Fernanda Rodriguez-Rojas

Biochemist, Master in Biochemistry (Universidad Andrés Bello), PhD in Microbiology (Universidad de Chile) and with a consolidated line of research in the area of ​​molecular ecotoxicology. My expertise is focused on characterizing metabolic responses in different models (e.g. bacteria, sea anemones, algae, angiosperms, among others) against several environmental disturbances. For this purpose, I focused my research line in the use of molecular biology tools, such as classical techniques (PCR), to more sophisticated techniques such as genomic and transcriptomic analysis using New Generation Sequencing Technologies (NGS); in addition to different biochemical tools such as the quantification of reactive oxygen species and antioxidant molecules, among others. Thus my interests are related on studying the impacts at the molecular level caused by stressors such heavy metals, temperature changes associated with climate change and the effects of brine discharges coming from the desalination industry. Through these studies my intentions are to develop biomarkers for their potential use as monitoring tools and thus contribute to the implementation of new environmental protection programs. I am currently working as a full researcher at the HUB-AMBIENTAL of the University of Playa Ancha, Valparaíso, Chile.