development

NIDO Contech

September 2023 - August 2024

Postdoctoral Researcher (Research Associate)

University of New South Wales Sydney

May 2019 - March 2021

Guest Researcher

Culture Collection, University of Göteborg

January 2018 - March 2018

Graduate Research Assistant / Research Assistant

Microbiology and Environmental Biotechnology Lab, UTFSM

December 2008 - December 2017

PhD candidate

Columbia University, New York

April 2015 - September 2015

Guest Researcher

Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung

January 2014 - March 2014

Education

Biotechnology

Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso

March 2012 - January 2017

Certifications

• Certification details not provided.

Publications

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Rodríguez-Castro L, Durán RE, Méndez V, Dorochesi F, Zühlke D, Riedel K, Michael Seeger (2024). The long-chain flavodoxin FldX1 improves the biodegradation of 4-hydroxyphenylacetate and 3-hydroxyphenylacetate and counteracts the oxidative stress associated to aromatic catabolism in Paraburkholderia xenovorans . Biological research.

Valentina Méndez, Laura Rodríguez-Castro, Roberto E. Durán, Gabriel Padrón, Michael Seeger (2022). The OxyR and SoxR transcriptional regulators are involved in a broad oxidative stress response in Paraburkholderia xenovorans LB400 . Biological Research.

M&#233;ndez V, Miryam Valenzuela, Francisco Salv&#224;-Serra, Daniel Ja&#233;n-Luchoro, Ximena Besoain, Edward R. B. Moore, Seeger M (2020). Comparative Genomics of Pathogenic <i>Clavibacter michiganensis</i> subsp. <i>michiganensis</i> Strains from Chile Reveals Potential Virulence Features for Tomato Plants . Microorganisms.

M&#233;ndez V, Miryam Valenzuela, Francisco Salv&#224;-Serra, Daniel Ja&#233;n-Luchoro, Ximena Besoain, Edward R. B. Moore, Seeger M (2020). Comparative Genomics of Pathogenic <i>Clavibacter michiganensis</i> subsp. <i>michiganensis</i> Strains from Chile Reveals Potential Virulence Features for Tomato Plants . Microorganisms.

Laura Rodr&#237;guez-Castro, M&#233;ndez V, Roberto E. Dur&#225;n, Michael Seeger (2019). Long-chain flavodoxin FldX1 improves Paraburkholderia xenovorans LB400 tolerance to oxidative stress caused by paraquat and H2O2 . PloS one.

Macaya CC, M&#233;ndez V, Roberto E. Dur&#225;n, Patricia Aguila-Torres, Francisco Salv&#224;-Serra, Daniel Ja&#233;n-Luchoro, Edward R. B. Moore, Seeger M (2019). Complete Genome Sequence of Hydrocarbon-Degrading Halotolerant Acinetobacter radioresistens DD78, Isolated from the Aconcagua River Mouth in Central Chile . Microbiology resource announcements.

Roberto E. Dur&#225;n, M&#233;ndez V, Laura Rodr&#237;guez-Castro, Barra-Sanhueza B, Francisco Salv&#224;-Serra, Moore ERB, Eduardo Castro-Nallar, Seeger M (2019). Genomic and Physiological Traits of the Marine Bacterium <i>Alcaligenes aquatilis</i> QD168 Isolated From Quintero Bay, Central Chile, Reveal a Robust Adaptive Response to Environmental Stressors . Frontiers in microbiology.

Roberto E. Dur&#225;n, Barra-Sanhueza B, Francisco Salv&#224;-Serra, M&#233;ndez V, Daniel Ja&#233;n-Luchoro, Edward R. B. Moore, Seeger M (2019). Complete Genome Sequence of the Marine Hydrocarbon Degrader Alcaligenes aquatilis QD168, Isolated from Crude Oil-Polluted Sediment of Quintero Bay, Central Chile . Microbiology resource announcements.

Roberto E. Dur&#225;n, Barra-Sanhueza B, Francisco Salv&#224;-Serra, M&#233;ndez V, Daniel Ja&#233;n-Luchoro, Edward R. B. Moore, Seeger M (2019). Complete Genome Sequence of the Marine Hydrocarbon Degrader Alcaligenes aquatilis QD168, Isolated from Crude Oil-Polluted Sediment of Quintero Bay, Central Chile . Microbiology resource announcements.

M&#233;ndez V, Hern&#225;ndez L, Francisco Salv&#224;-Serra, Daniel Ja&#233;n-Luchoro, Roberto E. Dur&#225;n, Barra B, Pi&#241;eiro-Iglesias B, Edward R. B. Moore, Seeger M (2018). Complete Genome Sequence of the Hydrocarbon-Degrading Strain Achromobacter sp. B7, Isolated during Petroleum Hydrocarbon Bioremediation in the Valparaiso Region, Chile . Microbiology resource announcements.

Overwin H, Gonz&#225;lez M, M&#233;ndez V, Seeger M, Wray V, Hofer B (2016). An aryl dioxygenase shows remarkable double dioxygenation capacity for diverse bis-aryl compounds, provided they are carbocyclic . Applied microbiology and biotechnology.

Overwin H, Gonz&#225;lez M, M&#233;ndez V, Seeger M, Wray V, Hofer B (2016). An aryl dioxygenase shows remarkable double dioxygenation capacity for diverse bis-aryl compounds, provided they are carbocyclic . Applied microbiology and biotechnology.

Overwin H, Gonz&#225;lez M, M&#233;ndez V, C&#225;rdenas F, Seeger M, Hofer B (2015). Stepwise conversion of flavonoids by engineered dioxygenases and dehydrogenase: Characterization of novel biotransformation products . Enzyme and microbial technology.

Overwin H, Standfu&#223;-Gabisch C, Gonz&#225;lez M, M&#233;ndez V, Seeger M, Reichelt J, Wray V, Hofer B (2015). Permissivity of the biphenyl-specific aerobic bacterial metabolic pathway towards analogues with various steric requirements . Microbiology (Reading, England).

Fuentes S, M&#233;ndez V, Aguila P, Seeger M (2014). Bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons: catabolic genes, microbial communities, and applications . Applied microbiology and biotechnology.

Romero-Silva MJ, M&#233;ndez V, Agull&#243; L, Seeger M (2013). Genomic and functional analyses of the gentisate and protocatechuate ring-cleavage pathways and related 3-hydroxybenzoate and 4-hydroxybenzoate peripheral pathways in Burkholderia xenovorans LB400 . PloS one.

Overwin H, Gonz&#225;lez M, M&#233;ndez V, Seeger M, Wray V, Hofer B (2012). Dioxygenation of the biphenyl dioxygenation product . Applied and environmental microbiology.

M&#233;ndez V, Agull&#243; L, Gonz&#225;lez M, Seeger M (2011). The homogentisate and homoprotocatechuate central pathways are involved in 3- and 4-hydroxyphenylacetate degradation by Burkholderia xenovorans LB400 . PloS one.