Fernando Pizarro

Fernando Pizarro received his degree in Medical Technology in 1974 from the University of Chile, where he has worked since graduation. As a Professor at the Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology (INTA) of the University of Chile, he is dedicated exclusively to scientific investigation examining the role of microminerals on human health. He began his academic career in 1978 as an Instructor at INTA and in 1980 received a post-graduate fellowship to the Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Cientifica (IVIC – Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Investigations) on the use of radioactive isotopes in research. In 1990 he was named a visiting fellow to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, where he worked on epidemiological techniques to study nutritional anemias. In 1992 he was named Assistant Professor; in 1998 Associate Professor followed by Professor in 2008. He was invited to participate at the First Leadership Workshop for Latin-American Young Leaders in Nutrition in Antigua, Guatemala (1997). Also in 1998, he was named Chief of the Statistical and Computation Unit at INTA and in 2007, Chief of Micronutrient Laboratory at same institution. He was a Consultant for International Atomic Energy Agency in Peru to assess the use of nuclear techniques in the measurement of iron bioavailability (1995 to 1997) and then in Cuba he assessed use of isotopes for evaluating nutrition intervention programs in Cuba (2002 to 2005). Furthermore, he has participated in numerous national and international events presenting courses and recent work. His accomplishments are highlighted in more than 120 publications in international scientific journals.